HONEY, MORE USEFUL THAN WE THINK ?

Used for thousands of years, honey is a well-known and appreciated raw material and constitutes a very profitable economic sector. Indeed, beekeeping is an important agricultural sector in Canada with an annual economic contribution of approximately $2.57 billion. Although we have nothing to envy others, we are not the largest producers in this area, because the excessive mortality of bees prevents us from doing so. This is why countries like China, New Zealand and Argentina – where bees thrive – are seeing their numbers increase at a dizzying speed thanks to honey exports. But why such interest in honey?

Honey in the kitchen

There is a range of different honeys, from the mildest like acacia honey, to the strongest like forest honey. All having a different characteristic, we can use them in many ways in our recipes or simply raw in our yogurt or on toast. In addition to its many possible uses, honey has a greater sweetening power than sugar while being less caloric, an advantage for many gourmets.

In baking, honey brings a sweeter taste to different recipes since it better retains moisture in cakes, muffins, brioches and other sweets. This is why partially or completely replacing sugar with honey can become a good option. For ice cream lovers, it is also possible to make it yourself. Honey slows down the crystallization of ice cream and makes the cream smoother. For sweet recipes, sweet honeys or polyfloral honeys, from a varied mixture of flowers, are the most recommended. For example, acacia honey, summer honey or meadow honey are good choices.

Since honey is a natural product coming directly from bees, the process becomes much less problematic for the environment. On the contrary, sugar cultivation could be considered one of the worst for the environment. Indeed, its enormous need for water and pesticides causes soil erosion, which harms the surrounding flora and fauna. These environmental impacts can also influence global warming, a major problem today. This is why honey is becoming an interesting and more eco-responsible alternative since it is an equivalent of white sugar.

A sugar that is good for your health

Obviously, the primary use of honey is in cooking, but many forget that it also provides many health benefits. As a result, this hive product has prebiotic activity, meaning that it improves the condition of certain bacteria essential to the health of our intestinal microflora. In addition, honey, like fruits and vegetables, contains a certain amount of antioxidants, chemical substances that protect our body. In addition, those present in honey help prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and certain neurodegenerative diseases. For a honey with a higher amount of oxidants, you should take a darker honey, such as sunflower or buckwheat.

Finally, this product also has an antibacterial power. It is its low pH and its limitation to dissolve oxygen that give it this power. Indeed, the use of honey can be used to reduce an inflammation of the throat or a gastric ulcer. In short, with all these health benefits, it is essential to adhere to it.

Industrial application

Several beauty products also use honey for its many benefits. This is also why we often find this ingredient in shampoos, makeup removers or soaps. The natural enzymes and hydrogen peroxide present in honey serve as a detoxifier, that is to say, it deeply cleanses the skin and hair. In addition to this, honey helps reduce sebum production and tighten pores, which helps reduce acne. In addition, its many nutrients help revitalize the skin or hair. Indeed, a touch of honey can restore shine to hair or even the complexion.

Some moisturizers as well as some sunscreens contain honey because its richness in potassium and vitamin B gives it significant nourishing power. The sugars that compose it also help to retain water in the epidermis (like the moisture in cakes) to prevent the skin from becoming dehydrated. In addition, honey has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can therefore soothe itching or redness on the skin. It can even help heal wounds thanks to its ability to regenerate cells.

Whether you are a fan of honey or not, it is undeniable that it has as many applications in cooking as in health. In addition, beekeeping remains a necessary activity for the protection of our bees, which as we know, allow the reproduction of many plants through their pollination. By helping the honey trade, we also help all those who work in the field of beekeeping and who allow the survival of our bees.