Raw honey is the golden wonder that can keep you at the top of your game this winter season… It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s true—cold and flu season are here and they’ve made a grand entrance this year. Hence, immunity health should be at the top of our to-do list. The last thing we want is to be side-tracked by a cough or sore throat, right?
Luckily my first line of defence just happens to be delicious and all natural, organic and locally-sourced raw honey. Here in Australia, we are so lucky with such a wide variety of raw honey, there’s one for each palate. Clover, Orange blossom, red gum and macadamia are among my faves. I also have a soft spot for the cloudy ones, and manuka varieties. Why honey? Because its benefits could keep you at the top of your game this season. Let me tell you how.
What’s the difference between raw honey and regular honey?
Regular, commercial honey, the kind that typically comes in a bear-shaped container and runs clear and easy from the jar, is filtered and then pasteurised at a high temperature to kill off any yeast that may be present. Raw honey, on the contrary, is unprocessed and unpasteurised to preserve the beneficial nutrients present. While commercial honey still tastes amazing and is an adequate substitute for liquid sweetener in recipes, it lacks the same incredible benefits of raw honey. To see whether the raw honey you’ve purchased is truly raw, take a spoonful and place it in a glass of water. If it settles to the bottom, it’s raw. However, if it dissolves easily and sticks to the edges of the glass, it could be processed or even 'fake' (yes, fake honey is a thing, and is full of processed sugars).
A little raw honey before bed could help you sleep by promoting the release of melatonin.
Benefits of raw honey
Which are all these impressive nutrients available in raw, unprocessed honey? If you’re prone to seasonal allergies, consuming local raw honey could help. Raw honey contains bee pollen, the very same pollen that might be causing your allergy. By consuming small amounts contained in your local raw honey you are desensitising your body to that specific pollen. Ingesting regularly your local raw honey, you're helping your body to build up antibodies and produce less histamine when allergy season rolls around.
Trouble sleeping? A little raw honey before bed could help you sleep by helping to promote the production of melatonin. Honey helps your brain release melatonin, the hormone that your body uses to restore itself during sleep. This happens through a series of transformations in your brain: honey’s natural sugars spike your insulin levels, releasing tryptophan, which becomes serotonin, which becomes melatonin. Try adding a small amount of honey to a mug of tea before bed to help you relax and get ready your body for rest.
It also provides easy-to-access fuel for your brain throughout the night. Specifically, it restocks your liver’s glycogen. Low levels of glycogen tell your brain that it’s time to eat. If you haven’t eaten in several hours when you go to sleep, this “hunger” can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and sleep less soundly.
As cold and flu season spread around, raw honey should be at the forefront of your seasonal sickness arsenal. Soothe a sore throat and suppress a cough with just a spoonful of raw honey, which not only soothes but contains antibacterial properties to shorten the lifespan of a cold. Raw honey has been found to be as effective as traditional cough syrup in treating a sore throat and reducing mucus production. Honey is naturally antibacterial and antifungal—as long as it’s kept pure and free of contamination from water and other factors, it doesn’t expire. The same antibacterial and antifungal properties can benefit the body by supporting immunity and warding off minor colds and seasonal illnesses. These same antibacterial properties are incredibly beneficial for acne-prone skin and raw honey has long been used as an ingredient in masks and cleansers as well as regenerating moisturisers.
Soothe a sore throat and suppress a cough with a spoonful of raw honey. Since raw honey contains antibacterial properties, it reduces the common cold lifespan.
How to use raw honey
Raw honey is incredibly versatile, but in order to harness its full range of benefits, it’s best consumed straight from the jar. However, it makes a great substitute for processed sugar if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of its nutritional power.
Tough workout ahead? Take a spoonful of raw honey beforehand to power through.
Here are some delicious easy DIY for you to try at home and enjoy all the benefits on your beautiful skin.
DIY Honey Rose Lip Scrub
1/4 cup raw organic sugar
2 tsp jojoba oil
4 tsp apricot oil
7 drops rose essential oil
1 tbsp raw honey
Melt gently the honey over low heat. Once the honey is melted, combine honey, sugar and oils in a measuring glass or mixing bowl and mix well. Once completely mixed, spoon the scrub into your resealable glass jar.
How to use it: Gently rub a small amount of scrub on lips when needed. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Apply a dab of our Cocooning Rose Balm for extra conditioning if needed.
Repairing Honey Face Mask
1 ½ tsp raw honey
1 tbsp Sheep Milk Greek yoghurt
3 drops vitamin E or a capsule
1/4 tsp calendula oil
1 drop Chamomile essential oil
1 drop Lavender essential oil
3 drop Sweet Orange essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Apply the moisture to your clean and dry skin. Leave it for 5 to10 minutes. Wash it off and follow with Mist of Roses followed by Whipped Cream and a dab of Cocooning Rose Balm in the most damaged areas.
Read some other recipes I have shared in previous posts and enjoy a naturally healthy winter!
Keep glowing beauties,
Sonia x