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A nice honey-mustard dressing for your salt has long been considered an insider tip at a party or when entertaining guests because it is very mild and tasty at the same time. It is also a nice alternative to the well-known normal standard dressings.

Ingredients for 4 persons

– 100 ml vegetable oil (olive oil, sunflower oil, etc)
– 50 ml vinegar (balsamic vinegar, herbal vinegar, apple cider vinegar)
– 20 ml cream
– 1 tbsp sweet mustard (normal also possible)
– 1 tbsp honey
– Salt and pepper

Preparation

Mix everything in a tall bowl and mix very well with a fork or a whisk. After all the ingredients have combined well, the finished dressing on the salad.

Useful additional knowledge

Vinegar or lemon in a dressing basically causes the salad to be “attacked” and changed. The lettuce becomes visibly smaller due to the acetic acid collapsing.

Honey has always been one of the most valuable foods. It not only tastes delicious as a spread but can also be used in a variety of households thanks to its valuable ingredients. Manuka honey from New Zealand, which is rich in active ingredients, is particularly suitable for treating wounds or diseases.

Honey – A popular home remedy for many diseases

What my grandmother knew still applies today. Honey is the best aid in treating wounds as it has excellent antiseptic qualities. Manuka honey, which comes from New Zealand, is used by the indigenous people, the Maori, for healing purposes. With honey, which contains healing substances in a particularly high concentration, even bacteria, fungi, and viral diseases can be treated.

Manuka honey as a magical home remedy

Honey should always be available in the household because it helps with many diseases. Especially the Manuka honey with its many active ingredients is used for:

  • all colds
  • sinus infections
  • middle ear infections
  • in wound care
  • to strengthen the immune system
  • for general strengthening after illness
  • Caries

Cure for the Stomach

Stomach and intestinal problems are unpleasant and require a lot of patience when treated. With Manuka honey, the symptoms can be cured quickly. The valuable ingredients in honey are more concentrated than in other types of honey. Therefore, honey is even suitable for therapy in gastric mucosal inflammation. It effectively fights the triggering bacterium Helicobacter pylori. These bacteria can also promote stomach ulcers.

When taken consistently and regularly, Manuka honey heals in a completely natural way and without the use of chemicals. Take a teaspoon of savory honey before meals. The healthy active ingredients lay like a protective layer on the gastric mucosa. The treatment can be carried out until the symptoms improve. And the nice thing about it is that there are no side effects either.

Strong against pimples – the power of Manuka honey

Who does not know it? You’re looking forward to the party and dressing up, and suddenly there’s – a pimple! It looks unsightly and you try to cover everything with a lot of make-up. Manuka honey also has an antiseptic effect on blackheads and makes pimples disappear quickly. To do this, some honey is simply applied to the appropriate areas of the skin. Then the pimples are guaranteed to have disappeared by the next invitation.

Wounds well cared for

Smaller and larger wounds can also be treated well with honey. It is advisable not to apply the honey directly to the wound but to apply it to the bandage and then press it onto the wound. Due to the excellent antiseptic effect of honey, the wound heals much faster.

Cold time is honey time

The use of Manuka honey is particularly indicated for colds, sore throats, or bronchitis. Suck a teaspoon of honey in between. This not only tastes good but also strengthens the immune system, which is always weakened by colds. Let a teaspoon of Manuka honey melt on your tongue three times a day.

A tablespoon of honey in a glass of hot milk will soothe the vocal cords and heal a sore throat. It is best to drink it before bed. If you have recurring sinus infections, you can specifically prevent them by using Manuka honey. Brush some honey on the inner walls of the nose. If you apply the honey before going to bed, the effects will take effect overnight and you will sleep comfortably.

Honey as a home remedy can alleviate health problems. The healing honey effect can be used for a wide variety of problems, for example against cold sores and colds.

Every person in the household should have honey. It strengthens our immune system and helps with some diseases, such as diabetes, psoriasis, and Co. So treat yourself to a honey drink every day and use it for your health.

