The Buzz on Honey

The Good-for-You Sweetener

-- By Liza Barnes, Health Educator

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Besides being good for your insides, honey has a host of external uses too. Due to its extremely low moisture content, it is a natural antibacterial agent. You might also consider incorporating honey into your daily beauty regiment. The humectant (moisture-attracting) property of honey makes it useful as a hair or skin mask. However, if sitting around drenched in honey doesn’t appeal to you, check out the large selection of honey-based hair and beauty products in natural food stores everywhere. Individuals with sensitive skin will appreciate honey’s anti-irritant qualities too—it is so gentle that it is often used as an ingredient in products made for babies and anyone with sensitive skin.

Although honey is safe for just about everyone, individuals who have problems with maintaining proper blood sugar levels should restrict their consumption of honey. This includes people who have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), diabetes, and other sugar sensitivities. Another group who should abstain from honey is babies under one year of age, as they haven’t yet built up a resistance to the dormant bacteria that may be present in the honey. Some strict vegetarians also choose not to use honey because it is produced by bees.

Although it contains trace amounts of nutrients, honey is a carbohydrate-rich food that is approximately 80 percent sugar, so practice moderation when incorporating it into your diet. You'll please your palate and your body—now that's sweet!

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About The Author

Liza Barnes
Liza has two bachelor's degrees: one in health promotion and education and a second in nursing. A registered nurse and mother, regular exercise and cooking are top priorities for her. See all of Liza's articles.

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Member Comments

MISSYGEEN

I've always liked honey in my tea and thought it was a healthier choice but got information that it wasn't, now I'm hearing it is. They could have saved a lot of money on this research and just asked my mother.

Now after reading this I want to go and watch The Secret Life of Bees. - 4/26/2013 8:08:11 PM
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CHRIS3874

There used to be a company that had honey in a cardboard tub that was not highly processed but very delicious sadly I haven't seen it in years. I do like buckwheat honey but I confess I get tired of the taste after a while. - 4/6/2013 11:27:06 PM
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RAME123

Thanks for the reminder! - 3/3/2013 9:04:48 PM
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KAB7801

I'm going to try honey instead of syrup - 3/3/2013 11:18:09 AM
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SUEFOXMACON

I would like to see a little more information published on SparkPeople about Honey. Contrary to common thought, it is NOT processed just like sugar. Read about the fructose paradox if you need more information. Like with fruits and vegetables, the fructose and glucose from honey are absorbed simultaneously and play much less havoc with blood sugar levels. - 1/1/2013 9:57:57 AM
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JPEARL127

Interesting and informative. For years, when we took our son to college, we would stop at a roadside stand to purchase honey made by a woman in Guttenberg, Iowa. I still have some, and it needs to be heated to melt into useable form, but it is still as delicious as it was when it was fresh! - 6/18/2012 8:52:49 AM
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HJBLAKESLEY

Honey and cinnamon is a great throat/cough soother. - 2/24/2012 7:36:47 PM
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SOLSTICE901

It's great with hot water for a sore throat. - 2/24/2012 5:15:05 PM
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LILDYNARIDER

One of my fav morning breakfasts in the summer is greek yogurt and raw honey. Mmmm love the stuff. - 2/24/2012 1:53:01 PM
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CASEYTALK

As the study was funded by the National Honey Board, I'm a bit skeptical about the results. The micronutrients in honey are minute and make little nutritional difference, if any.

Honey is tasty and versatile, but it's still, essentially, sugar. Your body will treat it that way. The caveats against people with sugar metabolism issues using honey are buried in the article. As with all things, a little from time to time is fine. - 2/24/2012 1:33:27 PM
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APPROACHINGMARS

I collect varietal honeys. It's amazing how different they all taste from each other, even though they're all just honey. The types I tend to stick to are forest, wildflower, and buckwheat. - 2/24/2012 11:37:46 AM
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SCIFIMOM

Also about buying locally sourced raw honey: There's a lot of research suggesting that consuming local raw honey filled with local pollens can help your body develop better immunity to them, which is helpful for people suffering seasonal pollen allergies. Many in my family get relief that way, and it really seems to work for them. I can't do it personally because I'm a type 2 diabetic trying to control blood sugar with diet, and honey doesn't help. - 2/24/2012 10:30:43 AM
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KCDEBI

I would email this if I knew who to send it to: at the end, she advised vegetarians might want to avoid honey because bees make it. I think that she means vegans and not vegetarians. - 2/24/2012 10:22:21 AM
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ZABELINA1

My sis was born with horrible eczema all over her body and my mom cured her with honey. No prescription drugs. - 2/24/2012 10:19:52 AM
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ZABELINA1

My grandmother works with honey. She knows a million different types of honey and what they are good for. And she's got a legion a grateful customers that tell her how much better they feel and how great their blood tests are now.
For people with heart problems she makes a mix of dried apricots, prunes and light honey.
And she always said (I don't know if it is true) that people with high blood pressure should avoid dark colored honey like buckwheat variety (my favorite yum).
So I do believe in honey and I do use it but never abuse it.
Go ahead and have a teaspoon of sunny sweetness. - 2/24/2012 10:16:56 AM
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