The various benefits of honey and several ways to consume it

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The process by which bees transform nectar and plant secretions in the honeycombs, dehydrate them, and store them until they are ready is the process of making honey. The bees use part of the honey they produce for their own consumption, while storing the rest for human use. Data shows that bees can collect only 50 milligrams of nectar per trip, and from this amount at most 15 milligrams of honey can be produced. In other words, to obtain 1000 grams of honey, bees need to make at least 70,000 trips to collect nectar. 　　　Vitamins. Honey contains various vitamins, with B vitamins being the most abundant; 100 grams of honey contains 300–400 micrograms of B vitamins. 　　Organic acids. Honey contains various acids; the organic acids include gluconic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, formic acid, and malic acid, among others ； Inorganic acids mainly include phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. 　　Minerals. Honey contains a low level of minerals, but a variety of them, such as potassium which is beneficial to both the body and mind, calcium which strengthens bones, phosphorus which improves brain function, magnesium which has a calming effect, as well as iron and copper which help enrich the blood. 　　Enzymes. The amount of enzymes contained in honey, or the enzyme level, is an important indicator for assessing the quality of honey; it reflects the degree of maturity and nutritional value of the honey. It is precisely because honey contains enzymes that it possesses special properties not found in other sugar-based foods. These enzymes are added by bees during the honey-making process; they originate from bee saliva. The main enzyme involved is sucrase, which converts sucrose in nectar into glucose and fructose ； There are also amylase, glucose oxidase, reductase, transglutaminase, phosphatase, protease-like enzymes, and others. 　　Therefore, honey is considered one of the best health foods worldwide: The Shennong Bencao Jing lists honey as a superior substance beneficial to humans ； The ancient Greeks considered honey to be a “gift from the heavens.” 　　However, because the pollen collected varies, the therapeutic effects of honey also differ. Locust flower honey is generally consumed in spring; it has high viscosity, a pleasant aroma, a sweet taste, and good quality, and is used in culinary applications to promote bowel movement and to cool the blood and stop bleeding ； Jujube flower honey is suitable for consumption in autumn; it has the effects of strengthening the middle energizer and boosting qi, nourishing blood and calming the mind, as well as protecting the spleen and stomach ； Jinghua honey has the effect of clearing heat and relieving itching; it can be helpful for those who are prone to catching colds if they consume this honey ； Osmanthus honey is known as the \"king of honeys\"; it has excellent benefits for nourishing the stomach, and when mixed with milk it can help to moisturize and beautify the skin. 　　Honey has been used in medicine in China for thousands of years, and it boasts excellent effects. Li Shizhen, a medical expert from the Ming dynasty, stated: “Honey has five benefits when used as medicine: it can reduce heat.” ； Tonify the middle jiao ； Moisturize and relieve dryness as well ； Detoxification as well ； It also relieves pain. ”　　When used alone, honey possesses high nutritional value and excellent health benefits; it has the effects of strengthening the body’s vital energy, calming the internal organs, enhancing the efficacy of other medicines, reducing heat and toxins, moistening the body and nourishing yin, as well as soothing the mind. When combined with other foods or traditional Chinese medicines, it can exert even greater therapeutic effects through dietary and medicinal applications. 　　Dryness and internal heat. Steaming pears in water and then adding about 2 tablespoons of honey can help moisten the lungs and relieve dryness ； Alternatively, make a soup with silver ear fungus, and adding an appropriate amount of honey can also moisten the lungs and relieve coughs. 　　Constipation. Use 50–100 grams of rice, 200 grams of bananas, and an appropriate amount of honey. After cooking rice into porridge, add bananas cut into small pieces, then add honey; consume it after it has cooled down, as it helps to moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. 　　Hypertension. Use 100–150 grams of fresh celery, along with an appropriate amount of honey. Wash the celery, crush it to extract its juice, then mix it with honey and consume it after simmering. Taking it once a day can effectively lower blood pressure. 　　Coronary heart disease. 10 grams of Salvia miltiorrhiza and 10 grams of Polygonum multiflorum are decocted in water to obtain a juice, which is then taken orally with 1–2 tablespoons of honey; this can help in treating coronary heart disease. 　　Low resistance. Add a small spoonful of honey to milk when drinking it in the morning after getting up and before going to bed at night; this can help combat fatigue and boost immunity ； Alternatively, 10 grams of Ganoderma can be boiled in water, and the resulting juice mixed with honey can also help boost immunity; it is particularly suitable for cancer patients to consume after surgery ； Furthermore, soaking ginseng in water and adding 1 spoonful of honey can boost and replenish energy. 　　Dry eyes. Use 3 grams of chrysanthemums and 10 grams of goji berries; after soaking them in water, add 2 tablespoons of honey. This mixture can improve eyesight and nourish the liver and kidneys. 　　I have a sore throat from a cold. Soak 5 grams of honeysuckle in water, add 2 tablespoons of honey, and it can help clear heat and soothe the throat ； Alternatively, steep 10 grams of honeysuckle, 10 grams of platycodon root, and 10 grams of ophiopogon root in water, then add 2 tablespoons of honey; this can help treat colds. 　　Menorrhagia. Cooking porridge with an appropriate amount of red dates and honey can help replenish blood and boost energy. 　　I’m irritable. Cook porridge using 100 grams of lilies and 100 grams of japonica rice, add honey to it, and drink it before going to bed at night; this can nourish the heart and calm the mind ； Alternatively, soaking rose petals in water and adding honey can soothe the liver, boost energy, and improve mood. 　　Chronic pharyngitis. Soaking 10 grams of Ophiopogon japonicus, 10 grams of Platycodon grandiflorus, and 3 grams of licorice in water and adding honey can help alleviate chronic pharyngitis. 　　Low back pain due to kidney deficiency. Use 5 walnuts and 2 tablespoons of honey; boil the walnut kernels in water for 15 minutes, then add honey to strengthen the kidneys and improve brain function ； Alternatively, you can fry the walnuts in oil until they turn golden, then add eggs and honey, which will achieve the same result. 　　Beauty and skin care. Boiling honey and bird’s nest together in water for drinking can achieve beautifying and skin-nourishing effects ； Furthermore, using honey along with other foods such as grape juice in face masks can also yield excellent beauty results.