The Story of Honey

Centuries ago, people used honey for their own purposes. According to this, the Egyptians used the golden liquid as an offering to their gods and it was also produced in the British Isles. Hippocrates also recognized the healthy effects of honey and took advantage of it. He processed the golden natural product into ointments and honey water.

How is honey made?

Of course, we all know that the busy bees make the golden goo. But how exactly do the bees do it? And why actually? Now the bees produce honey from flower nectar or honeydew in order to create their own supply for the winter.

The healthy effect of honey

People have been using healing properties for many centuries. Although there are no numerous studies on the health effects of honey, it contains many different nutrients, such as minerals and trace elements. Due to its composition of nutrients, such as amino acids, vitamin C and vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, it supports the immune system in an ideal way.

That is why it is so popular as a natural remedy for health problems. The healing effect is due to its antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties. Consequently, it can help kill bacteria and fungi. In addition, it can be used in inflammatory diseases.

Honey as a home remedy

Honey as a home remedy can do a good job and tastes delicious. Therefore, you can use it for internal and external use. We have therefore compiled an overview of the most important areas of application for you. In addition, also note our article on healthy Manuka honey.

1) Use for arthritis

The golden natural product is already used in combination with cinnamon in Indian healing arts to treat arthritis. Because the components of both ingredients together have a decongestant effect. So take two tablespoons of untreated honey and mix it with one tablespoon of cinnamon. Then apply the topical treatment mixture to the affected area. You can also mix both ingredients with warm water and drink to relieve the pain. Also, note our natural home remedies for rheumatism.

2) Honey helps with allergies

The said combination of honey and cinnamon can also be helpful for allergies. Because both ingredients not only strengthen the immune system but also protect the body from bacteria and viruses. Since allergies often cause painful swelling, you can help relieve that pain. To do this, mix the mixture described above and drink it as needed. But note that this does not apply to life-threatening allergic reactions! Also, read our post about home remedies for pollen allergy.

3) Effective in cardiovascular diseases

In America, the effects of the golden natural product and cinnamon on the cardiovascular system were tested on patients in nursing homes. The positive honey effect on clogged arteries was proven. Consequently, the use of these ingredients, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can help prevent heart problems. Exercise and a healthy diet are also good remedies for cardiac arrhythmias.

4) Treat diabetes with honey

Further studies show the positive influence of the natural product on the blood sugar level. Not only was the blood sugar level lowered, but also the bad HDL cholesterol. At the same time, good HDL cholesterol is promoted. Consequently, it ensures good cholesterol levels. Since many health problems of diabetics are blamed on bad cholesterol levels, beekeeping honey is one of many diabetes tips for everyday life. In addition, note our tips for blood sugar control.

5) As a home remedy for a sore throat

This food is also a popular home remedy for sore throats and hoarseness. You can take it dissolved in hot water with lemon and relieve the pain in your throat. Or you make a neck wrap. For this use a teaspoon of blossom honey or other and the squeezed juice of a lemon. Then put the mixture on a cloth and wrap it around your neck and leave it on overnight.

6) As a home remedy for colds

Honey is also considered an effective home remedy for colds because it can strengthen your immune system. Accordingly, you can take it in the form of tea when you have a cold. Or use it to prevent colds. Whichever way you prefer, you’ll feel better in no time.

Honey is a real miracle weapon against minor physical ailments. According to scientific studies, honey is even more effective than antibiotics for colds and coughs. We will tell you the most important things about honey as a natural remedy.

Honey helps with coughs and colds

Honey has a more positive effect than antibiotics, especially in the case of a disease of the upper respiratory tract. This is the conclusion reached by the researchers at the University of Oxford in the meta-study. They found that honey intake significantly reduced both the frequency of coughing and the severity of coughing in upper respiratory tract disease. Compared to antibiotics, honey also proved to be significantly more effective. This is also because colds and coughs are not always caused by bacteria that antibiotics are used to treat. They can also be triggered by viruses.

