Honey has long been considered a sweet delicacy bursting with lots of natural flavor. While many people use honey for their beverages, like tea, or as a topping for oatmeal, there are several other ways that it can be used.
“Honey has many health benefits,” Meaghan Geroux, MS, RDN, LD, registered dietitian nutritionist at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital shares. “Not only is it rich in antioxidants, but it’s also great for your heart health and a great sugar substitute since it has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, meaning it may cause a slower and less dramatic increase in blood sugar levels. Honey is also a natural cough suppressant and can help soothe throats.”
Honey also has deep significance, tracing back thousands of years in some cultures. Marwa Hassanien, AVP, Community Engagement and Belonging for Northern Light Health, says “Honey is a nutritious, healthy, natural food that is used in a variety of ways, whether it’s for traditional cuisines or in folk medicine. For example, in Europe, they use honey as a staple in baking, including honey cakes and gingerbread. In Jewish traditions, honey is eaten with apples during Rosh Hashanah to symbolize a sweet new year. In Islamic traditions, honey is revered as both a divine and blessed substance offering healing for humankind. Honey is also used as a traditional medicine in Asia, treating bacterial infections, wounds, and gastrointestinal issues.”
Want a fun way to incorporate honey into your diet? Check out this recipe:
