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Many people have fond childhood memories of teatime; of bread laden down with butter and dripping in honey. This sweet food stuff is a natural sweetener with an indefinite shelf-life, and therefore has been a staple food for many thousands of years. It is hard to say when honey was first used by humans but it has most definitely been in use since the time when written records began, in approximately 2100BC; it has been mentioned in the Sumarian and Babylonian writings, the Hittite code. However it is likely that it has been used by humans for a much longer time, as cave paintings found in Spain dating back to 7000BC show images of beekeeping. It seems that ancient populations may also have had the same sweet tooth that we have today – the Ancient Egyptians made honey cakes as an offering to their Gods, whilst Greek recipe books were full of sweetmeats and cakes made from honey. And then of course, there is Mead – one of the first recorded alcoholic drinks, which can be dated back to around 1000BC. In history it is found mentioned by many civilisations – in religious Hindu writings, by the Ancient Greeks, by Anglo-Saxons – Mead’s popularity was indeed widespread! The three main ingredients are honey, water and yeast, although additions such as spices or fruit also proved popular. As well as a food and drink, throughout history honey has also served as a medicine used to help a variety of ailments. One which endures to this day is using honey to soothe a sore throat. In fact recently it has been claimed by medics that a warm honey and lemon drink can be as effective as any of the children’s cough medicines you can find on the market today. In addition, throughout the ages honey has been used to help wounds heal and as an antibacterial. As a sugar, one might think that honey would be a natural breeding ground for bacteria, but the slightly acidic nature of honey prevents the growth of some bacteria - a state which is assisted by the lack of water or oxygen in honey. Moreover, honey contains a substance called glucose oxidase which when diluted with water creates gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide – two ingredients which you could probably find in your medicine cabinet today. So what does this mean in practical terms? Well, it means honey can be used to heal wounds and combat infection, to reduce painful swelling and even to reduce scarring. In modern times people there is a cultural shift with some people attempting to reduce their reliance on artificial and synthetic ingredients. This refocus towards a more natural lifestyle has extended beyond food and many are now concerned about the additives in other areas of their lives, for example toiletries and beauty products. As honey is a humectant, it easily absorbs and retains water, thus making it an effective natural moisturiser. In addition it is packed with antioxidants, which are now recognised as a key ingredient in the fight against sun damage and anti-ageing, and these two factors combined means that honey now features in many natural beauty brands, such as Burts Bees in the place of other synthetic moisturisers. So, if that pot of honey in your cupboard only appears for the odd picnic or teatime treat, think again … you could be using it as part of your daily health and beauty routine as well as a food store staple. Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
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Honey, Burts Bees, moisturiser, medicine,
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