Yummy Honey Super Fitness Food

Honey is a sweet, yummy food substance made by honey bees and some related insects, such as stingless bees. Bees produce honey from the sugary secretions of plants or from secretions of other insects, by regurgitation, enzymatic activity, and water evaporation. Honey bees store honey in wax structures called honeycombs, whereas stingless bees store honey in pots made of wax and resin. The variety of honey produced by honey bees is the best-known, due to its worldwide commercial production and human consumption

How Honey is Harvested

Each season has a different nectar flow, and how often beekeepers pull their honey depends on the year. Beekeepers can harvest honey in every single season unless it’s super dry. For instance, they may harvest their honey in the spring and in the summer, and make their final pull in the fall time.

The honey can be removed by brushing the beekeeper frames. A frame is a structural element in a beehive that holds the honeycomb or brood comb (brood is the colony and families of bees) within the hive enclosure, or in this case, the beekeeper’s box. It can be periodically removed to inspect the bees for disease or to extract the honey and harvest it.

Beekeepers will begin by removing the frame from the hives; they typically do this when about 90% of the frame cells are capped by the bees—a natural process that protects the honey, locks in moisture and prevents it from spoiling. Honey can be spoiled by fermentation. Usually, 18.6% or less moisture will prevent the honey from spoiling. This number is from the USDA guidelines for which most honey will not spoil. Bees will fan the honey to help pull out the moisture, and when the levels are right they will cap it.

However, beekeepers do not want to pull the frame that has the brood on it. Bees are interesting and smart creatures with very unique and particular methods for their honey production. Here are ways people use honey for maintaining good health.

Honey is Heart Healthy

Honey is a rich source of phenols and other antioxidant compounds. Many of these have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. They may help the arteries in the heart dilate, increasing blood flow to your heart. They may also help prevent blood clot formation.

Honey Can Suppress Coughs

Coughing is a common problem for upper respiratory infections. Mainstream medications for cough are not always effective and can have side effects. Interestingly, honey may be a better choice, and evidence indicates it is very effective. One study found that honey worked better than two common cough medications. Another study found that it reduced cough symptoms and improved sleep more than cough medication.

Honey Helps Improve Cholesterol

High LDL cholesterol levels is a strong risk factor for heart disease. This type of cholesterol plays a major role in atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup in arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Interestingly, several studies show that honey may improve cholesterol levels. For example, one study in patients compared honey to table sugar and found that honey caused a increase in “good” cholesterol.

Honey is Yummy and Good for the Body!