Oh Honey! It’s sweet, it’s sticky and it’s produced by only one species of bee – the honey bee of course.
Ever wonder how honey is actually made? We were too!
Honey is the result of the following process as outlined by Guardian.com: Bees collect nectar from flowers with their tongues and store it in their honey stomach (different from their food stomach). When they are full of all that nectar, they travel back to the hive. When they arrive, they pass the honey they collected through their mouths to the worker bees who chew it for about 30 minutes or so. Then they begin to pass it from bee to bee until it gradually turns to honey. The honey is then stored in honeycomb cells which they make out of wax. They then use their wings to dry the honey which results in it becoming sticky. When it is ready and has turned into the honey we all know and love, they seal it with a wax lid to keep it clean. Smart little busy bees they are!
While most of us lean to that ooey-gooey golden yellow liquid to quench our honey craving, there are actually many ways to enjoy this sweet treat. According to the National Honey Board, you can have actual honey comb, crystallized honey or whipped honey just to name a few. What form you choose depends on the usage.
Honey is used as a natural sweetener, cough suppressant and wound-healing treatment, and it is natural source of energy, as it has 17 grams of carbohydrates per serving. It is important to note that according to Healthline.com, “Most of the honey you find in grocery stores is pasteurized. The high heat kills unwanted yeast, can improve the color and texture, removes any crystallization and extends the shelf life. Many of the beneficial nutrients are also destroyed in the process.” If you choose to indulge in raw honey, make sure you get it from a reputable source and are aware of the risks associated with it.
RELATED ARTICLES
Give Your Eyes a Rest with Eye Yoga
Processed Foods: What You Need to Know
Conducting an Annual Expense Review
