Hello, honey! A food with a thousands different uses

Hello, honey! A food with a thousands different uses

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Honey, one of the oldest sweeteners known to man, is not only
tasty but also nutritious.

In ancient times, the food was so rare and valuable that it
was also used in place of gold to pay taxes.

Greek athletes were said to drink honey before they entered
the arena, as honey was already known as a natural energy
booster.

For centuries, people have used this substance as a germ
killer and applied it to help heal burns, internal and external
sores and ulcers.

Ancient Egyptians added honey to their skin-care products as
it helps open clogged pores, balance moisture levels and in turn
promote beautiful and youthful looking skin.

It keeps almost indefinitely. Reports said that a jar of honey
was found in an Egyptian tomb and was estimated to be 3,300 years
old.

According to the U.S. National Honey Board, honey contains
antioxidants and a wide array of vitamins, minerals and amino
acids.

The naturally fat free liquid is also a good source of energy,
containing royal jelly, pollen and propolis, all nutritious
components that make it a special liquid.

Royal jelly is a milky-white nutritious liquid secreted by the
nurse bees and is the special food for queen bees. It is believed
that queen bees are larger and can outlive worker bees thanks to
this nutritious liquid.

Royal jelly is rich in proteins, amino acids, sterols as well
as acetylcholine, an active compound in the transmission of the
nerve impulse.

Many honey lovers swear that regular consumption helps delay
aging, alleviates anxiety, sleeplessness, moodiness, memory loss
and improves the immune system.

Another substance in honey is propolis, which is also called a
natural antibiotic. Propolis is a resin gathered by honey bees
from the sap of trees and leaves. The honey bees use it to
protect their hives from contaminants and to sterilize
themselves.

According to honey expert Rita Elkins in her work Bee Pollen,
Royal Jelly, Propolis and Honey, propolis contains 14 minerals,
16 amino acids and has antibacterial, antiviral, antibiotic,
antifungal, antiinflammatory and antioxidant characters.

In Indonesia, honey is usually named after the region where it
is produced, like madu Sumbawa and madu Kalimantan, or after the
source of the nectar like madu durian (from the durian tree),
madu karet (rubber) and madu lengkeng (longan tree).

Traditional jamu vendors combine honey with raw egg yolks and
powdered pepper as an aphrodisiac concoction. Honey can be
dissolved with water to enable easy absorption of its nutrient
contents. People with mouth sores can gurgle dissolved honey to
treat their pain without damaging the teeth as honey can curb the
destructive effect of the lactic-acid-producing bacteria.

However, honey should not be given to babies under one year as
well as people allergic to pollen.