The Healing Powers of Honey - PDFDrive€¦ · Advance Praise for The Healing Powers of Honey...

AdvancePraiseforTheHealingPowersofHoney“Discoverthepowerofhoneyasancientnectarof thegods,moderncure,

andlover’spotionbyreadingthisfascinatingbook.”—Dr.AvaCadell,authorandfounderof

LoveologyUniversity

“I’mamazedatall thegreathealthbenefits thatcanbehadfromhoney.Ihavefreshorganicbeepolleninmyfreezerandlocalorganichoneyonmytable.Thanks,Cal,forallyourgoodworkinformingpeopleabouthoney.”

—SherryHenderson,Editor/Publisher,

Oracle20/20Magazine

“Cal Orey has done a wonderful job of thoroughly explaining the greatvalueofhoney.TheHealingPowersofHoneyisaneasy-to-readbookthat’saninvaluableadditiontoanyone’slibrary.It’sfullofpracticaltipsandapplicationsformedicalconditionsthateveryoneshouldknowabout.”

—AllanMagaziner,D.O.

MagazinerCenterforWellness

CherryHill,NewJersey

“An original book using the queen honey bee and human metaphors inanecdotes is charming and witty. Pairing olive oil and honey in cooking andbakingishealthful.TheHealingPowersofHoneyisamasterpiece.”

—GemmaSanitaSciabica,authorofthe

CookingwithCaliforniaOliveOilseries

“CalOreyscoresagainwithTheHealingPowersofHoney,acontinuationof her widely praised Healing Powers series. Orey’s honey book is well

researched in a manner that makes it both entertaining and informative. Thisbookwillmakeyoulookathoneyinanewway—asabonafidehealthfoodaswellasagastronomictreat.”

—JoeTraynor,agriculturist-authorof

Honey:TheGourmetMedicine

“Not everyone can be a beekeeper, but Cal Orey shares the secrets thathoneybeesandtheirkeepershavealwaysknown.Honeyisgoodforbodyandsoul.”

—KimFlottum,editorofBeeCulturemagazineandauthorof

TheBackyardBeekeeper,TheHoneyHandbook,andBetterBeekeeping

BooksbyCalOreyTheHealingPowersofVinegar

TheHealingPowersofOliveOil

TheHealingPowersofChocolate

PublishedbyKensingtonPublishingCorporation

TheHealingPowersof

HONEYACompleteGuideto

Nature’sRemarkableNectar

CALOREY

KENSINGTONBOOKS

www.kensingtonbooks.com

AllcopyrightedmaterialwithinisAttributorProtected.This book is dedicated to the honey bees—especially the persevering

workers and queens—whom I feel aremy kindred spirits. I feel a strong andmovingbondtothissmallbutremarkablehardworkingcreaturewithbigefforts—nature’sgreatestgift.

TableofContentsAdvancePraiseforTheHealingPowersofHoney

BooksbyCalOrey

TitlePage

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

PART1-ATIMEFORHONEY

CHAPTER1-ThePowerofHoney

CHAPTER2-AnAncientEssentialElixir

PART2-NECTAROFTHEGODS

CHAPTER3-AHistoricalTestimony

CHAPTER4-WhereAretheSecretIngredients?

CHAPTER5-Honey,You’reAmazing!

CHAPTER6-TheMediterraneanSweetener

PART3-HONEYFLAVORS

CHAPTER7-HealingHoneyVarieties

PART4-MOREHEALINGSUPERFOODS

CHAPTER8-HoneyandCinnamonPower

CHAPTER9-SweetStuff:HoneyCombos

PART5-TEAANDHONEY

CHAPTER10-Tea(s)withYourHoney

PART6-HONEYCURES

CHAPTER11-HomeRemediesfromYourKitchen

PART7-FUTUREHONEY

CHAPTER12-Honeymania:HoneyfortheHousehold

CHAPTER13-HoneyBee-autiful

CHAPTER14-TheBusyBeeWorkers

CHAPTER15-HoneyIsNotaBuzzforEveryone:TheSting

CHAPTER16-AndtheBees’BuzzGoesOn...

CHAPTER17-TheJoyofCookingwithHoney

PART8-HONEYRECIPES

CHAPTER18-Ciao,Honey!

AFinalBuzz

PART9-HONEYRESOURCES

WhereCanYouBuyHoney?

Notes

SelectedBibliography

CopyrightPage

Notes

ForewordA“sweettreat”thatisgoodforyou?Whatsugarcanbeeatenwithoutguilt

and bring you health benefits? What delectable substance comes in as manyflavorsasfinewine?Theanswerstothesequestionsallpointtoonenaturalfood—pure,naturalhoney!

Thisdelicious treat iswhat somecallnature’s sweetener.Buthoney is somuchmore. It is a superfood that from ancient times has been known for itshealthfulandnutritionalproperties.Itisafoodthatcanbeeateninmoderationwithout guilt. Cal Orey shows you why honey should be consumed daily foryour health. So if you already love honey, or perhaps have never eaten it, orwouldlovetohaveagoodreasontoloveit,thisbookisamust-read.

HONEYHIGHLIGHTSBridginghistoryandcontemporaryscience,TheHealingPowersofHoney

presentsareader-friendlygemtoexplain the therapeuticandhealthbenefitsofhoney. These amazing benefits include a lowered risk for heart disease, highbloodpressure,diabetes,andobesity,anenhancedimmunesystemfunction,anda longer,healthier life.Simplyput,honeyhasbeen touted for its concentratedenergy,asitisloadedwithflavonoidsanddozensofotheractiveingredientsthatareneededbythebody.

For centuries,mankind has survived because of themedicinal benefits ofnature’s finest foods that prevent disease or even heal and cure. The HealingPowersofHoneyresolvesanyconflictbetweenfolkloreandtraditionalmedicineconcerninghoneybybridgingtimewithfactsdrawnfromavarietyofsources.The proof is in the honey—andCal Orey shows it chapter by chapter in thisrevolutionarybook.

APOUNDOFSWEETRESEARCHIt has been my privilege as the co-chairman of the Committee for the

PromotionofHoneyandHealth,Inc.,forthepastseveralyearstoresearchandwrite about the health benefits of honey. Thanks to my brother-in-law, acommercialbeekeeperinKansas,Ihavemovedfromskeptictobeliever.Alongwith a pharmacist from Edinburgh, Scotland, we have scoured the world’sliteratureforinformationrelatingtohealinghoney.Thoughmuchofthemedicalandscientificinformationabouthoneycomesfromsmallerobservationalstudiescompletedoutside theUnitedStates, it is no less valid than results from largeresearchprojectsaccomplishedinourbackyardunderwellcontrolledstudies.

A good example is found in discovering the effects of honey on human

metabolism.Honey regulatesandstabilizesbloodsugar.That statementon thesurface seems as counterintuitive as eating bacon to control one’s cholesterol.Yetmultiple observations have indicated that the consumption of honey on aregular basis actually lowers blood-sugar levels and helps prevent swings inbloodsugarthroughoutthedayandduringsleepandexercise.

Thefactthathoney,acombinationoftwosimplesugars—bothfructoseandglucose—is able to regulate and control blood sugar is confirmed byunderstandingbasic humanphysiology.Both sugars, found in honey in a nearequal ratio, are required for the formation ofmost of the glycogenmade andstoredintheliver.Itisthisactionfollowingeatinghoneythatisresponsibleformanyofhoney’smiraculoushealthbenefitsinTheHealingPowersofHoney.

Other health benefits from honey, from ancient folkmedicine tomodernmiracle, include aiding in treatment of ailments including digestion, insomnia,coughs, and respiratory diseases, helping improve skin conditions, enhancingsportperformance,andmuchmore.

Another powerful and therapeutic benefit of honey comes not from itsconsumption but in its external use. Study after study has shown that honeyshowspowerfulantimicrobialproperties.Somehoneyvarietals,suchasmanukahoney, produced from nectar from the manuka plant in New Zealand andAustralia,havebeenfoundtobeveryeffectiveintreatingwounds,althoughalltypesofhoneysarehelpful.

HUMAN-FRIENDLYHONEYVARIETALSWhilemanukahoneyistoutedforitspowersaroundtheglobe,otherhoney

varietals,suchasbuckwheathoney,havebeenfoundtocontainhigherlevelsofantioxidants.Buckwheathoney,usedinacoughsuppressantstudyatPennStateUniversityMedicalSchool,wasfoundtobesuperiortothemostcommonover-the-countercoughsuppressantavailable.

Thequestionisfrequentlyaskedofme,“Whatkindofhoneyisthebest?”Theanswerreallydependsonone’staste.Allhoneyisgoodaswellasgoodforyou.Honeyislikewine.Thereareasmanyvarietalsofhoneyastherearefloralandnectarsources.“Tryseveral”isthebestadviceinchoosinghoneyforyourfamily.Selecthoneythatisfromidentifiablefloralsourcesandchoosetheonesthatpleaseyourpalate.

Finally, The Healing Powers of Honey has accomplished what nopromotionalcampaigncanorwoulddo.Thefactsabouthoneyanditspowerfulhealthful and healing benefits are now mainstream, no longer relegated tofolklore.AllofuscancelebratethehistoricandhealthfulbenefitsofthewondernaturalfoodgiventousbytheCreatorasweexperiencethehealingpowersof

honey for ourselves—with gratitude to Cal for her delightful and informativework.

—RonaldE.Fessenden,M.D.,M.P.H.,

co-authorofTheHoneyRevolution:

RestoringtheHealthofFutureGenerations

PrefaceOn a cold winter day, I was sipping a cup of chamomile tea laced with

orange blossom honey.Nature’s finest sweetenerwithmy beverage of choicecomfortedme.Afterall,Iwasn’tworkingonabooklikeanauthorshouldbetofeel in thecomfortzone.Anunexpectede-mail frommybookeditorsurprisedme.He askedme if Iwas interested inwriting anotherHealingPowers book.Thewords“garlic”and“fruitjuices”wereputonthetable—butIhadmyownsuperfoodchoiceinmind.

During the creation of The Healing Powers of Chocolate, I noticed thathoney,likechocolate,wasnotedintheMediterraneandiet.Itwasthefirstsignthatwritingabookonanotherfoodofthegodswasinthestarsforme.Andthatfive-letter word—“h-o-n-e-y”—stuck in my mind like a honey bee on asunflower.Later,whenIwasaguestonnationalradioprogramstotalkaboutthevirtuesofchocolateafewhostsaskedmethequestion“What’sthetopicofyournextbook?”Withouthesitation I darted, “Honey.”What else could follow theclassactofdecadentchocolate,right?SoIputtheideaonthebackburner.

ThetopicofhoneycamebacktomeandI’mgladitdid.WhenIwasfacedwith anewbookproposition andproviding anotherhealing food, itwas ano-brainer. I wrote a message stating: “I was waiting for this day to happen.Honey!”ande-mailedittomyeditor,RichardEmber.Oneweeklater,thenightbeforehoneywent to theeditors’meeting, I tuned intoTVand the filmFriedGreen Tomatoes greeted me. The protagonist (Jessica Tandy) plays aninterestingcharacteranda“beecharmer”—youngandold.Tome,itwasanothercue thatmyproposed topicwasgoing tobe a thumbs-up.Also, that night theAmericaOnlinestationeryavailabletousers,likeme,offeredapictureofabee,flower,andhoneycombbackgroundwiththeword“honey”inthebottomright-handcorner.Itwasanothermessage.Andthenextday,SaintPatrick’sDay,withabitofluckoftheIrish,itwasconfirmed.Iwasassignedthenewbookproject—TheHealingPowersofHoney.Itwasmeanttobe.

Bybeing aCalifornia native (a popular homeof beekeeperswho rely on

bothsalesofhoneyand thehoneybeeforpollinationofourfruits,vegetables,andnuts)Iwasgiventhetickettoenterthelandofhoney.

Like vinegar, olive oil, and chocolate, honey is derived fromnature. Thefour books tout health benefits from these disease-fighting, antioxidant-richfoods,fromancientfolkmedicinetomodernmiracles.

So,likeaworkerbee,Ibeganmyquest.Idelvedintomywork.Itwasmygoalthistimearoundtofindoutthepastandpresentgiftsofhoney.TheexcitingpartofmyjourneyisthatIdiscoveredthatthehardworking,goal-orientedhoneybeeplaysanintegralpartinourecosystemandsurvivalofmankind.

Once again, I find myself sitting in my study writing aHealing Powersbook.Thistimearound,I’mdrinkingteainfusedwithtupelohoney,savoringahoneychocolatetruffle,andfeelingthesoftnessofmyfingersfromhoneysoapasIworkonthekeyboard.Oh,andhoneyapplemuffinsarebakingintheoven.InTheHealingPowersofHoneyI’llshowyouhowandwhythisnatural“nectarof the gods” will transcend your awareness of the sacred honey bee and itsremarkablegifttoyou.

AcknowledgmentsLikeaforagerhoneybee,duringthe1970sIhitchhikedacrossAmericain

searchofShangri-la andahome.Today, in the21st centuryas ahardworkingauthor I would like to expressmy heartfelt thanks to the contributions of theNational Honey Board, The Honey Association, my publisher at Kensington,andmyeditor,RichardEmber,whohasguidedmethroughtheHealingPowersseries.

Thanksalsogo to thehoneycompanies,beekeepers,scientists,andhealthresearchersintheUnitedStatesandaroundtheglobethathelpedmeunderstandhowimportantthesacredhoneybeeistomankind.

PART1ATIMEFOR

HONEY

CHAPTER1ThePowerofHoneyHoneycomesoutoftheair...Atearlydawnthe

leaves,oftreesarefoundbedewedwithhoney...

Itisalwaysofthebestqualitywhenitisstoredin

thebestflowers.—Pliny(A.D.23–79)1

Asachild, inmydreams I lived inacottagewithmy father, adedicatedbeekeeper,andmom,whodidallcooking,canning,andbakingwithhoney.InourgardenI’dwatchmyfatherexperimentwithhivesandestablishanapiaryon10acres.HeshippedItalianqueenbeesacrosstheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.Butmyhomewasnormal,becauseinrealityIgrewupinamiddle-classsuburbofsouthSanJose,California,aplaceoncetoutedforitsnectarsources—ahoneybee’sdreamworld.

My first encounter with honey was when I was five years old. InkindergartenIrememberdrawingagianthoneybeeonawildflower.(Itdidn’thold a beeswax candle to beekeeperPrinceCesi’smicroscopic drawingof theinsect.)Afterart time,Mrs.Berrydishedoutgrahamcrackers(sweetenedwithhoneyanddevelopedbySylvesterGrahamin1829),milkcartons,andMr.Bee-Goodnotes(littlesquarepaperswithspecialkudostothreegoodstudentsonceaweek).WhenIwasn’toneofthechosenfew,mymindwandered;Whatwouldlifebelikeasabee?Myimaginationsoaredwithimagesofmemorphingintoaninsectandflyingfromflowertoflowertofilluponsweetnectar.

Thatwasdecadesago,andtodayIcanlookbackatmylifeexperiencesandseehowthehoneybeeandhoneyplayedaroleinmyrealworld.Iwasn’traisedbyabeekeeperandhiswife,norasakiddidIputonabeeveilandvisitbees.ButIgotatasteofhoneyanditshealingpowersthroughouttheyearsofgrowingupandtravelinglikeawaywardbee.

Today,Isithereinmyhive-likewood-paneledstudyandIfeelthespiritofthe honey bee as I work on The Healing Powers of Honey. My file cabinetbehindmeisfullofmaterialoneverythingfromhoneycombtohoneycandies.Inmykitchenpantry,honeys—dozensofhealthfuldarkandlightvarieties—sit.Thebestpartis,Ihavediscoveredthehealingmagicofhoney,andaworldI’vecalledHoneylandthatIwanttosharewithyou.

HONEY101:NATURE’SGIFT

Honey, one of the oldest sweeteners, comes from flower nectar that hasbeenconsumedbythehoneybee(Apismellifera),whichwasoriginallyfoundinEurope.(TheEntomologicalSocietyofAmericauses twowords,“honeybee,”and theBritishuseoneword,“honeybee.”)Knownas“nectarof thegods,”asfarbackas5,000yearsagoitwasusedformedicinalpurposes,incookingandasapreservative,asamedicinalagent,incosmetics,andinsoaps,andeventhebeeswaxhasbeenusedforcandles.

Honey:a sweet viscidmaterial elaboratedoutof thenectarof flowers inthehoneysacofvariousbees.

—Merriam-Webster’sCollegiateDictionary,11thedition

TheHoneyMakers:So,howexactlydohoneybeesmakehoney,anyhow?Theydiligentlycollectnectar fromflowersandotherplantsandcarry it to thehive.It’sthosehoneybeesthatareresponsiblefortransformingthefloralnectarthat they gather into honey by adding enzymes to the nectar and reducingmoisture.

The honey bee full of nectar comes back to the hive and goes to work.Honey is stored in hexagonal chambers. The honeycomb structure of the hivealsohasroomsforthequeenbeetolayhereggs.Beforehoneyisavailabletoputin your tea or on top of a muffin, the honey-covered walls of the hive areremovedandplaced ina spinner.Rotated fast, the spinner separates the liquidfromthecomb.

Onceextractedstraightfromthehive,honeyisacombinationoffructose,glucose, and water. This sweet gift also contains other sugars, enzymes,minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and, most important, many types of honeysboastantioxidants—thegood-for-youcompoundsthatcanhelpkeepyourbodyinsideandoutsidehealthyandboostyourlifespan.

. . . And Key Pollinators: Beekeepers know that honey bees provideanotherservice;assecond-shiftworkerstheypollinateone-thirdofthefoodweeat.Asabeetravelsinsearchofnectar,itbrushesagainstpollen-bearingpartsofa flower and picks up pollen.When the honey bee goes to another flower formorefood,someofthepollenfromthefirstflowerstickstothesecondflower—andtheflowerispollinated.

Thehoneybeepollinatesmorethan90crops,includingapples,blueberries,citrus fruit, and nuts—approximately four-fifths of the fresh fruits andvegetableswe eat. Indeed, hardworking honey bee colonies (50,000 to 60,000beesperhive,includingworkers,drones,andonequeen)whoworkdoubleduty

(likehardworkinghumans)areman’sbestfriendsbecausetheyarevital toourplanet.

“Honeybeesarewovenintoourfoodchain.Withouthoneybeesthewholefood chain would be diminished in diversity and quantity for us,” explainsHiddenValleyHoney’sbeekeeperChrisFosterofReno,Nevada,wholives50milesawayfromme—andshowedmehiscoloniesinactionandtheirproducts,frombuzzingbeestofreshhoneyinjars.

HONEYFORMSTOTASTELikemore than50percentofAmericanhouseholds,youmayhave liquid

honey in your kitchen cupboard, but there are a variety of forms of honeyavailableforbothyourhealthandenjoyment,too.

FormDescriptionofHoneyTasteandTextureCombHoneyAttachedtothe comb from the hive Fresh bits of wax, chewy Crystallized Honey Liquidhoney thathascrystallizeddue to sugarcontentof thehoneyhavingseparatedfrom the liquid Not a preferred texture Cut Comb or Liquid Honey Containschunks of honeycomb Combination of of liquid and wax, chewy and syrupyLiquidHoneyThemostpopulartypeofhoney,clearwithoutcrystals,oftenusedinbakingordrizzledonfoodSyrupyWhippedorCreamedHoneyCrystallizedduringmanufacturing,preferredinmanycountriesThick,spreadable,creamy

(Source:NationalHoneyBoard.)

FROMSWEETNECTARTOSUPERHONEYNotonlyaretheredifferentformsofhoneytoeat,butthereareavarietyof

honeys, touted by people—from foodies to health nuts—as one of MotherNature’s superfoods (like antioxidant-rich chocolates andoliveoils).Andnowhealinghoneysinavarietyofflavorsaremakingthenewsaroundtheworldandarepopularinrestaurants,beautyspas,andourhomes.

Honey is not just a liquid sweetener that you put in your tea or on yourtoast. It’s an ancient medicine that has been used to treat heart disease,respiratoryailments,skinulcers,wounds,stomachproblems,insomnia,andeven“superbugs.”Honeyisalsoknowntohelpcurbsweetcravingsandboostenergy,whichcanhelpstaveofftype2diabetes,unwantedpounds,andbodyfat.

Topscientists,nutritionists,andmedicaldoctorsknowstacksandstacksofresearch show some honeys contain the same disease-fighting antioxidantcompounds that are found in fruits and vegetables, which fight heart disease,cancers, diabetes, andobesity—fourproblems in theUnitedStates andaroundtheworld.

SuperFoodsHealthStyle co-author StevenG. Pratt,M.D.,worldrenownedauthorityonnutrition, points out that certain superfoodskeepyouhealthy andstaveoffdiseases:“Perhapshoney’smostimportanthealth-promotingbenefitisits antioxidant ability.Weknow that daily consumptionof honey raises bloodlevelsofprotectiveantioxidants.”2

JonnyBowden,Ph.D.,authorofThe150HealthiestFoodsonEarth:TheSurprising,UnbiasedTruthAboutWhatYouShouldEatandWhy,alsopraisesraw, unfiltered honey: “Honey is pure alchemy. And it’s precious stuff.” It’scommonconsensusamongbeekeepersthatthereal,raw,unprocessed,unheated,unfilteredkindofhoneythatyougetyougetstraightfromthehive—honeycomb—is the real deal with good-for-you antioxidants. Think pure apple cidervinegar, unadulterated olive oil, andquality dark cocoa: rawhoney, like theseantioxidant-richsuperfoods,isthehealthystuff.3

MostmedicaldoctorsandnutritionistsIspokewithduringmytrekthroughHoneylandagreed thatwhilehoney is a sugar, it does containdisease-fightingantioxidants and other health virtues that make it the standout sweetener ofchoice.

Health-BoostingNutrientsinHoneyMedical researchers around the world continue to find new health-

promoting nutrients in honeys. Most important, like red wine, green tea, andcertain fruits and vegetables, honey contains antioxidants—disease-fightingenzymes that protect your body by trapping free-radical molecules. (Imaginevideogame–likebrightyellowPac-Manheads,withmouthsthatopenandcloselike a shark, chasing big bad bugs and gobbling them up before any damageoccurstoahumanbody.)

Researchalsoshowsthateatingantioxidant-richsuperfoods—likehoney—may lower the risk of developing diseases and even stall the aging process.Researchers continue to find new health-promoting nutrients in certainsuperfoods,andherearesomeofthesuperonesinhoneythatyoushouldknowabout:

Alpha-tocopherol:anessentialantioxidant,knownasvitaminE.Enzymes:chemicalsubstancesyourbodyproducestohelpboastchemical

reactionsinyourbody.FlavanolsandFlavonols:agroupofplantcompounds(fromflavonoids,a

large group of phytonutrients) found in honey that have shown antioxidanteffectsthatmayhelplowertheriskofdevelopingheartdisease,someformsof

cancer,anddiabetes.Bothflavanolsandflavonolscanbefoundinhoney.Oligosaccharides: aids to heart health, by lowering blood pressure and

cholesterol,andregularity,byboostinggoodbacteriainthecolon.Peptides:moleculesmadeupoftwoormorelinkedaminoacidsthatmay

helplowerriskofheartdisease,too,aswellasenhancetheimmunesystemanddigestion.

Polyphenols: natural compounds that act as powerful antioxidants toprotectyourbodybytrappingthefree-radicalmoleculesandgettingridofthembeforedamageoccurs.

Salicylates: naturally produced acid that acts as a protective compoundagainststressanddisease.

(Sources: TheHealing Powers series, SuperFoods HealthStyle, and The150HealthiestFoodsonEarth.)

HONEYVARIETALSHoney is made from a wide variety of flowers, trees, and other plants.

Therearehundredsofvarietiesfoundaroundtheworld.It’sthedarkesthoneysthat are the ones to write home about, because these are the superstars withmedicinalvaluethatdeservekudosinthehumanworld.

Thefollowing10flavorsofhoneys—someofthetopantioxidant-richandmedicinalones—arelistedalphabetically.Thesehoneysaresittingsidebysideinjars(hexshapedtobearshaped)inmypantry.Onebyone,Iencounteredeachflavor,and todayIuseeachoneof themfor itsuniquehealingbenefits. Idishoutmoredetailsforyouaboutthehoneyvarietalsinmyupcloseandpersonalexperienceswithyouinchapter7.

THE HEALING HONEY PARADE Type Characteristics NectarSource Acacia Light, white-yellowish; medicinal Black locust tree BlueberryGolden in color; rich in antioxidants A flowering shrub with pale flowersBuckwheatDarkandrich;highinantioxidantsAnnualherbGoldenrodAmber,golden; medicinal A perennial with branches of golden flowers HawaiianChristmasBerryRichgolden;highinantioxidantsChristmasberrybushManukaDark amber-orange;medicinalManuka bushSidr Superdark amber;medicinalAncient sidr tree Raspberry Pale yellow; medicinal American red raspberryshrub Sunflower Yellow; medicinal An annual herb with daisy-like flowersWildflowerLightgolden;medicinalVarietyofwildflowers

HEALINGPRODUCTSFROMTHEHIVEHoney is healing, but its bee products straight from the hive also have

healing powers, the practice ofwhich is known as “apitherapy.”While honeytypesandformsdocomewithhealthperks, fourby-productsstraight fromthehivearealsocreatingabuzz.Ilearnedthatthesegiftsforbothbeesandmankindcanbeandareusedforhealthandhealingandinthehome.Thankstothehumanhoneyproducers,mypantry is chock-fullofnotonlyhoneyvarietals, but alsootherbeefoodsthataremakingnewsaroundtheglobe.

Pollen:Aprotein-rich,powder-likesubstance.Honeybeesgatherpollenasfood for themselves and their young. Bee pollen is packed with vitamins,minerals,enzymes,andaminoacids.Ithasmoreaminoacidsandvitaminsthatany other amino acid–containing product, like beef, eggs, or cheese, claimnutritionists.Peopleinthehoneyworldrecommendstartingslowlyandbuildingupto1to2teaspoonsofpolleneachday.Somepeoplewillusepollenincereal,smoothies,andyogurt,andafewchocolatiersincludeitintheirchocolates.Findpollenathealth-foodstoresandspecialtyhoneyshops.

Propolis:A sticky, dark-colored,waxy sap collectedbyhoneybees fromthe buds of trees. Used by honey bees to close up cracks. People use it as adisinfectant as well as to treat a number of health ailments, including anoncomingcold.Itisfoundindifferentforms,includingchews,aspray,tincture,rawchunks,andcapsules.Chewsandpropolisareavailableathealth-foodstoresand honey specialty shops. When I opened a jar of bee propolis raw honeyproductfromDutchman’sGoldInc.andAnnie’sApitherapyIwasgreetedwithathinlayerofdarkstuffontop.Atfirst,Ithought,Abeegiftofsorts.Iassumeditwaspropolisbutwanted toknowbefore I tookanibble.Themysteryblacklayer was bee propolis. (Nutritional consultant Angela Ysseldyk,www.beepollenbuzz.com,recommendsmixingit in.Simplyheatthehoney[donotmicrowaveit]byplacingthejarinapotonthestoveuntilitbeginstomelt.Do this slowlyandbecarefulnot tooverheat andaccidentallypasteurizeyourhoney.)

RoyalJelly:Acreamyliquidmadeandsecretedbynursebeestofeedthequeen.Thisisanutrient-richnaturaljellywithproteins,aminoacids,fattyacids,minerals, sugars, and vitamins. It’s touted as a skin product and dietarysupplement. Honey lovers and health enthusiasts believe it has many healthbenefits. I’m told some folks (notme yet) can handle eating royal jelly solo;others (humans,notbees)willmix itwithhoney tomake iteasier toswallow.Royaljellyisavailablefreshinlittlejars,likehoneytypes,andcapsules.(Checkout chapter 5: “Honey, You’re Amazing!” and chapter 11: “Home Remedies

fromYourKitchen”tofinditspotentialhealingpowers.)Beeswax:Thewax that isprocessed from theglandsof the femalehoney

bee’sabdomen.Sure,thisisn’tforeating,butitismoldedtomakehoneycomb.Itcanbeusedforall-naturalcosmetics,candles,andfurniturepolish.(Refertochapter 12: “Honeymania: Honey for the Household” to find out about thesehoneyproductsforyouandyourhome.)

10HONEYBUZZ-WORTHYBITSSincethehoneybeeandmankindareconnectedbecauseofourfoodchain,

itmakessensetodishoutaspoonfulofhoneytriviatoshowyoujusthowthehoney bee is an un-bee-lievable man’s best friend. Take a look at these 10factoidsthat’llgetyouthinkingabouttheamazingsmallcreatureandwhatitcando.

Ittakesabout2millionflowersforhoneybeestotaptomakeonepoundofhoney.

1.Theaveragehoneyworkerbeemakesamere1⁄12teaspoonofhoneyinherlifetime.

2.UtahisknownastheBeehiveState.3. Honey bees communicate by dancing. The waggle dance alerts other

beestowherethenectarandpollenare.4.Ahoneybeemusttapabout2millionflowerstomake1poundofhoney.5. On average, each person in the United States consumes about 1.31

poundsofhoneyeachyear.6. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that there are

approximately3millionhoney-producingcoloniesintheUnitedStates.7.Itwouldtakeabout2tablespoonsofhoneytofuelabee’sflightaround

theworld.8.Aworkerbeevisitsabout50to100flowersduringeachtrip.9.Ahoneybeefliesabout15milesperhour.10.Ahiveofbeesfliesmorethan55,000milestobringyouonepoundof

honey.(Source:NationalHoneyBoard.)

As you can see, the remarkable honey bee flies the extra mile so it canproducehoney—asuperfood(afoodthathassuperhealthbenefits)forpeople,likeyouandme—thatcanbeenjoyedsoloorinacupofteaorbothways.HereisaperfectrecipetowhipupandsavorwithacupofteaandhoneyasyouflyawaywithmeonajourneyintoHoneyland.

HoneyTeaBread8ouncesraisins

3ouncessethoney

½pintfreshlymadestrongtea

2largeeggs,lightlybeaten

10ounceswhole-wheatflour

½teaspoongroundmixedspice

1tablespoonbakingpowder

Place the raisins in abowl.Stir thehoney into the teaandpour thisoverraisins.Leavetosoakfor2hours.Stirtheeggsintotheraisinmixture.

Preheat oven to 350°F.Mix the flourwith the spice and baking powder,thenmix thesedry ingredients into theraisinmixture.Transfer toagreased2-poundloaftinandbakeforabout1hour10minutes.

Cookonawirerackandserveslicedandbuttered.Makesone2-poundloaf.(Courtesy:TheHoneyAssociation.)

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHResearch, especially in the past decade, shows that quality dark honeys,

whicharederivedfromavarietyofflowers,trees,andotherplants,producethenectarforthehoneyaroundtheglobe—andmayhelpyouto:

loweryourriskofheartdisease.enhanceyourimmunesystem.staveoffdiabetes.treatrespiratorydiseases.healwounds.slowtheagingprocess.addyearstoyourlife.

In this book, I will show you how using honey (paired with othersuperfoods)isoneofthebestthingsyoucandoforyourself—andyourhealth.Butnote,manypeoplewillnotwanttoreapthebenefitsofhoneybyindulging

in thedark stuffby teaspoons (likedarkchocolate, it’s anacquired taste).Butyoucangetyourdailyhoneydosefromaflavorfulcupofteaandhoneyandincookingandbaking.I’veincludeddozensofrecipestopamperyourpalateandto help heal your body, mind, and spirit. And versatile honey in foods,cosmetics,soaps,andlotions,medicinaldressings,candles,andfurniturepolishcan do somuchmore for both the inside and outside of your body and yourhousehold.

Butfirst,let’sgoway,waybackintothepast.Takeahoneybee’s–eyeviewofwhyandhowhoneyisoneoftheancientworld’sfirst—andmostremarkable—naturalmedicines.

CHAPTER2AnAncientEssentialElixirThesecretofmyhealthisapplyinghoneyinsideandoiloutside.—Democritus,contemporaryofHippocrates1

MysecondencounterwithhoneywaswhenIwasabuddingtomboywhofavoredinsectsandfurrycreatures,bigandsmall,ratherthantoysanddolls.Mykindergartenfantasyofhavingabackyardwithflowers,plants,trees,andweedswithbutterfliesandhoneybeeswasnolongeradream.Mydadlandscapedbothourfrontandbackyard—completewitha largehourglass–shapedpatio. In thespringandsummerthebackyardwasmyrefuge.Iwasmesmerizedbythelongrow of tall bright red bottlebrush plants—an attraction to active honey bees.ListeningtothesoundofdailybuzzingwaslikewatchingTheSoundofMusic—anescapefromtheeverydayworld.

Notonlydidthesoundandsightofbeesinouryardcaptivateme,butonsummer nights honey-glazed chicken sizzling on the barbeque pit was anattraction,too.Thescentofafresh-bakedapplepiesweetenedwithcloverhoney—coolingonthekitchencounter—wasn’ttobeignored,either.Afterdinner,I’dtake a dip in the next-door neighbor’s swimming pool. It may not have beenGreece,butitwashome.Mydadsoldinsurance,notbeesorhoney.Buthoneybeesinthesuburbswerepartofmylife,astheywerenoticedinotherpeople’sworldsinthe20thcenturyandlongago.

Backin thedaysof theancientpast,benefitsofhoneyusedformedicinal

purposes varied from physical stamina to mental well-being. The versatilehealing powers of honey were put to work by Egyptian physicians as far as5,000 years ago, and itsmedical uses have also been noted in theOldWorldfromtraditionalChinesemedicinetoIndianAyurveda.2

HOLYHONEYHISTORYTIDBITSHoney is mentioned countless times in the Bible. The phrase “milk and

honey” was used at least 21 different places to describe the fertility andprosperity of thePromisedLand, in contrast to the desert,whichdid not flowwithwater,milk,orhoney.

Honey is one of the Bible’s good-for-you healing foods. Here are someinterestingbiblicalreferencestohoney—andwhattheymaymean.Theseweregleanedfromavarietyofsources,allleadingtotheBible:

HoneyasintheLandofMilkandHoney•“Goupto the landflowingwithmilkandhoney.ButIwillnotgowith

you,becauseyouare a stiff-neckedpeople and Imightdestroyyou.” (Exodus33:3,NewInternationalVersion)

• “If the LORD is pleasedwith us, hewill lead us into that land, a landflowingwithmilkandhoney,andwillgiveittous.”(Numbers14:8)

Honey,aHealingGiftNot onlywill you find passages of theHolyBiblewith references to the

PromisedLand,butinGenesis43:11JacobsendshoneyasagifttoJoseph,thegovernorofEgypt.AndinKings14:3JeroboamrequestshisspousetogivethegiftofhoneytotheprophetAhijah,withpromiseofitshealingpowersfortheirsonwhowasallegedlyblind.3

Honey,theSymbolofGoodHealth•“NowthemenofIsraelwereindistressthatday,becauseSaulhadbound

the people under an oath, saying, Cursed be any man who eats food beforeeveningcomes,before Ihaveavengedmyselfonmyenemies!Sononeof thetroopstastedfood.Theentirearmyenteredthewoods,andtherewashoneyontheground.Whentheywentintothewoods,theysawhoneyoozingout,yetnooneputhishand tohismouth,because theyfeared theoath.ButJonathanhadnotheardthathisfatherhadboundthepeoplewiththeoath,sohereachesouttheendof thestaff thatwas inhishandanddippedit into thehoneycomb.Heraisedhishandtohismouth,andhiseyesbrightened”(1Samuel14:24–27).

Honey,theUltimateFood•“Butterandhoneyshallheeat”(Isaiah7:15).•“ThepeopleofIsraelcalledthebreadmanna.Itwaswhitelikecoriander

seedandtastedlikewafersmadewithhoney”(Exodus16:31).•“ThedayChristrosefromthedeadandappearedbeforeHisDisciples,He

askedforfood.Theygavehimbroiledfishandahoneycomb”(Luke24:42).•“Myson,eathoneybecauseitisgood,andthehoneycombwhichissweet

toyourtaste”(Proverbs24:13).Withallof thisbeingputontoday’skitchentablehowcanyougowrong

byaddingalittlehoneyinyourdiet?Honeyispraisedbypeopleduringtheupsanddownsofbiblicaltimes,butthegoldennectardoesn’tendthere....

ODETOTHESWEETGIFTOFHONEYNot only is golden honey found in the Old Testament, but it’s noted in

Greek mythology, too. Remember, Zeus, the legendary son of Cronos, inGreece? Zeus was an almighty god of the sky and king of the gods. EnterMelissa—themeaning is “honeybee”—whonurturedZeusduring the timehewasestrangedfromhisfather.MelissafedZeushoneythatsheborrowedfrombeehives.Thisgoodfeat,inturn,endedupinanevilpunishmentforthecaringwoman.Cronostransformedherintoaworm.Theendresult:ZeuswasthankfulforMelissa’shelpwiththegoldennectarandlikeagoodwarlockheturnedherintoaqueenbee.4

HoneyisalsoknownasthenectarofAphrodite—theGreekgoddessofloveandbeauty.Asmythologyandfolkloreenthusiaststellit,sheallegedlypacifiedCerberus, the three-headed dog, with a sweet honey cake and paid Charon totakeher toHades.Enroute,shesawhandsreachingoutof thewater.Avoicetoldhertotossahoneycaketothem.Shetossedthecakeouttothehandsandgave one to Cerberus. The sweet gift of honey got the goddess to where shewantedtobe.

THEEGYPTIANSEEDOFHONEY...While myths and legends are mind-boggling, inscriptions on Sumerian

tables are more believable and hint that the Sumerians were the world’s firstbeekeepers.ButitisbelieveditwasreallytheancientEgyptianswhostartedthecraftof tendingtobeesandreapingrewards.Wildbeeswarmswereluredintocontainersand takenback to the templesand thepriestsweregiven the joboftendingtothebees.

By2600B.C.,beekeepingwashappeningandhoneywasbeingpraisedfor

itsversatileusesinmedicine,beautypreparations,andtrade.5The ancient Egyptians were also known to include honey in cooking,

especiallyforhoneycakes,andasofferingstothegods.Jarsofhoney—whichisan excellent preserver—were buried with the pharaohs to sustain them in theafterlife, a practice thatwas also common inMesopotamia,where honeywasusedforitshealinghealthpowers.6

SweetHoneyWineofAncientMythsThehistoryofmead(honeymadeintowine) isworthamention,sinceits

rootsgobacktoritualsoftheCelts,Anglo-Saxons,andVikings.Asthelegendgoes,meadwas touted to have healing power. Theword “honeymoon” stemsfromthe timewhennewlyweds indulged inmeadforonemonthfollowing thewedding.As legendhas it, if themeadwas “proper,” a sonwouldbe the endresultwithinninemonths.

Theartofmakingmead,includingaddingherbs,beganintheMiddleAges.MixinggrapeandotherfruitwineswiththissweetbeveragecanbetracedbacktoRomantimes.Astimepassed,meadwasreplacedbybeveragessuchaswinemadefromgrapesorotherfruits.


...BLOSSOMEDTOANCIENTGREECEANDROMEOnceEgyptpavedthewayforbeekeeping,GreeceandRomewerenextin

line. Aristotle, Hippocrates, and Dioscorides touted honey’s magic, noting itsamazingremedies,includingasawoundsalve,acoughmedicine,anaidtoridoneofbodylice,andacureforearache,ulcers,andevenhemorrhoids.

InGreekmythology there are references tohoney,with themoniker “thenectarof thegods.”After all, itwas theGreekswho first noted the flavorsofhoneys and potpourri of nectar sources. The most beloved honey, from theperspective of theGreeks,was honey that came from thyme—growing on theslopes nearAthens.Honeywas the only sweetener available in Europe at thetime,asidefromsyrupsmadefromdriedfruits,andherbssuchascicely.7

TheancientRomansputhoneyonapedestal,astheGreeksdid.Apicius,afamousgourmand,praisedhoneyinmorethanhalfofhisrecipes,includingonefor roast dormouse (brushed with honey) and another for honey-baked ham.BothEgyptiansandGreeksprizedhoneyasaremarkablefoodpreservative.8

TheOldPhilosopherandtheHoney

Asthetalegoes,Democritus,aGreekphilosopher,sethismindondyingatage110.Toachievethisgoalheresistedfood,daybyday.Hisideawastolimithisfoodintakeuntilheperished.Theglitchwas,afestiveeventwascomingandthewomeninhishouseholdcoaxedhimnottoleaveEarthuntilthiscelebrationended. A translation of the Greet text Deipnosophistae II noted: “He waspersuadedandorderedavesselfullofhoneytobesetnearhim,andinthiswayhe lived formanydayswith no other support, than the honey; and then somedaysafterwardswhenthehoneyhadbeentakenaway,hedied.”9

HONEYSWEETENSUPBRITAINANDAMERICASo,thereisatrailofevidencethathintsthatexactlywhenhoneymadeits

movefromGreeceandRometotheBritishIslesitwaswildbeesthatdeservedcredit.ClueshavebeenfoundonNeolithicpotteryremainsaround5,000yearsback—and beekeeping was likely practiced in England before the Romaninvasion. By the 11th century A.D., beekeeping was noted in the DomesdayBook list noting the number of hives each landholder owned—to show howimportanttheseinsectsweretomankind.10

HONEYSWEETENSTHEUSATheEuropeanhoneybeewasbroughtbyman(theydidnotmaketheflight

themselves)toNewEnglandinabout1638.NorthAmericannativescalledthesehoney bees the white man’s flies. Honey was used to prepare food andbeverages, tomakecement, topreservefruits,andformedicinalpurposes.Buttending to honey bees and gathering honey was not perfected as a fine artbecauseofthechallengesofbeekeeping.Simplyput, theintricateextractionofhoneywasnotaneasyprocessforbeekeepersorbees.11

Bythe18thcentury,however,thankstotheboxhive,beescouldattachtotheirhoneycombs.But it stillwasn’t a finished fineart forbeesorbeekeepersuntil later in the century.That’swhen inventors finetunedhives sobees couldbuildwaxcellsandraisetheiryoungandstorepollenandhoney.Forcenturieshoneywaseatenashoneycomb,sinceitwasatasktoextracttheliquidsealedinthecells.ThisproblemwassolvedwhenFranzEdlervonHruschkainventedthehoneyextractor.12

In the 21st century, beekeeping continued to be an art in itself and theattractionwasamainstayaroundtheglobeafteritshistoricalrootsspread.Majorproducers of honey include Argentina, China, Mexico, Turkey, the UnitedStates,andtheUkraine.Thesedays,muchlikeyesterday,honey,withitshealing

powers and interest as a natural sweetener and superfood, is in demand bybeekeepersandotherconsumersaroundtheworld.

