Suzy Eats

It is a GORGEOUS day outside. I am so excited!!! I have waited soooo long to see the sun! We had a little tease the other day and now its back 🙂 YEAH!!! This weather reminded me of  my grandfather who loved to walk EVERYWHERE with my brothers and I when we were younger. AND THEN it hit me….my next blog entry was going to be about my grandfather and how he ate a SPOONFUL of honey each day as part of his “Mediterranean Diet”. I always wondered why he did it. I watched him take his spoon and dip it into the honey jar each morning before we would take our walks. Well 25 years later, I finally did my research and realized a spoonful of honey may support your health and not just your sweet tooth 🙂 In fact, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that states honey should be placed in your medicine cabinet. CAUTION –it must be “natural” honey otherwise it is just sugar that you are putting in your spoon.

Both the ancient Greeks and Egyptians used honey to treat everything from wounds to infections so the idea was not novel to my grandfather who was from the Mediterranean area. The usefulness of honey can perhaps be attributed to the idea that an enzyme that bees add to the nectar produces hydrogen peroxide. There are different types of honey just like olive oils and wines and darker honeys have more antioxidants than lighter honeys.

IN THE BODY

Honey can help boost the body’s infection fighting ability. A study conducted in the US gave a group of participants four tablespoons of honey each day for one month. Blood samples taken at the beginning and end of the 30-day period showed a direct link between honey consumption and levels of disease-fighting antioxidants in the bloodstream.  Honey contains antioxidants called polyphenols which are similar to those found in fruits, vegetables and olive oil which are in the Mediterranean Diet 🙂 These antioxidants work by protecting the body against free radicals which are known to cause conditions like Alzehimer’s Disease, cancer and heart disease.

Many parents also argue that honey is the best treatment for the common cold in their children. There is evidence that says honey can help soothe a sore throat, decrease cough symptoms and help children sleep when they are suffering from a cold.

ON THE BODY

Honey has potent antibiotic properties- It naturally produces hydrogen peroxide which is capable of killing bacteria that cause disease and because of its high concentration of sugar, low moisture content and acidic pH bacteria are not able to invade. Honey is ideal for fighting infections that have developed resistance to many current antibiotics. Honey also reduces inflammation and speeds the repair of damaged tissue. It is great for scrapes and cuts because it provides a thick, protective barrier that prevents contaminants from entering the blood stream. Some people even use it as a wound dressing since it is cheaper than many current marketed products. Some research supports its use in burns as well and says that it causes less burning and scarring!  It also has antifungal effects and can help with skin infections such as ringworm, athlete’s foot and yeast infections. New evidence also demonstrates that honey is beneficial for people with psoriasis or other inflammatory conditions.

Cooking??

Honey makes an excellet marinade for meat too. It promotes browning and glazing, and reduces the production of cancer causing compounds from grilling and frying!!! Researchers have demonstrated that when meats are covered with about 30% honey for 4 hours the formation of a carcinogen called heterocyclic aromatic amine is reduced.

Conclusion

Do not give honey to anyone younger than 1 years old though. It may cause a severe reaction. For healthy adults though, a spoonful of honey is not only safe, it may be beneficial based on the research I did. Feel free to spread the honey on your food or place it on your skin and enjoy 🙂 

Do any of you eat a spoonful of honey each day??