The Nutritional Institute

I just bought the most beautiful looking and tasting raw honey ever, so I decided to delve into the benefits of this beautiful, medicinal liquid gold.

The research states that the practice of beekeeping (apiculture) dates back to 700BC and that honey was considered sacred because of it’s sweetness and rarity. It has been used as medicine since ancient times. In fact, the first Olympic Games in Greece recorded runners using honey as their energy source.

But not all honey is good for you. You need to buy the raw, unfiltered, unpasteurised one, that is loaded with bee pollen and propolis. It is not crystal clear but actually murky. Most of the honey available is the processed, pasteurised type that offers little to no nutritional benefit. This honey is clear in comparison to the raw version.

Raw honey is a functional food. This means that it’s a natural food with big health benefits. The nutrition of raw honey is impressive. It contains 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and 5000 enzymes. The minerals include iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium. The vitamins found include vitamin B6, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin.

Here are some of the miraculous benefits of honey:

1) Infection fighter
The pollen and propolis found in raw honey is known to ward off infections, provide natural allergy relief and boost the overall immunity. Honey’s ability to ward off allergies is based on the concept called immunotherapy. Bees found in your neighbourhood fly from flower to flower, collecting the very same pollen that causes one to suffer with allergies, but when you eat the local raw honey, you also consume the same offending pollen. After some time, an allergy sufferer may become less sensitive to the pollen that previously caused problems and they may experience less seasonal allergy symptoms. Many seasonal sufferers have found that locally produced raw honey is helpful because it desensitises them to the fauna that triggers their allergic reaction. In 2013, a study found that eating a daily dose of raw honey could improve overall and individual symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However the type of honey is essential - processed honey contains no pollen and little benefit.

2) It is a natural energy source
Raw honey contains 80 per cent natural sugars, 18 per cent water, plus minerals and vitamins, pollen and protein (2 per cent). It has been termed the perfect running fuel. It provides an easily absorbed supply of energy in the form of liver glycogen, making it ideal for pre- and post-exercise workouts. Some studies have shown it to be the best form of carbohydrates to consume right before exercising.

3) Powerful antioxidant
A daily dose of raw honey helps increase the levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body. These antioxidants block free radicals that cause disease. They also boost the body’s immunity. It contains disease fighting polyphenols that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

4) Promotes restorative sleep
It has been shown that if you eat a teaspoon of honey before bed, it can restock the liver glycogen supply and prevent the brain from triggering the body to wake up because it needs fuelling. Secondly, it releases melatonin in the brain by creating a minor spike in the insulin levels, which stimulates the release of tryptophan. Tryptophan then converts to serotonin, which then coverts to melatonin. Melatonin boosts the immunity and helps rebuild the tissue during periods of rest.

5) Wound healer
Honey has antibacterial properties, which aid in wound healing. It also reacts with the body’s fluids to make hydrogen peroxide, creating an inhospitable environment for bacteria. Normally raw honey is applied directly onto a burn for healing.

6) Cough syrup
Raw honey has been shown to be effective in treating coughs. Scientific evidence has shown that a single dose of honey can reduce mucus secretion and coughs. For a cough a half to two teaspoons of honey at bedtime is a studied and recommended dosage for anyone over the age of one.

Raw garlic honey ferment
So what did I do in my kitchen this week with this beautiful medicinal food? I decided to ferment raw garlic in raw honey. It’s so easy and I’m saving it for a sore throat or cough day that might happen with one of my little boys. And if it doesn’t happen, which I hope it won’t, I’ll use it next winter! Here is the simple recipe.

Take as many garlic bulbs as you like (I used 10). Peel each clove and slice off the debris. Place them into a glass jar with a tight fitting screw-on or flip lid. Pour the raw honey all over the cloves until they are completely submerged. Place the lid on tightly and burp daily. You could add a teaspoon of apple cider to speed up the fermentation process. It should last for well over a year refrigerated or away from direct sunlight.