In the analysis by the University of Oxford, the scientists compared a total of 14 studies in which 1,400 subjects took part. The results were published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. In addition to the effect of honey and antibiotics, the effect of placebo drugs on diseases of the upper respiratory tract was also examined.

But what makes honey so effective for cold symptoms like coughs? The honey thins mucus and secretions in the upper respiratory tract, which both reduces the urge to cough and helps the mucus to be coughed up.

No honey for children under one year

So honey is a good choice if you suffer from an unpleasant cough again. However, you should avoid giving honey to a baby under a year old, according to the Professional Association of Paediatricians. Because honey can contain bacteria that the baby cannot digest properly because the intestinal flora is not yet fully developed. This is how the bacteria excrete toxins in the child’s body, which can lead to infant botulism – a life-threatening poisoning.

Honey is said to have an antibacterial effect, but what’s the truth? This property has been scientifically proven for Manuka honey. The methylglyoxal found in Manuka honey is believed to be the main one for the antibacterial function. This substance occurs more frequently in this type of honey than in other types of honey. In studies, even multi-resistant germs could be killed with Manuka honey.

In addition to methylglyoxal, scientists also see the high sugar content as the cause of the antibacterial function of honey. This is because the honey is said to be able to remove water from the bacteria in the body.

Antibiotic resistance is dangerous for all of us

The danger of antibiotics is clearly the side effects. In contrast, there are no side effects to be feared when taking honey. The Robert Koch Institute warns that antibiotic resistance can develop if antibiotics are used too frequently.

But how does such resistance come about? Antibiotics kill bacteria in the body. However, some resistant bacteria are unaffected by the drug and they continue to multiply happily. Such resistant bacteria primarily occur in hospitals, but also in agriculture, since antibiotics are often used there.

The problem is that anyone can now potentially become infected with these bacteria and they are much more difficult to treat than conventional bacteria – which is why antibiotic resistance also poses such a great risk. Immunocompromised people, the elderly and children are particularly at risk. It is essential to avoid unnecessary administration of such medication and to use remedies such as honey.

Conclusion

Honey is more effective than antibiotics for coughs and colds, researchers at the University of Oxford found in an analysis of several studies. Honey has been shown to help cough up phlegm, thereby reducing both the frequency and severity of coughing. Since there are hardly any side effects to be expected from taking honey, this remedy should be preferred to antibiotics in order to avoid antibiotic resistance. Overall, honey is a useful home remedy not only to treat the common cold, but also to prevent digestive problems, prevent a heart attack or even cancer.

Traces of Jacob’s Ragwort have been found in honey. This is a highly poisonous plant that is now even being fought nationwide. The poison can cause severe liver damage.

Ragwort is becoming a problem in pastures

Jacob’s ragwort is not a popular sight on the pastures of cattle, sheep or horse farmers.
As a rule, the inedibility of the animals is noticed by the animals before they are eaten, but even the smallest amounts are enough to poison the grazing animals over a long period of time. In the silage or in the hay, the ragwort can no longer be recognized by the animals as such and they eat it with them.

The herb can have fatal consequences for the grazing animals, but for our bees it is a blessing due to the lack of food and the lack of flowering areas. Bees like to use ragwort as an alternative forage plant.

Liver-damaging toxin in honey

The proliferation of ragwort probably has something to do with the fact that wild rabbit populations are declining sharply. Rabbits are resistant to the plant’s toxin and prefer to eat the plant’s roots.

In the meantime, the poisonous plant, which is spreading rapidly, is being combated by uprooting it and mowing it in a targeted manner before it flowers, so that propagation via flying seeds can no longer take place.

Furthermore, it is recommended to pay attention to the careful disposal of the clippings after mowing the Ragwort so that there is no new sowing.

Imported honey particularly polluted

Because bees and other pollinators value ragwort as an alternative food source, ragwort has made its way into some foods, such as honey and teas. So far, German honey has been less contaminated with the liver toxin of Jacob’s ragwort than honey imported from abroad. Not infrequently, however, German honey is mixed or diluted with honey imported from abroad.