OTHER PAST MEDICAL USES OF HONEY Historical UsersIngredientsUsesSumeriansRiverdustmixedwithhoneyandoilTotreatskinulcersEgyptiansHoneyTotreatopenwounds;alsousedtofeedsacredanimalsGreeksHoneyAsanofferingtothegodsandthespiritsofthedeadBabyloniansHoneyInmedicine(referredtointheCodeofHammurabi)Sushrutra,asurgeonfrom India Honey varietals For medicinal properties Charak, another Indianphysician Honey As tonic and mild laxative Athenaeus Honey and bread Tomakewho ate this for breakfast “free fromdisease all their lives” IbnMagih,fromArab-MuslimcultureHoneyAsaremedyforeveryillnessChineseHoneymixedwithopiumAtherapeuticreliefforpain

(Source:TheHoneyRevolution.)13

HONEYMILESTONESYearWhatHappenedWhatItDid6000B.C.Cave paintingsweremade inSpain that showedmen collecting honey from abee colony. They proved honey goes back to ancient times. 2600 B.C.Beekeepingwasestablished.Honeybegantobeusedasmedicineandforbeautyand trade. 30th century B.C. Honey was used in most households as asweetening agent. This showed howmuch Egyptians valued honey, as it wasoftenusedaspayment.1500sAbookonChinesemedicine,publishedduringtheQindynasty,toutedmedicinalusesofhoney.Itheightenedawarenessofhoneyandhealth.1500sIbnMagih,prophet,wroteabook,TheSacredBee,discussinghoney as a remedy for illness. It taught people about the healing powers ofhoney. 1600s European honey bees were introduced to New England byEuropeansettlers.Thisencourageduseofhoneytopreparefoodandbeverages,topreservefruits,andformedicinalpurposes.1759ThefirstEnglishbookabouthoney by John Hill, was published. This recognized the healing powers ofhoney.YearWhat HappenedWhat It Did 1950sFolk Medicine, by D. C.Jarvis, aVermont doctor,was published. Itwouldmake honey popular in thefollowing decades. 1970s–1980s Books on beekeeping and honey werepublished by Dr. Eva Crane, beekeeper and researcher. They heightenedawarenessofhoneybeesandhoneyhealth.

(Sources: National Honey Board and South Staffordshire BeekeepersAssociation.)

I’vesearchedforanall-naturalandsimple-to-bakecheesecakerecipe—andit foundme. This is a sweet cheesecake from theOldWorld,madewith fivebasic, no-nonsense ingredients: plain flour, ricotta cheese, an egg, bay leaves,andclearhoney,whichwaspopularinancientRomantimes.Irecommendusingadifferent honeyvarietal each timeyoumake it and every timeyourAncientRomanCheesecakewilltastelikeafirstsweetkiss.

AncientRomanCheesecake

4.2ouncesplainflour

4.4ouncesricottacheese

1beatenegg

Bayleaves

16teaspoonsclearhoney

Sievetheflourintoafairlylargebowl.Beatthecheeseuntilit issoftandstirit intotheflouralongwiththeegg.

Formasoftdoughanddivideintofour.Formeachintoabunandplacethemonagreasedbakingtraywithafreshbayleafunderneatheach.

Heat the oven to 425°F. Bake for 35–40 minutes until they are goldenbrown.Warmthehoneyandplacethewarmcakesintoit[4teaspoonseach]sothattheyabsorbtheliquidfully.Allowthecheesecakestostandfor30minutesbeforeserving.

(Source:CourtesyofDeliciousItaly.)Ibakedthischeesecakeandit’snotyourtypicalNewYorktreat—ithasa

simple,old-worldtaste.Myrecommendationistogiveitanew-worldtwistbyadding ½ teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, using whole ricotta cheese,adding 1 teaspoon lemon rind, and using your favorite honey type—orangeblossomgaveitanicecitrusyflavor—andservingitwithfreshseasonalberriesordarkchocolatecurls.

Honey’s remarkable powers, from eating tomedicinal uses, frombiblicaltimes throughout century after century, were touted to have health attributes.Despitethebadrapithasreceivedinthe20thcenturybynutritionistsclaiming“it’sstillasugar,”it’smadeaturnaroundinitsacceptance,especiallyinthepast

twodecades.Honey,nowdubbedasasuperfood,hasreceivedathumbs-upbyscientists

and medical doctors around the globe. In the next chapter, “A HistoricalTestimony,”I’llshowyouexactlyhowhoneydeserveskudosandwhyit’sgoodenoughtosnagfromthehivelikeWinniethePooh,thestorybookbear,did.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH Honey has made its mark in the Bible and is noted for its versatile

virtues,includingfertilityandprosperityforthePromisedLand,asagiftandtheultimatehealingfood.

Honeymade itsnamefor itsamazingpowers inGreekmythologyandwritingsofboththeEgyptiansandRomans.

Bythe17thcentury,theEuropeanhoneybeehadbeenbroughtbymantoAmericaandwastoutedforitsusefulnessandremarkablegiftstomankind.

BeekeepersandadvocatesofthehealingpowersofhoneypavedthepathofhealinghoneyinAmericainthe1900s.

Bythemid–20thcenturyandintothe21stcentury,beekeepingandbeeshad developed a reputation as one of nature’s greatest gifts in America andaroundtheworld.

PART2NECTAR

OFTHEGODS

CHAPTER3AHistoricalTestimonyTherearecertainpursuitswhich,ifnotwhollypoeticandtrue,doatleast

suggestanoblerandfinerrelationtonaturethanweknow.Thekeepingofbees,forinstance.

—HenryDavidThoreau1

At17,likeaworkerhoneybee,Iwasonamission.IrememberonenightI

wasshelteredundermyfavoritemagnoliatree—theonemyfatherplantedinourfront yard. I was sitting cross-legged on the grass. Clad in blue jeans and asleevelessT-shirtandbarefoot,Iwastheposterchildofshaggy-haired,restlessyouth and eager to spreadmywings. Sweetmemories ofmy childhoodwerefading.Thegardenlackednurturing.Therewastalkofmyfamilyuprootingtoanotherhome, smaller,which tome seemedwouldbe too crowded. ItwasonthissummereveningthatIsensedchangewasintheair.

Withbigwhiteblossomingflowersaboveme(theydidn’tproducenectarorattract the honey bee), I nibbled on a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Irefusedtoeatmymom’sliverandonions.Itwastimetofleelikeayounghoneybee.Atfirst, I tooksmalldailytrips,downtheCaliforniacoast toBigSur—insearchofanoasis,arefugethatpromisedmore.Iwashardlyalone.Duringthesixtiesandseventies,likeabeeswarm,itwasamovement.Anewgenerationofyoung people traveled from state to state around America and the world insearchofabetterplacetobe.

During the seventies, honey bees and beekeepers were also explorers.Pioneers in the beeworld understood thewanderlust of the honey bee and itsgifts tonature.Theyknew thathoneywasversatileandhealthful—both insideand outside the body. And these findings have been embraced and are nowbecomingthelatestbuzzforthemainstreamaudience.

HONEYPIONEERSINTHE20THCENTURYI find it intriguing that some of the noteworthy honey producers of the

worldmadehistoryandpavedthewayforthe21st-centuryhoneycompaniesinCalifornia,mynativestate.Also,whatissointerestingisthatthesepioneersarefamilyrunorhavetiesbacktotheearly1900s.

TheWorldly Bee Lady.On June 12, 1912, EvaCranewas born, and sheendedupbeingadedicatedworkerbeeasaresearcherandauthoronthesubjectsofbeesandbeekeeping.Onceamathwizard, she switchedhercalling tobeesand devoted her life to researching bees and traveling around the world. TheNew York Times reported that “Dr. Crane wrote some of the most importantbooksonbeesandapiculture.”2

Craneismostrememberedinthehoneybeeworldforherworks,includingHoney: A Comprehensive Survey (1975), A Book of Honey (1980), and TheArchaeology of Beekeeping (1983). Her writing ended up in two tomes:BeesandBeekeeping:Science,PracticeandWorldResources(1990)andTheWorldHistory of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting (1999). These days, if I had thepleasure to interview her as I did Charles Schulz, another keen observer of

mankindandanimals,IwonderifI’dcaptureherinterest.Iwouldsharemyowntravel adventureswith a knapsack and dog, flittering from state to state like ahoneybee.3

TheVermontCountryDoctor.D.C.Jarvis,likeEvaCrane,madehismarkin thehoneyworld.This familydoctornotonly turned toapplecidervinegar,which I noted in my book The Healing Powers of Vinegar, to help treat hisVermontpatients,butthenectarofthegodswaspartofhisbagoffolkremediestopreventandtreatillnesses,too.

The country doctor noted in his classic book Folk Medicine that nativeVermontershad the“nutritionalwisdomof thebee,whichgoes into the fieldsand selects thematerials for themaking of a perfect food.”Hewrote that thepeople(notunlikeinthe21stcentury)whoknewthefoodvalueofhoneyweremore apt to eat it on a regular basis than those who didn’t have adequateknowledgeofit.

Dr. Jarvis offersmany uses for honey.Honey is used formany purposesfrom athletic nutrition, burns, cramps, cough, and sinusitis to other peskyconditions.(Seechapter11:“HomeRemediesfromYourKitchen.”)

THEMANUKAHONEYGURU:DR.PETERMOLANEnterPeterMolan,Ph.D.,professorofbiochemistryatWaikatoUniversity,

NewZealand.Hehasbeen at the forefrontof honey research for almost threedecades. He heads the university’s Honey Research Unit, which isinternationally known for its research in the healing powers of honey. In anexclusiveinterview,IaskedDr.Molanaboutthefutureofhoneyanditsplaceinhealthandwell-beingaroundtheglobeandintheUnitedStates.

