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All Things Honey
Tuesday, September 20, 2005

By Rae A. Costa

Reluctantly I took a bite of my boyfriend's honey and peanut butter sandwich. Not quite sure about the taste I took another bite and another until the whole sandwich was gone. I was really impressed. Where had this remarkable product called 'honey' come from? Why had I not experienced its deliciously sweet taste before?

I must live under a rock, because honey has been around since forever. Exactly how long is hard to say. Cave paintings found in Spain dating from 7,000 BC show the earliest records of beekeeping. However, found fossils of honeybees date as far back as 150 million years. Let's just say honey has been around for the length of my lifetime - 37 years - and I'm just now becoming acquainted with its yumminess.

When something new comes along, or at least something undiscovered by me, I like to learn all about it. So for the last few days honey has been my obsession. The Internet is filled with wonderful sites devoted entirely to honey. Did you know there is actually a National Honey Board?

The board was created in 1986 when the U.S. Congress passed the Honey Research, Promotion and Consumer Information Act. Honey even has its own month. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has designated September as National Honey Month.

What exactly is honey? For those living under the rock with me, honey is a natural sweetener. Honeybees produce it from nectar gathered from flowers and store it in honeycombs. The flavor of the honey varies with the source of the nectar. Beekeepers can influence the taste based on where they place their hives and what the bees feed upon.

Honey comes in a variety of forms. Comb honey is honey that comes straight from the bees' wax comb. Liquid honey is honey extracted from the honey comb then strained. Most of the honey produced in the U.S. is sold in this form. Cut comb honey is liquid honey that comes with sections of honeycomb in it. Whipped honey can be spread like butter because its crystallization can be controlled.

The selection of honey in regards to color and taste is enormous. Colors range from a deep dark brown to almost colorless. Flavor varies as well. Generally, the darker the honey the stronger the flavor. Dark honey is best used in breads, muffins, and pancakes whereas the lighter honey is used mainly as a sweetener or in cookies and cakes. Its uses in cooking are limitless. The good thing about honey is no matter which kind you use, you can't go wrong.

Not only does honey taste good, it has many health benefits as well.

Honeys' best medicinal purpose is its wound healing ability. For centuries it's been used in its raw form as an antiseptic for burns and wounds. Honey is composed mainly of glucose and fructose, two sugars that attract water. Raw honey applied on wounds absorb the water in the wound, thus helping to dry it out and reducing the growth of bacteria in and around the area.

Other benefits of honey include: acts as a natural anti-inflammatory to help soothe sore throats; hydrates the body to help with diarrhea, vomiting, and upset stomach; helps kidneys and intestines to function better; is a good source of antioxidants to prevent cancer and heart disease; energizes the body without adding weight; and helps the brain to function better.

So what's my point? Honey tastes great and should be enjoyed by all!

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