Due to the high level of toxicity of the plant, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment requires zero tolerance for the detection of the plant’s poison in food. To this day, however, we have no regulations, guidelines or controls on the maximum levels of the poison from ragwort in food. It is currently unclear when and if this requirement will be implemented at all.

Forest and blossom honeys are indispensable in many households. But how are the two different? Is forest honey healthier?

Overall, both blossom and forest honeys are considered healthy. But forest honey is said to be even healthier due to its sucrose content and its higher content of minerals, trace elements and essential oils. what’s up

Forest honey and blossom honey in comparison

Honey is a popular and valuable product that can be found in many homes. Honey is not only used as a sugar substitute, but can also be used for diseases such as liver diseases. Forest honey in particular should also be able to counteract infectious diseases.

Forest honey consists mainly of honeydew that bees collect from deciduous and coniferous trees, for example from insect secretions. It is therefore one of the so-called honeydew honeys – just like fir, leaf and spruce honey – and its color is more in the dark range. The color can range from brown or greenish-brown to almost black. These characteristics distinguish it from flower honeys, which include, for example, lime and acacia honey. These generally come from the nectar of flowers and are colored in the light range – from yellow to brown. They are usually a little sweeter and have a finer taste than forest honeys, which usually have a strong, malt-spicy aroma and, despite their firmer consistency, remain liquid longer than blossom honey.

Important: Since honey loses many enzymes when heated, it is advisable not to add it to hot drinks or use it in baking. It then loses its effectiveness. That is why high-quality honey is usually obtained by cold centrifuging.

Forest honey: is it the healthier alternative?

Overall, honey is considered healthy. It is said to have anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and anti-allergic effects. Compared to blossom honey, forest honey is considered healthier because it contains less glucose and fructose than blossom honey. It should also contain more minerals, trace elements and essential oils and have a strong antibacterial effect.

Info: Even if forest honey is considered to be healthier, an Austrian study from 2007 showed that blossom honey has a better effect on free radicals, i.e. harmful metabolic products, compared to forest honey. This is probably due to the higher flavonoid content in honey.

Attention: Although honey is generally considered healthy, one should not forget that it consists of approx. 70% fructose and glucose and contains approx. 77 kcal per portion (25 g) and is therefore also critically discussed as a sweetener or sugar substitute . Diabetics in particular should be careful when consuming honey, as it, like table sugar, leads to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. It is also important for people with fructose intolerance and with an immune deficiency to be careful when consuming honey. Honey is generally not recommended for babies and small children.

Conclusion: the quality of the honey is crucial

A distinction is made between blossom and forest honeys. Flower honeys are obtained from the nectar by the bees, while for forest honeys the bees collect plant secretions and secretions from insects that feed on plant sap. Due to its higher fructose than glucose content and higher content of minerals, trace elements and essential oils, forest honey is considered healthier than blossom honey. However, blossom honey is said to be more effective against harmful free radicals.

Due to the sugar content, honey – regardless of the variety – should only be consumed in moderation. Overall, both types, both forest and blossom honey, are considered healthy and anti-inflammatory.

Bees suck the nectar from flowers and make honey, right? Not quite. Forest honey is not obtained from flower nectar, but from honeydew. In this guide you will find out what it is and how forest honey is produced.

Forest honey does not consist of flower nectar

In general, honey is divided into blossom honey and honeydew honey, which is also called forest honey.

While blossom honey mainly consists of blossom nectar, the bees collect the so-called honeydew for forest honey.
Honeydew is a sugary substance and is excreted by plant-sucking insects, particularly plant lice. They feed on the sap of various deciduous and coniferous trees.
The name forest honey comes from the fact that honeydew is mainly found on forest trees such as spruce, oak and fir.