Q:For27years,youhavebeenconductingresearchonthehealingpowersofmanukahoney.Whatinspiredyoutodelveintothisscientificresearch?

A: I started the research after a friend, Kerry Simpson, a high schoolscienceteacherandkeenbeekeeper,persuadedmetoinvestigatemanukahoneybecausehehadheardofitsreputationinNewZealandfolkmedicineasthebesthoneytouseasanantiseptic.

[Note: Although the manuka tree is used in traditional Maori medicine,therewasnohoneyinNewZealanduntilEuropeansettlersbroughthoneybeeslessthantwocenturiesago.Theantibacterialcomponentinmanukahoneydoesnotoccur in themanuka tree—it is formedaspartofa reaction in the ripenedhoney.]

Q:Whatnewhoney-sensitivebacteriahaveyoudiscoveredthatrespondto

manukahoney?A:Manukahoney, even at a concentration as lowas 1 percent, stops the

growthofcampylobacter,bacteriawhichareaverycommoncauseofdiarrhea.Ithasbeenfoundtobeeffectiveagainstawiderangeof“superbugs”(bacteriaresistant to antibiotics), includingMRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus).

Q:Currently,manukahoneyisFDAapprovedandavailableforpurchasethroughtheInternetforpeopleintheUnitedStates.Doyoufeelanylargedrugcompany in America may produce a manuka honey product and sell it as aprescribedmedicinetohospitalsandclinics?

A:JarsofmanukahoneyonsaleintheUSAarenotapprovedbytheFDAfor any therapeutic use, although they are legitimately sold as a food just likeany other honey.However, there are various brands ofmanuka honey on salewithFDAapprovalfortreatingwounds.Somearetubesofmanukahoney,andsomearewounddressingscontainingmanukahoney.Allaresterilizedproducts.It is smallermedicalcompaniesproducing these,but largedrugcompaniesarenowshowinganinterest.

Q: You coined the “UMF (Unique Manuka Factor)” term, which is theantibacterial potencyof agivenhoney.Medicalprofessionals inNewZealandusemanukahoneywithUMFratingsof10orhigher.Currently,testsarebeingdone in the U.S. to find out if there is antibacterial potency in other honeys.Whichvarietalsdoyoufeelmaymakethegrade?

A:Ioriginallydevisedtheterm“UMF”forusebyanyproducerofgenuinemanukahoneytobeabletoinformconsumersthatithadthespecialantibacterialactivityfoundonlyinmanukahoney(andlaterfoundtoalsobeinhoneyfromthesametypeoftreesgrowinginAustralia).

Ithassincebeencapturedasanexclusivebrandbysomecompanies,andmanyproducersof thegenuinemanukahoneyarenotallowedtousetheterm.Eventhename“uniquemanukafactor,”whichIgavetothespecialactivity,hasbeenclaimedby theexclusivecompanies tobe their trademark,soIno longeruse that name. I, likemanyhoneyproducers, have for decades used thename“non-peroxide activity” to refer to the special type of antibacterial activity inmanukahoney.

The antibacterial activity of other types of honey is due to hydrogenperoxide,whichisproducedbyanenzymethat thebeesaddtothenectar theycollect tomake honey. There is an enzyme in body tissues and serumwhichrapidlydestroyshydrogenperoxide.Thus, althoughhoneysother thanmanuka

honeymayhaveahighlevelofantibacterialactivityinlaboratorytesting,theyareunlikelytobeaseffectiveonawound.

Q:Whatisthemostimportantstudyyou’vehadpublishedandwhyisthisgroundbreaking?

A: I don’t think any individual publication can be singled out.What hasbeen“groundbreaking”(inthat ithasgot themedicalprofessionusingmanukahoney)hasbeen thecumulativefindingsof theeffectivenessofmanukahoneyagainst wound-infecting bacteria and the explanation of how honey works inotherwaysaswellingettingwoundstoheal.

Q:Youhavesaidthatatpresentpeopleareturningtohoneywhennothingelseworks.But thereare verygoodgrounds for usinghoneyas a therapeuticagentoffirstchoice.WhydoyoufeelU.S.medicalprofessionalsarehesitanttousehoneyastheydoinothercountries?

A:Ifeelthereluctancetousehoneycomesfromlackofknowledgeaboutit, particularly in the USA, where there has been less publicity than in othercountriesandfewerpresentationsatwound-careconferences.Especially,Ithinkthatnothavinghadpresentedthescientificrationaleforhowhoneyworksleavesmedical professionals viewing honey as some sort of “snake oil” beingmarketed.

Q:And when do you believe the United States will begin using manukahoneyinhospitalsandclinics?

A:Italreadyisstarting,butonasmallscale.Ifeelthatitwillnottakeoffon a large scale like has happened in the UK until there are presentations atwound-careconferencesexplainingthescientificrationaleforhowhoneyworks(aswasdoneintheUK).

Q:Meanwhile,canmanukahoneybesafelyingestedbyhumansiftheUMFis less than10? If so,howmuchshouldoneconsumeperday?Andwhat is itbest used for in this form?Also, ismanuka safe to use as a dressing for ourcompanionanimals?

A: There is a risk to be considered of harmful effects of long-termconsumption. Iwouldnot consider there tobe any significant risk fromshort-term ingestion, suchas treatingan infection in thegut.But Idoquestionwhyanyone would be consuming it regularly, especially the low-activity honeywhich is unlikely to have any antibacterial effectwhen diluted by fluid in thegut.

Youaskwhatitisbestusedfor.Woundcare,obviously,isamajoruse(forhumans and animals). But this would be with a non-peroxide activity ratingabove 10. For deep wounds it should be the FDAAPPROVED sterilizedproductsthatareused,becauseotherwisethereisariskofintroducingsporesofclostridia,whichcouldcausewoundbotulismandgangrene.

Bymouth, treatmentofsore throats isa traditionaluseofhoney.Manukahoney lozenges are now on sale, which should be the most effective way ofkeeping honey in contact with the throat. A small clinical trial has beenconducted on treatment of sore gums (gingivitis) which has indicated abeneficial effect. (I use manuka honey–like toothpaste if I get sore gums.)Another traditional use of honey is for treating stomach ulcers and gastritis(inflammationofthestomach).Therehasbeennoestablisheddoseforthis,butpeoplecommonlytakeaheapedteaspoonful.SomeothertreatmentsforwhichIamgettingreportsofgoodresultsareforeyeinfections,earinfections,andnasalsinusinfections.

Formoreinformation,logontotheWebsiteoftheHoneyResearchUnitoftheUniversityofWaikato:http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/

CATCHINGUPWITHHONEYMAKERSWhenIbeganmyexplorationtodiscoverwho’swhointhehoneyworldI

learnedquickly that therewasn’ta ready-made listcompiledof topcompanieslikethereisforleadingchocolateproducers.IfollowedapathpavedbyworldlybeekeepersthatledmetoahandfuloftophoneycompaniesandpackersintheUnitedStates—thetopqueenbeesinAmerica,whichincludeSueBee®,GoldenHeritageFoods,andAdeeHoneyFarms.

Other workers that lead the global honey market, according to GlobalIndustryAnalysts,Inc.,“includeBeeMaid,BillyBeeHoney,CapilanoHoney,ComvitaLimited,DaburIndiaLimited,DutchGoldHoney,Inc.,GoldenAcresHoney, HebeiWuqiaoMtl Co., Ltd., Odem International, Inc., RowseHoneyLtd,ShriroPvtLtd., . . . andYanbianBaolixangBeekeepingCo.,Ltd, amongothers.”4

Duringmy at-home trek through the honeyworld, I found a tier of like-mindedhardworkingdown-to-earthpeopleinthehoneyproductionworld.Thereare the beekeepers or producers and packers (who fill the glass jars and shipthemoffthemselvestocorporatefoodprocessors,suchasGeneralMillsorKraftFoods).Andtherearesidelinersormom-and-popoutlets thatmakeapart-timeliving fromsellingbeeproducts. (Go tochapter14 to findoutmoreabout the

busybeesandtheirworkers.)

FARMERS’ANDMAN’SBESTFRIEND:THEHONEYBEEBeekeepersalsosupplementtheirincomebyrentingoutbeesforpollination

ofcrops—andthisrequires travel forbothbeekeepersandbees,awhole lotofhard work, effort, and time. It’s a challenge to pinpoint exactly how manycommercialbeekeepersareworkingintheUnitedStates,butatleast1,000seemtobehardatwork.It’sbecomingharderforcommercialbeekeepers tomakealivingbecauseofobstacles,whether it isMotherNature’swrathor thecolonycollapsephenomenon—whenbeesdieoff.

Despitetheupsanddownsforboththehoneybeeandthebeekeeper,manyofthebeekeepers,bigandsmall,gobackgenerationsandarededicatedworkersliketheirbees,whichmakestheirhistoryfascinatingwithitsrootstothehoneybee,pastandpresent.

SiouxBee /SueBee®: In1921, fivebeekeepers locatednearSiouxCity,Iowa, got together and formed the Sioux Honey Association. They sharedequipment,marketing,andprocessingfacilities.SueBeeHoney®wasborn.Therestishistory.

Intheearlydays,honeywasmarketedunderthe“SiouxBee”label.Thenin1964 the name was changed to “Sue Bee” because it’s easier to pronounce.Later, other lines of honeywere added, including theCloverMaid,AuntSue,Nature Pure, and Northern American brands. Collectively, around 40 millionpoundsofhoneyareproducedeachyear.SueBeeHoney®isprocessedinplantslocatedinSiouxCity,Iowa;Anaheim,California;andElizabeth,NorthCarolina.

Thesedays,SueBee®’sglobalpresenceextendstotheMiddleEast,theFarEast,Europe,andSouthandCentralAmericaanditcontinuestobealeaderinthehoneyindustry.

Golden Heritage Foods: Back in March 2002, with the combining ofassetsofBarkmanHoneyCompanylocated inHillsboro,Kansas,andStoller’sHoneyinLatty,Ohio,GoldenHeritageFoodswasestablished.

Barkman’s and Stoller’s similar values, backgrounds in beekeeping andhoneypackaging,experience,anddetermination tobe the leaders in thehoneyindustry drew these two companies together. Golden Heritage Foods (thecompanyheadquartersarelocatedinHillsboro)isnowthenumbertwoleaderofbranded retail honey sales and is the top provider of honey in theU.S. to thefoodserviceindustry.

MoveOver,HoneyBees:MeettheHoneyManWhointhebeeworldwassmittenbythesacredhoneybeeatanearlyage

andfollowedhisheartandthebeesfordecades?MeetTedDennard,thefounderof the Savannah Bee Company. He has followed fate and his heart to spin asweetlifeforhimselfandothersaroundtheglobe.

