Our human ancestors ate a wide variety of foods in the form of animals, seafood and plants. There is archaeological evidence scratched on cave walls of humans climbing into trees and smoking out bee hives. It is now thought that honey was a staple in the diets of early humans over 2.5 million years ago. Simply stated, humans and bees have a very, very long history together.
What is so healthy about honey? According to Sayer Ji in his book Regenerate: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience Through the New Biology, “Honey contains a range of beneficial microbial life-forms contributed by bees and the plants they forage, including the lactic acid-producing bacteria lactobacilli, which supports the immune systems and behavioral patterns of individual bees and the hive as a whole”.
Eating honey in its raw state may provide our bodies with health-promoting bacterial strains, which improve:
- chronic constipation
- reduce hospital-acquired infections
- reduce childhood dental problems
- eczema
- duration of respiratory infections in seniors
- help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
The benefits don’t stop there. Honey is also used to treat burns, heal wounds, improve cholesterol, reduce radiation-associated pain after cancer treatments, and enhance DNA repair among people exposed to pesticides. It has been shown to reduce night-time cough when compared to over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. Honey has also shown to fight against urinary tract infections (UTIs). It has even been used as a mouthwash because it reduces plaque formation.
Honey has proven to be a natural form of medicine and antibacterial for millions of years. We always hear about how important bees are to human life. They pollinate countless flowering plants and literally keep the life cycle of food sources thriving. We should be thankful for bees and the powerful medicine they provide.