A jar of honey is a staple in all our households and is known to have immense health benefits. Honey was used as a conventional therapy in fighting infections until the 20th century. Honey is a natural antioxidant and contains antibacterial and antifungal properties that make it ideal for healing purposes. It is also popularly known as the golden nectar or liquid gold which is filled with inflammatory and antioxidant properties. While you may hear a lot of facts out there about honey, there are a few myths that we’d like to bust about honey for you.
Myth #1: Honey spoils easily and has an expiration date.
Fact: Honey never spoils and never needs refrigeration. Archaeologists have discovered clay vessels filled with honey, wine and olive oil – more than 3,000 years old – in the tombs of the Pharaohs. The wine and olive oil had spoiled but the honey remained intact and still edible. Honey is best consumed freshly harvested and will lose its delicate flavors as it ages. Although honey will last forever, it will not taste good or hold its health benefits.
Myth #2: If honey is crystallized, then it has gone bad.
Fact: If your honey has crystallized, that does not mean it has gone bad, in fact it is a sign of quality. If you gently warm the bottle by standing the bottle in hot water and gently stirring it— it will return to its liquid state. Take care not overheat it as this compromises the delicate flavors. However, microwaving is not recommended.
Myth #3: Honey is supposed to be only in golden colour.
Fact: All honey is not equal, and each honey’s color, aroma and flavor varies depending upon its terroir – region, soil, and climate, and the type of blossom nectar gathered by the honeybee. Honey is an agricultural product of nature. Like apples and tomatoes, each one will be different. Honey has a variety of flavors and the color changes based on the taste. Depending on the source of the flower nectar, region, soil and climate, the color, taste, and scent can vary to a great extent. Also, the age of the honey and the storage in warmer temperatures tend to darken the honey and change the flavor.
Myth #4: If you are consuming honey as a natural remedy, there is a set dosage that you need to follow.
Fact: There is no set dose for taking natural remedies. To each his own and only you know your body and what makes you feel well. A teaspoon a day is a good start. It can boost your immune system and relieve scratchy throats, symptoms of hay fever and allergies.
Myth #5: Honey is not the only unprocessed sweetener found in nature.
Fact: Pure honey is the only unprocessed sweetener found in nature. It has naturally occurring minerals and vitamins not found in other sweeteners and heating it at 120F for as little as a few seconds can destroy them. Commercially made honeys are often heated to high temperatures to prevent crystallization so choose fresh honey from a trusted source. Honey is loaded with healthy nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, unlike artificial sugars. Honey contains pure sugar – a combination of fructose and glucose – which helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. Since most honeys are sweeter than sugar, you can use less to enjoy the same effect and still have a natural, healthier option.
Myth #6: Honey dries up your skin.
Fact: Honey is naturally hydrating to the skin, making it the perfect ingredient to add to your daily skin care routine. Try a honey facial mask for 10 minutes – your skin will glow!
Myth #7: You can’t use a metal spoon to scoop out honey.
Fact: Honey is acidic by nature. It is an old wives’ tale that scooping honey with a metal spoon might be dangerous. But scooping your honey is such a quick movement that corrosion of the metal is very much unlikely. But still, we aren’t in favor of storing a metal spoon within your honey for long periods of time. You can rather use a wooden spoon or a dripper if you want to store it for a longer time.
Myth #8: Honey is not gluten-free.
Fact: Honey is naturally gluten-free. Gluten-free honey can have numerous health benefits, such as improving cholesterol levels, promoting digestive health, and increasing energy levels. A gluten-free diet could help your body get rid of viruses & germs because many of the foods you eat will be high in antioxidants, essential vitamins, and minerals.
Myth #9: White foam on honey is a sign of it spoiling.
Fact: The myth is to reiterate the point that honey never spoils. The white foam on the top of honey is simply tiny air bubbles which are formed due to trapped air in the honey that has escaped to the top of the bottle.
Myth #10: Viscosity is the only way to judge whether your honey is raw or has been pasteurized.
Fact: Viscosity is not a way to judge whether your honey is raw or has been pasteurized. “Raw” does not always equate with “thick” for honey. The viscosity of honey depends on various factors like nectar source, weather, humidity, rainfall, soil, landscape, the flowers and the bees forage. Some floral varieties of honey from countries like China and Taiwan are naturally more viscous than other countries. For instance, honey from China and Taiwan tends to be more fluid in nature (Runny Honey). Another reason for runny honey is, harvesting the honey too early when the honeycomb is still unripe and uncapped. The bees flap their wings to accelerate the water evaporation process till the honey becomes concentrated, and then they cap the honeycomb with wax. If honey is harvested before the right amount of water is evaporated, the moisture percentage will be too high. Hence, watery honey is not always a sign of adulteration. Thus viscosity should not be considered as a deciding factor of honey quality.
Enjoy good health, skin and hair with our range of Hive To Home Honey that you are sure to fall in love with.
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