As the story goes, Ted, a young blond-headed kid, was helping his dadworkonhisforestretreatincoastalGeorgia.TheSavannahBeeCompanytookrootwhen an old battered pickup truck swarmingwith bees rattled intoTed’slife.Anelderlymansteppedoutofthetruckwithbeescrawlingalloverhim.

“RoyHightower’smynameandI’vebeenlookingfarandwideforanidealhoney-making spot. If you letmeputmyhives here, I’ll introduce you to themarvelousworldofhoneybees.”

At first, thousands of bees buzzing around Ted’s head causedmore fearthan pleasure.The thought of stinging insects all overwas almost unbearable.Concentrating on the hum of the bees and their fascinatingmatriarchal worldhelpedhimdismissoutsidedistractionsandhisinnerfearsinaZen-likefashion.

Old Roy twirled a frame of honeycomb before Ted’s eyes so that thesunlight flashed through the honey like nature’s stained glass. The intricatelypatterned,multicoloredcellsofhoneyappearedasawindowtothehoneybee’sworld.Roycautioned,“Son,Ihavetowarnyouthatthesebeesbecomeawayoflife.”Andsotheydid.

Ted’suniversityyearsfoundhimattendingSewaneeandliving inacabinrented from a retired minister who, coincidentally, happened to be an avidbeekeeper.HeoncetoldTed,“Ifyoustudythesebees,youcanseethehandofGod in all that they do.” Following Ted’s graduation, the U.S. Peace CorpschosehimtoteachbeekeepinginJamaica.Twoyearslater,uponmovingbacktothe Georgia coast, he learned that the world’s two finest honeys (tupelo andsourwood)originated inGeorgia.That encouragedhim toproduceasmuchofthathoneyaspossibleandpursueadream.

Thesedays,morethantwodecadesafterOldRoypassedontothatflowerfieldinthesky,Tedfindshimselfrattlingaroundinanoldtruckfilledwithbees.He spends most of his time in the honey workshop, but when he tends thebeehivesindeepforestedriverbasinsandlushmountainvalleyshisthoughtsgotoRoy—theonewhointroducedTedtothehoneybee.

Meanwhile, Savannah Bee Company products are sold in at least 2,000stores, and they have sold their honey around the world, including Australia,Canada, Dubai, and Japan. Over the years, Ted has built relationships withbeekeepersallovertheworld:“Ibuyhoneyfrommostofthemeveryyear.Ialso

paythemapremiumpricesotheyalwayssellmetheirbest,”hersays.Andyes,the grown-uphoney entrepreneurwith 25honeybee colonies of his ownuseshoney(includingacaciaandtupelo)inhiscoffeeeverymorningandinhisteaintheafternoon.

So, as Roy the beekeeper cautioned the boy from Georgia, bees indeedwouldpavealifeforTed,whoisthankfulforthatchancemeetingonourlittleroad,andtothehoneybee.

OTHER20TH-TO-21ST-CENTURYHEALTHMILESTONESItisnosurprisethatinthe20thcenturyhoneywasapopularbusinessasit

sweptthenationandworldwithitsgiftsfromthehoneybee,includingitshealthbenefits.

YearWhat HappenedAuthor / Doctor / Company 1952 The NatureDoctor, a classic, was published. Swiss naturopath Alfred Vogel whorecommendshoneywithechinaceaforcutsandwounds1957Themodeloftheoriginalhoneybearinvented.RalphandLuellaGamber,foundersofDutchGoldHoney1970sHoneywaspopularizedby aVermontdoctor’sbestsellingbook,FolkMedicine, andhoneypricesskyrocketed.Dr.D.C. Jarvis1975Honey:AComprehensiveSurvey,themostsignificantreviewofhoneyeverpubished,waswrittenbyaresearcherandauthoronthesubjectofbees.EvaCrane1994Healthand theHoneyBeewaspennedbyabeekeeperandapitherapistwhousedbeevenom to treat patients with arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders.CharlesMraz2000Presentationaboutapitherapywasmadebyanapriculturistat an international bee research association conference inThailand.NaomiM.Saville2010Groundbreaking researchwasdoneonhoney,especiallymanuka,inNewZealand.PeterMolan,Ph.D.

(Source:SouthStaffordshireBeekeepersAssociation.)

HoneyIsTimelessPastandpresent,honeyisafoodthatstimulatesthemindsofentrepreneurs

and creative artisans in America and around the world. Honey and its healthbenefitsweremakingthenewsinthelate20thcenturyandcontinuetodosointhe 21st century. And it’s not uncommon to find folks in the honeyworld toenableyoutosavorthegoodstheyproduce.Thatmeansrecipesthatworkwithhoneyarepartoftheirlife,likethisone.

Ted’sSavannahBeeGrillHoneySalmon

1poundfreshsalmonfilet

2tablespoonsWhitewinevinegar

1tablespoonlemonjuice

1tablespoonoliveoil

2teaspoonsDijonmustard

2teaspoonsSavannahBeeCompanyGrillHoney

Freshrosemary

Salt

Blackpepper

Preheat grill to 350ºF. Prepare grilling planks according to directions onpackage.Makeslitsinsalmon(alongthegrain)every1to2inches.Pourvinegarandlemonjuiceoversalmonfilet,turningtocoatbothsides.

Mixoliveoil,mustard,andSavannahBeeCompanyGrillHoneyinasmallpanoverlowheat,blendingmixtureintoanemulsion.Pourhalfofthemixtureoverfish,turningtocoat.

Striptheleavesoftherosemaryandroughlychoptoreleasetheoils.Gentlypushrosemaryintotheslitsonthefilet.

Heattheplankonthegrillfor5minutesandturnthewarmsideup.Placefishskinsidedownontheplank.Pourremainingmixtureoverthetopandclosegrill. When salmon reaches an internal temperature of 135–145º (about 15minutes),drizzleSavannahBeeCompanyGrillHoneyliberallyoverthetopandturnuptheheat to450º.After1–2minutespullsalmonoutandletstandfor5minutesunderfoiltentbeforeserving.

(Courtesy:SavannahBeeCompany.)

NowthatI’veputhoney,nature’ssweetestsuperfood,onthetable,it’stimeto scrutinize its healthful ingredients like it’s a frog (dedicated to buddingscientists)onaslabinhighschoolbiologyclass.(Asasensitive,devoutanimal

lover,Iskippedclassondissectionday.)So,whatexactlymakeshoneyasuperfood—orisitanotheraddedsugar(as

some nutritionists claim it to be) that we should stay clear of because it willmakeusfatandleadtoheartwoes?Itacklethiscontroversialnutritiontopicinthenextchapter.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHTheUnitedStatesisahotspotforhoneypackersandproducers,andits

climate and health-conscious nuts and foodies as well as tourists enjoy theprogressivehoneyhighlights.

Old-time honey companies, including SueBee® andGoldenHeritage,have held and are holding their place in the global honey industry, past andpresent.

Otherwell-knownmajorhoneycompanieshavemadetheirnameinboththe20thand21stcenturies.

California’s honey packers and producers are touted for their honeyproducts,buttheyarealsopraisedfortheirhoneybeesandpollinationservicestokeepagriculture,includingalmondproduction,athrivingindustry.

Whilehoneyproducersarebusyworkinginthehoneyindustry,medicaldoctors, scientists, authors, and health-conscious consumers are aware of thegrowingtrendofthehealingpowersofhoney.

The honey industry in the 21st century has captured a worldwideaudience because honey’s back-to-nature goodness is versatile and promiseshealingpowersforailmentsanddiseases.

CHAPTER4WhereAretheSecretIngredients?TheonlyreasonforbeingabeethatIknowofismakinghoney...andthe

onlyreasonformakinghoneyissoIcaneatit.—WinniethePoohinA.A.Milne’s

TheHouseatPoohCorner1

At 21, a Californian with a honey bee–like wanderlust, I thought aboutjoiningthePeaceCorpsorarmedserviceswiththepromiseoftravelandtobewithotherpeople—likebusybeesinahive.ButIsensedIwasdifferentfromaworker bee.My travels acrossAmerica happenedwithmy own two feet, twoarms,andonethumb.Isetouttodojustthatasahumanbee—goastrayfromaswarmlikealonehoneybee.

OnedayIgathereduponesleepingbagandaknapsackstuffedwithroad-friendly foods, including granola bars and peanut butter. I fled NorthernCaliforniaandheadedsouthtowardInterstate10.MyfirstgoalwasFlorida—theSunshineState,withbeaches,palmtrees,andflowers.Naïvelikeahousebee,Iwasn’t ready for the world full of pests, nature’s wrath (from blizzards towindstorms),andman-madechallenges.

Soda and BIT-O-HONEY bars were often the staples of my diet, whichlackednutrition. “CaliforniaButterfly”—an insect like thehoneybee that alsoseeks sweet nectar—was themoniker I embraced.Duringmy road adventure,littledidIknowthathoney—notwhitesugar,whichIwaseating—wasgettingkudosfromprogressivemedicalexpertsandhealthnuts.Somenutritionistsanddoctors played down the good-for-you nutrients in this liquid gold “cure-all.”But there are folks around theworldwho did and still do believe honey is asgoodasgold.

Thesedays,inthe21stcentury,humansarereapingthenutritionalrewardsof honey, but that doesn’tmean the golden liquid is full of nutrients in smallamounts.Here’swhatIfoundout:

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon (21 g) Servings PerContainer:22AmountperServing:Calories:64TotalFat:0gSodium:0gTotalCarbohydrate:17gSugars:16gProtein:0g


Whenyou lookatahoney’sproduct label, it appears tobeahealthnut’sdreamcometrue:Thefoodcontainsnofat,nocholesterol,andnosodium.Butthe fact remains, all isnotperfect, according tonutritionists,whoarequick topointouta largeportionof thecaloriesinthissuperfoodcomesfromsugars—culpritsthatmayleadtoheartdiseaseandobesity.

One dietitian told me point-blank that she had no positive words to sayabouthoney.ButIargued,“Therearetonsofanecdotalevidence,studiesfromcountriesabroad,andmedicalexpertswhodotoutthegoldenliquid.”Shestucktoherwords:“It’ssugar,nobetter,noworse, thanotheraddedsugars.”Dazedandconfused,Iwentstraighttothehoney-savvynutritionalguruswhoareaware

of the sweet stuff in the ancient liquid gold. Studying the nutrition facts forhoney is similar to analyzing vinegars—they differ from source to source andcompany to company, and the bigger the measurements, the more nutrientsyou’llfind.

