Honey is known for its many healing properties. Many believe that adding unfiltered, unprocessed, unheated honey to your daily diet can alleviate arthritis, reduce heart disease, lower cholesterol and reduce allergies. Honey has also been known to calm an upset stomach, lessen cold symptoms, strengthen the immune system and provide extra energy during a workout. As one of nature’s natural anti-biotics, honey also heals wounds while minimizing scarring.

Honeys that have a wide variety of pollens have achieved wonderful results in minimizing many people’s allergies. A tablespoon of lavender honey before bed helps people achieve a restful night’s sleep. Cinnamon and turmeric combined with buckwheat honey reduces inflammation in the joints, thus relieving pain from arthritis and strengthening the immune system. Cinnamon honey is also known to help people recover from strokes, help lower cholesterol and eliminate bad breath.

There are many types of honey and not all honey has the same healing properties. Honey that has been processed or heated will not have the enzymes that aid in digestion. Filtering honey removes many types of pollen and other properties that aid in digestion, alleviate cold symptoms and reduce allergies.

When purchasing honey, you should know that USDA Organic does not mean the honey is from the United States. Currently the United States has not defined organic honey. Tests completed on honey produced in the U.S. (that is not organic) has shown extremely small traces of pesticide. It is more important however that the honey be processed organically. It is during this stage that pesticides and other contaminants can penetrate the honey at high levels.

Beekeepers Scott Shurman and Jean Vasicek suggest asking the following questions from the beekeeper you purchase your honey from.
1. How many beehives do you have? If they do not have any beehives, then they are not in control of how their honey is being processed.
2. How do you treat for mites? You are looking to make sure that pesticides are not used.
3. How do you feed your bees? Bees should be fed their own honey for most of the year. You do not want to purchase honey from a beekeeper that only feeds the bees sugar water.
4. Are you state certified for beekeeping and for your bottling facility? This answer should be yes.
5. Do you heat your honey? Purchase honey that has not been heated.
6. Do you filter your honey? The more honey is filtered the less medicinal benefits it will have.

About the author: Traci Brosman is co-founder of World Wellness Education, owner of Coaching to Success, a professional speaker and author. She is also a local television and radio host. Believing in the value of doing what it takes to improve her life and the lives of those she meets, Traci thoroughly enjoys her work with World Wellness Education and Coaching to Success. “I love the fact that I get to connect with so many professionals on what it means to be healthy — body, mind and spirit. Then I get to take this information and share it with the world. It is wonderful to be able to do the things I love and then give back to others what I learn.” Brosman is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring others with honesty and integrity.

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