Organic Honey’s Many Health Benefits 0
Most of us generally try to avoid sugar. And there is a lot of sense in that. Too much carbohydrate of any sort, be it white flour in bread or sugar in our coffee, is not at all healthy. Worst of all is its strong link with metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. So it is generally much healthier to avoid sugar than to take it.
But when throwing out the bathwater, we should be careful not to throw out the baby. Honey is generally tarred with the same brush as sugar. And there is no doubt that too much honey would probably not be healthy, but in moderation it has some fantastic qualities. Moreover, being a totally natural product organic honey has a place in even the greenest and most eco-friendly homes.
The first is that several studies have shown it to be an effective treatment for coughing in children. In fact, in some studies when it has been tested against common cough medication, the honey has in fact produced better results. In our house we’ve had similar results with our three year old and one-year-old children. When they are coughing at bed time or during the night, half a teaspoon full of organic honey produces almost instant relief. One thing you should keep in mind, however, is that very young infants should not have honey. Raw honey can contain traces of bacteria that can be harmful to them because of their immature immune systems whereas they are harmless to adults.
I’ve also found that a teaspoon of honey works really well to sooth a sore throat too and regularly use it as a treatment.
Honey’s antiseptic and wound-healing properties also work on cuts and grazes. A few years back I read about some research that had been done on bed-ridden patients who were suffering from server bed sores. In the end the most effective treatment proved to be honey, which helped dry out and heal the wounds. Since then I’ve regularly used it on minor cuts and scratches.