Unusual Uses for Honey: Beyond the Hive
Honey is not just a sweet delight but also a multifaceted substance with myriad uses that extend far beyond the breakfast table. Here are some unexpected and unusual ways you can use honey in your daily life:
Improves Memory: Honey is composed mostly of carbohydrates and water, but it also contains some vitamins and minerals that help the body both absorb calcium, a necessary mineral for thought processing, and prevent cellular damage which leads to the decline of memory.
Makes Baked Goods More Tender: Honey's sweetness means it can be substituted in baked goods to create a more tender texture. Since honey attracts and holds water molecules, your cookies, cakes, pastries and more will stay softer.
Hangover Helper: Due to honey’s high fructose levels, consuming a spoonful of honey or drinking a tea with honey helps your body digest alcohol more rapidly, helping stave off a morning hangover or making it disappear faster.
Honey as a Face Scrub: Honey can be used as a facial cleanser. Honey is natural and has antibiotic properties which clear off dead skin cells and remove bacteria and impurities from our skin. To make this unusual cleanser, mix honey with coconut oil in a 1:2 formula and use as a standard facial scrub source.
Honey as an Antibiotic: Honey can be dabbed onto a wound to help encourage healing and prevent bacterial growth. Tests have shown honey can contain or kill bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus strains and, due to its hygroscopic nature, can act as an antibiotic when rubbed directly onto cuts or wounds.
Suppresses Nighttime Cough: In at least two studies, honey was compared with a common on-the-market cough suppressant and antihistamine and, in both studies, was found to reduce nighttime cough better than both medicines.
As a Diet Aid: Honey can boost metabolism, which is good news for anyone on a diet looking for a little extra help. Green tea also boosts metabolism, so for a double boost turn to honey if you’re looking for a sweetener for that afternoon cup of tea.
Puts Insomnia to Bed: For those who have trouble sleeping, turn to a bit of honey before bed. The sugars in honey release serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter, that the body converts into melatonin, an important chemical which regulates our sleep.
Fades Scars: If you have lasting scars you’re looking to make less noticeable, rub on a mixture of equal parts honey and coconut or olive oil. Cover the area with a warm washcloth for fifteen minutes to fade the color of scars.
Relieves Allergies: Much research is currently underway into the effect of honey in relieving allergies. Though results are still awaited, naturopathic doctors claim the trace amounts of pollen which remain in honey can act much in the same way as an inoculation, leading to less discomfort and less of an allergic response.
Honey, the sweet elixir of bees, has truly stood the test of time. From baked goods to beauty treatments, this natural wonder continues to reveal its versatility. It's more than just a pantry staple—it's a surprising tool for health, wellness, and even household care.