The Smartest Ways to Eat Honey (Besides Eating It)
From something as simple as adding a spoonful to your tea, to glazing potatoes to making honey balls in a deep fryer , there’s no shortage of dishes that can be garnished with a dash of this natural nectar. But the benefits of honey extend beyond the kitchen: several studies have shown honey to be useful in skin care , food preservation, and even wound dressing . So before you decide to throw away an unused can, check to see if you can use it for something other than making amazing Brussels sprouts .
Hair care. When applied to the hair and scalp, honey can give the scalp regenerating properties. According to the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology , “in cosmetic formulations, [honey] has an emollient, moisturizing, soothing and conditioning effect on the hair, maintains youthful skin and slows the formation of wrinkles, regulates pH and prevents infection by pathogens.” Beauty writer Caitlin Duggan recommends using this remedy no more than once a week and pairing it with coconut oil or another carrier oil.
Making lip balm. A little honey will go a long way for your lips. According to skin care specialist Ildi Pekar, honey has a moisturizing and soothing effect, hydrates the skin, making it soft and radiant. There’s no shortage of homemade honey-focused lip balm recipes if you’re interested in kicking ass.
Wound healing. Don’t underestimate the power of a sweetener in your pantry. According to a 2015 study by the Wound Care Learning Network, honey is an effective treatment for wounds. It states: “The physical properties of honey speed up the healing process: its acidity increases the release of oxygen from hemoglobin, thereby making the wound environment less favorable for the activity of destructive proteases, and the high osmolarity of honey draws fluid from the wound bed. to create lymph drainage, as is the case with negative pressure wound healing.”
Use it in the bath. Remove the Epsom salts and head to the kitchen instead. Professional beautician Jordana Miattoli told Bustle that honey has a smoothing effect on the skin due to its amino acids and antioxidants. By dissolving one cup of honey in hot water before adding it to your bath, you can walk away from relaxing activities with beautiful, smooth skin.
Making mead. If you’re looking for a high and don’t mind waiting for it, consider making mead. Honey, along with water and yeast, are the main ingredients in mead , a dessert wine that takes anywhere from three weeks to six months to ferment, depending on how strong you want it to be. If you’re interested in making mead but don’t know where to start, we’ve got a guide to help you get started.
Preparing for Judgment Day. So technically this includes eating honey, but (ideally) not for long. Honey is the perfect food for anyone preparing for Judgment Day, simply because it has no expiration date. According to Science Focus , honey’s low water content and high acidity are two of the main reasons it doesn’t spoil. This is because food spoilage bacteria cannot grow under these conditions. Because of this, honey is a great choice to lock yourself into your apocalypse bunker. Just make sure everything is not in vain, knowing exactly what you should do if a nuclear missile hits your city.