Honey as Medicine

Honey is a sweetener bees produce from flower nectar. A beehive contains approximately 60,000 honey bees that collectively fly about 55,000 miles and gather nectar from two million flowers to produce 1 lb. of honey, according to the National Honey Board. Ancient civilizations used honey as a medicinal treatment for a variety of health conditions. Honey provides both health benefits and a couple of contraindications.

Nutritional Value and Glycerine Index

A 1-Tb. serving of honey provides a variety of nutrients, including 17.3 g of carbohydrates, a trace amount of potassium and calcium and 64 calories. The glycerine index score assigned to honey by Harvard Medical School is 55, which categorizes it in the mid-range for its impact on blood glucose. Consuming honey does not markedly elevate blood sugar, unlike table sugar, which has a glycerine score of 100. Frequent occurrences of blood-sugar elevation can cause low energy and weight gain. Honey was the principal sweetener until the 1500s, when the advent of mass sugar production relegated it to a smaller dietary role.