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There’s more to that jar of liquid gold honey than meets the eye.
When beekeepers harvest the sweet nectar from the hives, they are
bringing a variety of products to the table full of nature’s
goodness.
Honey is a natural, unrefined, sweet fluid produced by honeybees
from the nectar of flowers. It is 25-per-cent sweeter than sugar and
consists of two simple sugars, laevulose and dextrose. It is 17 per
cent water and contains traces of the sugars maltose and sucrose, as
well as vitamins, minerals, organic acids and enzymes.
Because honey is mainly made of simple sugars, which are quickly
absorbed into the bloodstream, it is an instant source of energy.
The most common variety of honey comes from the nectar of clover.
Other delicious varieties are produced from the nectar of canola,
alfalfa, blueberries, sunflowers, fruit trees and wildflowers. The
colour of the honey depends on the type of nectar collected by the
bees. Clover produces honey with the lightest colour and mildest
flavour. Buckwheat honey is the darkest in colour and strongest in
taste.
Creamed honey, which always remains smooth, is prepared by adding
finely granulated honey to liquid honey and storing it in a way that
controls crystallization. This process ensures only small uniform
crystals form in the honey so it remains smooth and easy to handle.
Comb honey is honey sold in its unaltered state – sealed in the wax
made by honeybees in the hive.
Bees and the beekeeping industry are of the utmost importance to the
health and vitality of Canada’s agricultural industry and to the
country’s economy. Bees play an indispensable role in the
pollination of the essential crops. In fact, bees are responsible
for the health of $170 million worth of crops in Ontario each year.
Canadian beekeepers produced 61.4 million pounds of honey in 2007.
Of that, 5.6 million pounds were produced in Ontario by 75,000 bee
colonies maintained by 2,300 beekeepers.
The average Canadian consumes a little over one pound (454 grams) of
honey per year. Bees must visit about two million flowers to make
that one pound of honey. To reach all these flowers, bees often fly
a distance equivalent to a trip around the world, just to get enough
nectar to produce a single pound of honey.
When a honeybee lands on a flower to collect the nectar, it gets
covered in pollen. The dust-like pollen clings to the hairs on the
honeybee’s body. When the bee visits the next flower, the pollen on
its body brushes off against the female part (pistil) of that
flower, leading to pollination – the fertilization of a flowering
plant.
Bees also collect pollen and take it back to the hive where it is
used as a protein source necessary during brood-rearing.
Excess pollen can be collected from the hive and eaten as a health
supplement. Often referred to as "nature’s most complete food,"
pollen contains a high concentration of nearly all the nutrients
your body requires, making it an excellent multi-vitamin. As well,
bee pollen is rich in enzymes and amino acids that the body needs.
It may increase energy and endurance in your body; it can help to
promote a more efficient metabolism and improve overall immunity by
stimulating all organs and glands. It may also be effective in
controlling allergies, especially seasonal, pollen-induced
allergies, such as hay fever.
Bee pollen should be taken on a daily basis, starting first with a
few granules, gradually working up to a teaspoon average dosage then
taken as needed.
There are also a number of medicinal benefits associated with honey.
In ancient times, beehive products were used for therapeutic healing
and disease prevention. Today, that wisdom, harmonized with science,
is known as Apitherapy.
Royal jelly is the primary food the nurse honeybees secrete from
glands on their heads and manufacture to develop larvae in the
beehive. Sometimes referred to as "honey bee milk," royal jelly
plays an essential role in the making of the Queen Bee. She is the
only bee that is fed this creamy thick fluid her entire life. Royal
jelly is exceptionally rich in natural hormones and offers an
abundance of B vitamins. Because of this, the Queen lives 40 times
longer and is noticeably larger than the other bees in the hive.
For humans, royal jelly may help prolong life and preserve youthful
vitality in the body. It may also be helpful in managing PMS, menopause
(mid-life), fatigue and impotence. White royal jelly is a balanced
nutritious food, only a small amount is needed per day (suggested use:
one or two grams per day as needed).
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Another product is propolis, touted for thousands of
years as an anti-bacterial, anti-viral and cell regeneration
stimulant. Propolis is a potent natural mixture of various
amounts of leaf bud and tree resins, combined with beeswax
and enzymes collected and produced by the honeybees. It is
found in the beehive and helps to "sterilize" and inhibit
the spread of bacteria and viruses within the colony.
Propolis holds powerful bioflavonoids and antioxidants. The
composition in propolis may vary but it is always guided by
the intelligence of the bees themselves. Propolis acts as a
natural antibiotic, and may be used to prevent and build
resistance against illness and infections. It may be used
topically and internally (average dosage suggested:
500-1,000 mg taken as needed).
Honey is complementary to all products of the hive. When
honey is mixed together with royal jelly and propolis, the
honey helps to maintain their potency. These products add
great value to the honey but are not considered a
replacement dosage.
Pure beeswax is also a natural product that is secreted from
the wax glands of honeybees as they go about their business
of producing and storing honey in the hive. Beeswax holds a
delightful floral scent that is pleasing to all. It has a
high melting point and holds great value as a long burning
candle wax. One hundred per-cent pure beeswax candles have a
clean hot and bright flame that helps to remove toxins and
impurities from the air. When lit, they do not drip and are
a tonic for relaxing. Beeswax is also a superior natural
substance with beneficial effects in skin care and cosmetic
products. It helps to penetrate, soothe and protect rough,
dry and irritated skin, while leaving the area feeling
smooth and soft.
Honey is also good for diabetics. A tablespoon of honey
consists of nearly the same carbohydrate content as a cupful
of quartered raw apple. Consuming honey will produce a
significantly lower blood sugar response than an equivalent
amount of sugar or other glucose rich starches.
When consumed regularly over several weeks or months, honey
will lower blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc)
levels. For many years, honey has been valued for its many
healing properties. It can help calm the mind and promote rejuvenating
sleep. It relieves indigestion and is used to treat cardiovascular
disease and respiratory complaints. And, a thin coat of honey can be
applied to the skin to disinfect and heal minor skin wounds and chapped
lips.
For a relaxing honey bath, put two ounces of honey in a glass with five
drops of lavender oil. It the honey is too thick, heat it by placing the
glass in warm water. Add one or two tablespoons of the honey-lavender
mixture to your bathwater to help you relax and combat insomnia.
Applied externally, honey is useful for healing minor cuts and abrasions
by drawing excess water from the tissues and reducing swelling. Honey
also contains a germ-killing substance, called "inhibine," which helps
prevent infections. Spread honey directly on the wound and cover with a
sterile bandage.
Honey is an outstanding household remedy that can be used in combination
with various medicinal herbs. For relief of coughs and wheezing
associated with bronchitis, whooping cough or other minor respiratory
ailments, mix one teaspoon of finely chopped fresh thyme in a little
honey. Take the mixture orally as needed to soothe inflamed lungs and
airways.
Honey tastes delicious and is good for you too.
Unbee-lievable!
For more information, contact local beekeeper Guy Anderson at
519-396-3529 or 1-866-314-3529 or check the website at
www.anderkin.ca
* Bee products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease. They may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.
Information in this article is given for informative purposes only. For
treatment of illnesses, seek the advice of a licensed health
practitioner who is qualified to make diagnoses and recommendations for
treatment of illnesses.
** Information provided by the Ontario Beekeepers Association, Ontario
Agri-Food Education Inc., The Ontario Bee Journal, Annie’s Apitherapy,
The Honey Revolution, and The Complete Guide to Natural Healing
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