- Q: Why does everyone say that local honey helps prevent allergies?
A: Studies have shown a correlation between local pollen intake and a reduction of allergies. Because raw, unprocessed, local honey contains some pollen, people believe that honey also can help allergies. While there haven’t been many studies done on the correlation between local honey intake and the reduction of allergies, many doctors recommend it and a lot of people swear by it.
- Q: What are the benefits of using raw, unprocessed honey?
A: Honey has long been praised for its health benefits since, unlike processed sugars, honey has vitamins, minerals, bacteriostatic components as well as antioxidants. Also, since honey is a complex mixture of many sugars, some of the glyconutrients recommended in current literature can be found in honey.
- Q: What else can I use honey for?
A: Honey is praised for baking due to its water-holding capacity. Baked goods made with honey stay fresh and moist longer, and do not tend to spoil (bacteriostatic nature of honey) as quickly as those made without honey. Darker honeys are also used for marinades, BBQ sauces and dressings (e.g. homemade honey-mustard dressings are terrific, and can be made without any fat). It is also widely believed that honey has some medicinal uses, like sliver removal and burn healing.
- Q: How should I use local pollen?
A: If you are taking local pollen for your allergies, start with small amounts to avoid reacting negatively. Some recommend that you put a few pollen grains under your tongue and simply let them dissolve.