Properties of our honey
The properties that honey has are countless. Although we will comment on the most outstanding ones: Properties only present in pure raw honey, which has not been mixed, microfiltered, or heat-treated in the entire process, from collection to packing.
Antibacterial potential
Due to the inhibins (hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids and phenolic acids) present in honey, this substance has important properties as a bactericide. These properties are also attributed to the presence of glucose oxidase. For example, one of honey's antibacterial potentials can be for treating acne and exfoliating the skin.
Antioxidant source
Antioxidants (flavonoids and phenolics) are natural substances that prevent the formation of oxides, which in turn stops cell breakdown. In this sense, the regular consumption of bee honey can be an important dietary supplement in the prevention of heart disease, the immune system and inflammatory processes.
Wound treatment
Even in ancient Egypt, Rome ... honey was used to treat various wounds. A honey ointment was beneficial for sunburn, wound infections, and blemishes on the face. For this reason, antiseptic properties are attributed to it. So, it reduces the possibility of infections when applied to some wounds.
Moisturizing potential
The high humidity concentration of honey not only influences its viscosity, weight, flavour and colour, but it can also be essential for moisturizing different parts of our body. For the same reason, it is usually used as a moisturizer for the hair and scalp. It is important that honey is not exposed to high temperatures since its properties are lost.
It contains protein
Bee honey contains enzymes and amino acids. They originate from the activity of the bees themselves, and sometimes from the nectar of the plant. Proteins have a fundamental role in the growth and synthesis of different tissues. In turn, amino acids are the basis for protein production. It is an ideal option to consume protein without eating meat.
It minimizes allergies
Taking honey from the area where it is inhabited two months before flowering can reduce allergies. Bees carry pollen from flowers that make seasonal allergies worse, and some of this pollen is incorporated into honey. Consuming natural honey from the soil before allergy season can help the body accept pollen, so the allergy disappears.
Anti-inflammatory activity
The direct application of honey to inflamed muscles has been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It has been attributed to the property of reducing muscle swelling. In turn, it relieves the pain caused by inflammation. Due to its moisturizing potential and antiseptic properties, it is perfect to use as a cream against bumps or bruises.
It relieves cough and sore throat
Taken alone or in combination with other foods such as lemon or lime juice, honey bee relieves a sore throat, even in small doses. Due to its antibacterial properties, it can also help fight some infections of this type. Bee honey is recognized as a natural remedy to fight a cough by promoting quick and effective relief from throat irritation.
OTHER PROPERTIES OF HONEY
Primary sweetener
Before the extraction of cane sugar and other roots, tubers, and foods became popular, honey was the only natural primary sweetener. Due to its components, such as small peptides, flavonoids, and enzymes, honey serves as a sweetener. It is also a protective agent that, when mixed with other foods, can enhance both the flavour and its beneficial properties for health. Bee honey serves as a natural substitute for refined sugar.
It supports digestion
Taken alone or in combination with others, such as lemon juice or cinnamon, honey can promote the activity of the digestive system. It helps metabolize food, preventing or relieving stomach indigestion. It has also been attributed to alleviating symptoms of constipation and a feeling of heaviness after strong meals. For this reason, it has also been attributed to the property of preventing reflux and helping to alleviate diarrhoea or other stomach imbalances.
It reduces metabolic stress
All stress, be it emotional, psychological or physiological, is translated into the body as metabolic stress. One function of the adrenal gland is to produce adrenaline and cortisol, which stimulates the breakdown of muscle protein into amino acids to make new sugars. This occurs when the brain thinks it is in danger of running out of energy, for example, when doing physical exercise. By supplying our brain with natural sugars found in honey, these problems decrease.
It cures acne and hydrates skin
Most people suffer from acne at least once in a lifetime. The most important causes are hormonal imbalance and bacterial colonization of the skin. Some natural remedies provide antibacterial coverage comparable to that of commercial products, with the advantage that they are better tolerated than drugs. Honey is one of the best options for treating acne caused by bacteria.
It regulates blood sugar
The fructose and glucose balance is one of the best honey characteristics. When honey is consumed, the fructose serving allows glucose to be taken up by the liver to form glycogen, which becomes available to the brain, heart, kidneys, and red blood cells. This improves the functioning of the essential organs and tissues, removing glucose from the circulation and therefore reducing blood sugar. Honey hardly increases blood sugar or insulin levels, producing more glycogen per gram of honey than any other food
It improves brain function
The function of calcium in the brain is very important. Neurons use calcium to originate the electrical signal, which is carried from one neuron to another to communicate messages. If there is not enough calcium, the brain will not function properly. There is scientific information that shows that natural honey helps absorb and fix calcium in the body, promoting proper brain function. It also improves concentration and memory. In addition to being for the brain, it also helps prevent osteoporosis and bone problems.
Constipation treatment
Honey has a high content of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which, although they have a mainly energetic function, when they reach the colon they behave in a similar way to vegetable fibre. They capture water increasing the volume of faeces and originate gases that increase peristalsis or intestinal mobility. So they have a mild laxative effect. In addition, they are the preferred food of the beneficial bacteria that inhabit the colon (our intestinal flora) responsible for the fermentation and putrefaction of food residues that will give rise to feces.
It helps fix sleep schedule
If you eat honey before bed, your body stores glycogen in the liver, which will supply it to the blood when the brain needs it. In addition, consuming natural honey stimulates night relaxation and sleep. The natural sugar contained in honey produces a slight insulin secretion, which allows tryptophan to enter the brain more easily and thus allow the secretion of melatonin, a vital hormone for the daily regulation of sleep-wakefulness. Melatonin also regulates heart rhythms, helps improve immunity and facilitates tissue reconstruction at night.
In a process as old as almost human history, beekeepers collect the dense liquid that overflows from the combs and store it without any other consideration than the future enjoyment of its delicate flavour. No preservative should be added to keep honey in perfect condition, as this food constitutes, in itself, a powerful natural preservative. The bees produce from the nectar of the flowers pure honey in sufficient quantity to cover 3 times the energy needs of the hive. A worker takes advantage of this circumstance and collects the surplus, thus closing an ecological cycle in which bees are the true producers of food.
STORAGE:
Temperature: The ideal temperature for long-term storage of pure honey is 6 to 20 degrees. At room temperature, honey is likely to deteriorate and lose some properties over time. At low temperatures (below 17 degrees the process begins), the honey hardens or crystallizes, provided it is raw honey and is not pasteurized.
Moisture is decisive when storing the honey obtained, considering 18% as the starting point for fermentation processes. Its production is strongly associated with the summer period and does not require any type of preservative since honey itself is a powerful inhibitor of bacterial life.
Honey absorbs odours well, so it is recommended to always keep it closed and also:
-It should be stored away from odorous substances and products: gasoline, kerosene, salted fish, onion and garlic.
-You should not keep honey near sources of water and salt, as it concentrates moisture in the air.
– Better in a dark place. The light destroys its antimicrobial properties.
During storage, the honey becomes cloudy, darkens, thickens, and crystallizes. These are the normal stages of homegrown honey. If the honey does not thicken, it means that it is not pure honey. In general, all types of honey are thickened until crystallized due to their high fructose content.