Contributed by: Jacee Yorks (@yjacee10)
Looking for a more natural alternative to sugar in your recipes? A way to support your body and fulfill sweet-tooth cravings without all the toxins in processed sweets? My favorite sweetener comes from the busy buzzing bees that work so hard to produce the raw honey we should all be enjoying! Here are a few reasons why I’m obsessed with raw honey:
I can taste the difference in my recipes when using raw, natural honey! You’ve heard before that meat and dairy products taste differently depending on how the animal was treated and fed, right? Honey is the same- the taste, texture, color and smell are all affected by several factors, including where it is made and what flowers the bees get their nectar from.
It supports my immune system and is a rich source of antioxidants. Yes, that’s right- raw honey is a natural way to support your body’s functions without all the toxins and chemicals in processed sweets. Honey is full of antioxidants called polyphenols which have been studied and shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and more.
It has antibacterial properties that help support my body's natural functions. Studies even show it supports brain function- umm yes please! These same properties are also found in fruits, vegetables, olive oil and some teas.
Honey aids in the digestion process and supports gut health. I didn’t learn this until recently, but with the amount of carbs I’ve eaten since quarantine started- I am grateful honey is helping to break it all down in my belly.
It curbs my cravings for late night sweet snacks. Honey drizzled on some plain greek yogurt and topped with walnuts always gets the job done.
I can’t stand drinking black coffee and honey is the only natural sweetener I feel comfortable consuming every day in my coffee or tea. Pro tip: put it on a spoon and let it melt slowly, each sip gets better! Don’t add honey to boiling water, as the temperature could lessen some of it’s benefits.
It’s great for your skin. I’ve seriously considered massaging it into my oily sun kissed skin in the summer and alternatively my flaky dry winter skin due to it’s balancing properties, but selfishly I didn’t want to waste it and decided to stick to eating it and reaping the skin benefits that way. I love when I see it pop up in the ingredients for various face washes and lotions though!
It’s the perfect addition to my go-to recipes. Have you ever tried drizzling some honey on your sweet potatoes before roasting them in the oven? It’s a game changer. How about adding some to your morning oatmeal or smoothies? It’s the perfect addition to a cheese plate and I always add it to homemade salad dressings. I could go on for pages about the ways I love to incorporate honey into my meals. Drop a comment with your favorite ways to use honey!
If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that quality over quantity is most important. I keep this mantra in mind each day and I like to think I have this in common with the honeybees. They work diligently to create and store quality honey and they are all part of a fine-tuned system that just so happens to produce the most natural sweet liquid we know and love. Make sure to always buy quality raw, unfiltered honey to support local apiaries!