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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before using any of the herbs and/or remedies mentioned in this article.
Honey is one of mother nature’s greatest gifts and an important item to add to your urban survival cache. But it is more urgent that you start stocking up on honey now before other many other food items. Over the past several years the honeybee population has dropped up to 70 percent and the price of honey is on the rise.
Scientists still don’t know for sure why this is happening, but it is likely due to several factors such as the increasing number of toxins in our environment, especially pesticides.
Whatever the cause, it is quite possible that honeybees could become extinct this century. The good news is that there is still plenty of honey available for purchase and it lasts forever. Archaeologists have discovered jars of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs, and it is still edible!
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As with most food, raw is better than processed. Most honey found in grocery stores is “commercial” which means it has been heated and filtered so it looks clean and smooth. Unfortunately, when honey is heated it loses much of its nutritional value, so try to stock up on raw honey, although even commercial honey is good for you. You’ll know it’s raw from the tiny pieces of pollen and honeycomb, or by simply checking the label.
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Although it will crystallize into a thick, butter-like consistency after a few months, all you have to do is warm it up with a little water to rehydrate it. Better yet, buy some Tupelo honey—it never crystallizes.
What’s so great about honey?
Honey is one of the best things you can eat; the list of health benefits seems endless. Here are just a few great things about honey:
1. It increases energy
The glucose in honey gives you an immediate energy boost, while the fructose keeps your energy level high for longer. Instead of coffee in the morning, try some honey on toast or in tea. And instead of an energy drink before a workout, eat a spoonful of honey and drink a glass of water. It works just as well and it’s healthier.
2. It builds up the immune system
Honey is full of antioxidants and has many anti-bacterial properties. In The Honey Revolution by Dr. Ron Fessenden goes into more detail.
3. It’s good for cuts and burns
When applied to wounds, honey can keep them clean and free of infections, reduce pain and swelling, and help them heal faster. Manuka honey is believed to be the best type of honey for this.
4. It soothes sore throats and coughs
Honey is great for the walls of the throat and its antimicrobial properties help kill the bacteria causing the infection. And studies have shown that buckwheat honey is as good for nighttime coughs as medicines like NyQuil.
5. It can reduce allergies
This is because taking honey helps you build up a tolerance to local pollens.
6. It can help with insomnia
Mix a teaspoon of honey with a glass of warm milk before you go to bed.
7. It assists with weight loss
Although honey has more calories than sugar, it can help your body burn off the fat stored in your body, especially when taken with a glass of warm water and lemon juice. Another method is to boil it in water and cinnamon powder first thing in the morning.
8. It’s good for those with high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes
In a series of experiences, scientists have been able to show that natural honey, taken daily, can lower cholesterol and causes a much lower rise in blood sugar than refined sugars.
9. It’s good for the skin
Drinking milk and honey every morning can reduce wrinkles and keep your skin smooth and healthy.
10. It shortens hangovers
It’s better if you don’t drink so much you have a hangover, but it can happen to the best of us and honey can help. It’s gentle on the stomach and can help the liver oxidate alcohol more quickly.
11. It goes great with cinnamon
I could write a whole other list about the benefits of honey mixed with cinnamon. This mixture is good for things like arthritis, hair loss, toothaches, upset stomachs and more.
12. It tastes great!
There are even more benefits than the ones listed here, but you get the idea. So when stocking up on food in preparation for whatever urban survival scenario might come your way, stop for a moment and consider your health. Eating MRE’s and canned foods during a disaster won’t be good for your body, but eating honey every day can help make up for that. And remember, it lasts forever so get all you can while it’s still affordable.
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Personally as a bee keeper the knowledge that was passed down to me is that honey only lasts forever because the bees absorb the water content from the nectar. So why add even a drop of water to remove the crystals? That doesn’t sound right to me unless you only add it to the portion you are about to consume. Here’s another idea for prepping…. Learn how to keep bees before the big disaster! You can help the population of bees and if there’s enough honey to harvest in the fall you have that too not to mention the medicinal aspect. It’s anti bacterial/microbial. If you get a cut the propolis can be used as a “skin glue” and hardens like pine sap. If you have a soar throat you can soothe it with a spoon full of honey. Or you can mix it with warm water and lemon juice for cold relief. It you get honey sourced in your local area you can eat it and get the possible rewards of allergy relief (I think for the following year or something like that I don’t think)
Ancient egyptians used honey for medicinal purposes as well. The tombs of Pharohs had a lot of honey in them. The honey was still edible even after being underground for a thousand years or more.
I’ve got honey with my preps as well. I can get manuka honey at the shops as well as raw honey, Although raw honey is expensive.
I found some raw honey. Buck wheat !! Yummm , the best . But I can’t stay out of it . I am hoping it won’t show up on my hips in a week ? Just how fattening can it be ?
I agree with everything, except that we are not seeing that kind of loss of honeybees.
“Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service point to general strengths in honey bee colonies: “In 2017, the United States had 2.88 million honey bee colonies, down 12 percent from the record high 3.28 million colonies in 2012, but down less than 1 percent from 2007,” the agency said.”
“Many in the media frequently use scare tactics to convince readers that there is still a major issue with hive health.”
agdaily.com/crops/are-honey-bees-endangered/
Published: March 20, 2020
So do your research. Do not believe anything the major media outlets say, as it usually is part of a bigger agenda of disinformation.
ok give some us more of your uses for honey recipes! love this, and love honey!
Years ago when I was in the food service industry, we would use honey for energy to get us through the night. This is nature’s energy drink and alot better for you.
Raw honey also helps balance blood sugar for diabetics