Mallory Knee
Save the bees! Not only are they an essential part of our planet and the environment, but their honey also has some fantastic properties. If you’re unsure of what those are, take a look below. Most of the honey you buy at the store has been pasteurized, which means those key benefits are stripped away. Grab some raw honey from a trusted source and reap the benefits—learn what those are here.
Soothes Coughs
Especially in kids, raw honey can help reduce the severity of coughs and sore throats. This has been a traditional remedy to coughs for ages and can be more effective than other medicinal options. Raw honey will lessen the frequency and the intensity of coughs—it’s also what a lot of singers and actors will use to coat their throats before shows.
Helps Heal Wounds
This may sound odd, but raw honey is an excellent antibiotic for wounds and burns. It disinfects in the same way over-the-counter antibiotics work—helping your body regenerate faster and with even less risk of infection or scarring. Healthline writes that “honey has antibacterial properties and a unique pH balance that promotes oxygen and healing compounds to a wound.” That said before you reach into the cabinet and pull out your jar of raw honey to put on a scrape, do your research. Make sure you follow essential steps of cleaning the wound and researching the right and wrong times to use raw honey on an injury.
Provides Essential Nutrients
Those two benefits make the fact that raw honey provides essential nutrients pretty unsurprising. Think about it—honey is the thing that bees build entire colonies around; it’s what keeps them alive. When we make use of raw honey, we’re taking in those powerful nutrients. Here are some of the essential nutrients you can find in raw honey:
- Riboflavin
- Folate
- Betaine
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Zinc
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
In addition to those nutrients, raw honey is also prebiotic, nourishing the good bacteria in our intestines. When used correctly, it can help with diarrhea and other stomach and intestine issues.
Good Source of Antioxidants
All of the above health benefits of raw honey also point to its quality antioxidants. The substance contains various plant chemicals that act as antioxidants in our bodies. Depending on the sort of honey, they may even have as many antioxidants as some of your favorite fruits and vegetables. They also include antioxidant compounds called polyphenols—these are also found in red wines—and play a role in preventing heart disease.
These are just a few of the many different benefits of raw honey. There’s no harm in getting a jar of raw honey for the home—then, you can use it whenever the need arises. If you’re interested, you could try starting up your backyard bee farm! There are so many ways to help the bees and tangentially help yourself as well. Try it out and see what happens.
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