Forest honey and blossom honey – differences in detail

In addition, honeydew and forest honey differ from blossom honey in a number of aspects:
Appearance: Forest honey is dark in colour, blossom honey is (depending on the variety) significantly lighter.
Taste: Compared to blossom honey, forest honey tastes stronger, somewhat spicy and tart, often with a malty note.
Consistency: Forest honey often has a firmer consistency, but stays liquid longer than blossom honey.
Constituents: Forest honey contains less glucose and fructose than blossom honey. Instead, it is 25 to 55 percent sucrose. In addition, forest honey provides more minerals and trace elements than blossom honey, according to the Bavarian consumer advice center.
Health: Since forest honey contains more minerals and trace elements, but also essential oils, it is generally considered to be the healthier honey. However, an Austrian study from 2007 showed that free radicals in the body are bound better with blossom honey than with forest honey.

Fir honey – a special forest honey

A real rarity is fir honey, which is also a honeydew honey. The honeydew is extracted from silver fir trees. The colors of the honey can range from dark brown to green-black, while the taste has an unmistakable note of fir. This honey is particularly rich in healthy essential oils, which is why it is considered a good home remedy for bronchial diseases.

Fir honey is a special delicacy among honeys that are rarely available for purchase. Honey connoisseurs appreciate it for its special taste, but also for its health effects.

Fir honey – a special forest honey

Types of honey are divided into blossom honey and honeydew honey, the latter also being referred to as forest honey. While blossom honey is mainly obtained from the nectar of plant blossoms, so-called honeydew is the starting substance for forest honey. This is a sweet liquid excreted by plant-sucking insects. The bees collect this substance and use it to produce honey.

The honeydew for the fir honey comes from aphids that have settled on fir trees. These scale and bark lice feed on the plant sap, which is mainly found on the needle tips of the fir tree. What the microorganisms then excrete is ultimately the starting material from which the fir honey is made.

Fir honey is therefore a forest honey that can only be obtained in fir forests. In this country it is the silver fir, which is why the honey is often referred to as silver fir honey.

That is why fir honey is so precious

In Germany, “fir honey” is a protected term: beekeepers are only allowed to call their honey that if it actually comes exclusively from the honeydew of the silver fir trees. The Black Forest is the most notable area of ​​silver fir that is large enough for the extraction of fir honey. The designation Black Forest fir honey or Black Forest silver fir honey is therefore often found. In addition, there is sometimes fir honey from the Swabian Jura for sale.

But the fir honey is not only locally limited, but also dependent on the weather conditions. Because the amount of plant sap, but above all that of the settled aphids, is only sufficient under certain climatic conditions to extract the honey. In the Black Forest, this is only possible every two to three years.

This makes fir honey a rarity that also has its price: 500 grams of organic silver fir honey is not available for less than 10 euros.

Fir honey: properties and effects

Fir honey is not only special in its origin, but also in its other characteristics:
Appearance: As is typical for forest honeys, fir honey has a dark colour. Depending on its origin, it is reddish-brown to almost black, but sometimes also dark green.
Taste: Fir honey has a strong, tart, spicy taste with resinous aromas and an unmistakable note of fir. As forest honey, it has more acid and therefore tastes a little less sweet than blossom honey.
Consistency: Like all forest honeys, fir honey has a slightly firmer consistency, but remains liquid longer. If it does crystallize, you can liquefy it again in a warm water bath (below 40°C!).
Components: The high fructose content is characteristic of fir honey. The fructose-glucose ratio here is about 1:3. It contains healthy essential oils and is particularly rich in enzymes. As forest honey, it also provides more trace elements and minerals than blossom honey, according to the Bavarian Consumer Advice Center.

But fir honey is not only appreciated for its special taste – it is also said to be particularly healthy:
Since forest honey generally contains more trace elements and minerals, it is generally considered healthier than blossom honey.
What is special about fir honey, however, is the high content of essential oils: For this reason, it is considered a good home remedy for respiratory diseases.
Furthermore, the enzymes it contains are relevant to its health effects: Its antibacterial effect is mainly attributed to the enzymes glucose oxidase and catalase.
Fir honey is also said to have an anti-infective effect and also provide relief for urinary tract disorders.

Honey not only belongs on the breakfast table, but is also used in medicine. But what is the difference between medicinal and regular honey? And what is it used for?

What are the differences between medicinal and conventional honey?

In order to be able to use honey for medical purposes, it is freed from the germs it contains by various processes. These are the differences between medicinal and conventional honey:
Medicinal honey is mainly used to heal wounds. Scientists found that the methylglyoxal contained in honey has an antibacterial effect.
Essentially, medicinal honey consists of a variety with a high content of hydrogen peroxide and New Zealand Manuka honey, the ingredients of which are largely obtained from the tea tree.
Sterility: In food, pathogens are rendered harmless during digestion. However, if germs get into a wound, they multiply and inflammation occurs. That is why medicinal honey must be as germ-free as possible.

Medicinal honey: miracle cure for wound healing

Medicinal honey is used in particular in the field of wound healing. This is how honey acts on the wound:
Wound protection: Medicinal honey protects the wound from bacteria.
Wound cleaning: The honey keeps the wound moist and cleans it.
Wound healing: This is how the miracle cure accelerates the healing process.
Smell: The agent also has a positive effect on the smell.
Pain relief at dressing changes: Changing your dressing will usually cause you less pain if you have previously used medicinal honey on your wound.

Medicinal Honey: This is where you can use it

You can apply medicinal honey to everything from small cuts to large-scale wounds. Here is a small selection of possible areas of application:

Acute and chronic wounds
burns
cuts and abrasions
Poorly healing or smelling wounds
surgical wounds

Medicinal honey: It really is that ecological

Medicinal honey is often praised as a natural product. However, it is not produced in a very climate-friendly way:
The Manuka honey on which medicinal honey is based is imported from New Zealand and parts of Australia.
Because it has to be transported so far and is only available in small quantities, medicinal honey is comparatively expensive.
Medical honey is not pasteurized like other types of honey. Instead, he is treated with gamma rays. The process kills bacteria, while other ingredients are retained. But it is also very energy intensive.

Acacia honey is a special kind of honey that is characterized above all by its sweet taste. All information about this unique strain can be found here.

Acacia honey: The special taste

Both acacia and black locust have a particularly high pollen and nectar content, which attracts many bees. That is why they are also called bee pastures. The bees produce honey with a special taste from the delicious nectar:
Acacia honey is characterized by its mild and floral taste. It has a particularly intense aroma, but does not taste too sweet.
Acacia honey is light yellow to golden yellow in color and clear in consistency. If you hold the honey jar up to the light, you can see a slightly greenish tinge.
The honey variety contains a particularly large amount of fructose. Glucose, on the other hand, is only present in small amounts. This keeps the honey liquid for a long time before it crystallizes. Even after a year or two, acacia honey is usually still liquid.
In addition to fructose and glucose, acacia honey contains other important active ingredients such as trace elements, minerals and vitamins.
Compared to table sugar, honey provides more nutrients for the body, which is why it can be considered a healthier sweetener. Nevertheless, you should only use honey sparingly – also because it is a valuable raw material.

Application of acacia honey

You can use acacia honey in many different ways and individually in the kitchen:
Like any other variety, acacia honey tastes most intense on its own as a spread.
It is also suitable as a topping for waffles, pancakes or daily muesli, for example.
Due to its particularly liquid consistency, acacia honey is easy to portion. It is therefore ideal for sweetening tea, milk or other drinks.
The honey can also be mixed well in salad dressings and provides a sweet note.
Honey can develop its aroma optimally, especially in warm dishes. For example, you can use it as a sweetener for baking or to refine sauces. However, keep in mind that the health-promoting enzymes in natural honey are lost if you heat it above 40 degrees.
You can also use acacia honey in many ways as a home remedy. It contains the active ingredients inhibine and serotonin and should therefore

anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial,
prevent indigestion and bronchial problems,
help against coughs and colds, and
are suitable for mild skin care.