MoreHoney,Please

339grams(onecup)contain:

14milligramssodium

279.34gramscarbohydrate

0.7gramdietaryfiber

278.39gramssugars

1.02gramsprotein

1.7milligramsvitaminC

20milligramscalcium

1.42milligramsiron

7milligramsmagnesium

14milligramsphosphorus

176milligramspotassium

0.75milligramszinc

23.7milligramsfluoride

2.7milligramsselenium

Other nutrients: riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate,choline,betaine,aminoacids.

Apparently,morehoneyequalsmorenutrients.Onecupcontainsmorethan1,031calories,butzerosaturatedfat,transfat,orcholesterol.

(Source:USDANationalNutrientDatabaseforStandardReference,2009.)

IT’STHEANTIOXIDANTPOWERHoneywizardssuchasSuperFoodsHealthStyleco-authorStevenG.Pratt,

M.D.,notethathoneycontainsatleast181knownsubstances,nutrients,suchasaminoacids,carbohydrates(naturalsugars),aswellastraceenzymes,minerals(including calcium, fluoride, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and selenium),vitamins(includingvitaminC,folate,andcholine),andwater.Butthevitaminsandmineralsaren’tthehighlightofhoney’shealingpowers.2

AsInotedinchapter1:“ThePowerofHoney,”honeyisantioxidantrichandthat’swheretherealpowerlies,noifs,ands,orbutsaboutit.We’retalkingmighty bioflavonoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which act as disease-fighting antioxidants—the good guys that help to keep your body healthy andstall Father Time. It is the darker honeys, like quality dark chocolate, thatcontainmoreantioxidants—andthat’swhatreallyaccountsforhoney’shealingpowers.Butthat’snotall....

Here’s proof: It’s been proven in past studies—more than one—byscientiststhatforpeople,notrats,eatinghoneyraisesbloodlevelsofgood-for-youantioxidants.Aconnectionwasmadewith25healthymenwhodrankplainwaterorwaterwithbuckwheathoney.Thosewhochose thehoneyconcoctionhada7percentincreaseintheirantioxidantlevels.3

ToBe100PercentPureHoney—orNot?

Peopleinthehoneybeeworld,includingtheNationalHoneyBoard,knowthatthehoneytheyseeinsomegrocerystoresanddollarstoresmaynotbe100percentpurebut insteadbe“adulterated”(contaminatedwithtaintedelements).Thisfactisupsettingtopeoplebecausenotonlyarewenotgettingwhatwepayfor,butwealsoarebeingduped,asoftenthehoneyistaintedwithunhealthful,cheaper ingredients such as antibiotics.This ordeal ismakingheadlines in thenews more rather than less and it’s causing concern for both consumers andbeekeepers.

All-natural,100percentpurehoneywillhaveone ingredient listedon thenutrition label: honey. Imitation honeys, much like quality imitation darkchocolate, arenot a laughingmatter in the realworld.Thatmeans trouble liesahead for real honey lovers who want to “save the endangered honey bear.”Honey-flavored syrups, or honey that’s diluted with other ingredients, arebecomingmorecommonplaceandbeing sold to theunawareconsumer.Tobesureyougetthepuregoldenfoodofthegods,checkthelabel.


HONEYISNOTJUSTANOTHERSWEETENERDuring my trek through Honeyland, the words “honey is still a sugar”

echoedfromonenutritionisttoanother—itwasadominoeffect,sortof.Isensedthat many of these food experts did not go the distance to learn about theantioxidantvalueofhoneyvarietalsintheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.Honey,withallitsvirtues,isnotjustamiraclefly-by-nightsnackthathasmadethenews.It’srealfoodwithrealmerit.

TheHoneyRevolutionco-authorRonFessenden,M.D.,likeme,issharingthebuzzabouthealinghoney:“Whencomparedtotablesugar(sucrose)orhighfructosecornsyrup (HFCS),honeycontainsnearly thesame rationof fructoseand glucose.” However, adds the honey guru, “Honey contains dozens ofdifferentsubstances,whichmakesitmorelikefruitthansugar.”AndsincesugarandHFCSaresimplercompoundsbycomparison,containingonlyglucoseandfructose,honeyisastandoutsweetenerandfunctionalfood.

ManyTahoesummersago,Ihadathingforwalkingoutdoorsonahotdayto visit a local ice-cream store to buy a cool shake or smoothie. My rewardwouldbeenhancedfitness,agoldentan,andanice-coldbeveragetosiponthewayhome.OnedayIdidresearchontheInternetanddiscoveredtheingredientsinthesmoothieIhadsavored.

Idumpedmyhabitofbuyingpreparedbeverages;itwasmylastsmoothiefull of sugar, corn syrup, artificial flavors, concentrated fruit juices, dyes, and

stuff I can’t pronounce.Worse, the bad buzz is that thewords “high-fructosecornsyrup”maybechangedto“cornsugar”onfoodlabels.

So,makingandsippingdo-it-yourselfcoolbeverages—withpurehoney—wasalearningexperience.AnditbroughtbackmemoriestowhenIwroteaboutsmoothies forWoman’sWorldmagazine.Thenutritionistswhomadeup thoseconcoctions used fat-free ingredients and other stuff that wasn’t fresh andnatural.Homemadesmoothiescanbesweetandshouldbereal.

HONEYTERMSATAGLANCEOtherproductsyoubuythatcontainhoneyoftenusewordsontheproduct

nutrition label that might make you scratch your head and look around for atranslatorinneedofdecodingwhatyou’relookingatandreallygetting.

DriedHoneyisdehydratedoververyhighheatandmixedwithstarchesorsugarstokeepitflowing.

Flavored/FruitedHoneyhaseitherfruit,coloring,orflavoring.KosherHoney is produced, processed, and packaged according to Jewish

dietaryregulationsandcertifiedbyakosherorganization.OrganicHoney isproduced,processed,andpackagedaccordingtoUSDA

regulationsonorganicproductsandcertifiedbyaUSDAagencyororganization.

SOHOWMUCHHONEYISTOOMUCH?Here I sit mulling over the contents of my pantry and wondering, How

manyspoonfulscanIenjoyeachday?Well,Imadetheroundstobookauthors,medicaldoctors, and registereddietitians, and theAmericanHeartAssociationrecommends6teaspoons(about100calories)ofaddedsugardailyforwomen,nomore than9 teaspoons formen.Translate thatnumber tohoney—anaddedsugar—and5teaspoonsofhoneyforwomen,8teaspoonsofhoneyformen,isjustaboutright.

Refer to chapter 5: “Honey,You’reAmazing!” to discover howhoney isthesweetenerofchoice fordiabeticsandotherpeoplewhowant tostayheart-healthyandleanandlivelonger.

While I’mstillpondering thosesmoothies I sipped, this isagood time toshareanall-naturaldo-it-yourselfbeebeverageIwhippedupandenjoyed.Usingall-natural ingredientsmakesabigdifference in tasteandappreciationofwhatyou’reputtingintoyourbody.

WorkerBeeMochaShake

½cup2percentlow-fatorganicmilk

½–¾cupall-natural

Häagen-Dazshoneyvanillaicecream

3tablespoonsbrewedcoffee

1 tablespoonorganicgourmet chocolatehoney or fudge sauce sweetenedwithhoney

4smallicecubes

In a blender, mix milk, ice cream, coffee, and chocolate sauce. Add icecubesandblendtillsmooth.Pourintoaparfaitglassandsipwithastraw.Servesone.

Itdoesn’ttakearocketscientisttotellyouthathoneyisafunctionalfoodwith health-boosting nutrients—especially its mighty antioxidants. So, thequestion is:Howdoes thisancientessential elixir that is available tous in themodern day help your body inside and outside to prevent disease? Scientists,medical doctors, nutritionists, and beekeepers told me everything I wanted toknow andmore about how honey heals, and you’ll find out its secret healingpowersinthenextchapter.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH In the 21st century, honey is touted for its vitamins, minerals, and

antioxidants. Honey is praised for its healthy sweetener virtues: It has no fat, no

cholesterol,andnosodium. Nutritionists in the United States disagree about the health virtues of

honeyjustastheydoaboutdarkchocolate. The quality of honey matters. It’s real, raw, unprocessed, unheated,

unfiltered honey—straight from the hive—that is the superfood nutritionistsapplaud.

It’s pure honey—without honey-flavored syrups or high-fructose cornsyrup—thatconsumerswanttopurchaseandconsume.

Honeyproductsareprocessedindifferentways,fromkoshertoorganic,tosatisfyallhoneylovers.

Honey is a sweetener and is recommended to incorporate in the dailydietbutinmoderation,likechocolate.

The pairing of quality honey with nutrient-rich antioxidant foods canhelplowertheriskofdevelopingheartdisease,diabetes,andcancer.

CHAPTER5Honey,You’reAmazing!Thesecretofmyhealthisapplyinghoneyinsideandoiloutside.—Democritus,contemporaryofHippocrates1

AsItraveledthroughtheMojaveDesertandArizona,Ifeltcalminawarmcomfort zonewith sagebrush andwildflowers. Then Iwas tested in a land ofstrangers.OnceIhitTexastherewasnoturningback.TheWestCoastgranolagirlwhosurvivedonfoodsfromsaladsandbeansproutstofruitandhoneywasalonelikeaforagerbeewithoutitscolonyinforeignterritory.

OnemorningIwokeupfromsleepingoutdoorsatadesolatecampground.Iwasused toeating fresh fruit,hot tea,andhoney. Imusthaveappeared likeadisorientedhoneybeeinsearchofitsswarm.Astrangercametomyrescue.Atruck driver gave me a lift to a roadside restaurant. I was welcomed withsouthern hospitality. But the menu items were culture shock. Hominy, grits,biscuits,butter,andbaconwerethestaples.WhenIaskedthewaitress,“Doyouhaveplainyogurt,andfresh?”hereyesmetmine.Therewasapregnantpause.Ifeltlikeagreencreaturefromouterspace.Iheardherwordsloudandclearinasouthern accent: “Say what, now?” I ended up nibbling on strange breakfastfoodsbutsavoredandstockeduponthebiscuitsdrizzledwithhoney.

I learned throughout my time on the road that eating simple and freshproduceiskeytostayinghealthy—thankstoourhardworkingpollinatinghoneybees.ButsometimesduringtheroadtripIdidn’thaveachoice.Iatecandybarsandsodalikeabeeeatingamixofsugaryfoods.

Inthe21stcentury,Ibelieveit’sadietofall-naturalfoods,MotherNature’sfinest, that is key tokeepinghealthy and stavingoff heart disease, highblood

pressure,type2diabetes,andotherculprits.Researchshowstheconnectionofahealthydietandlifestyletogoodhealth.Andyes!Yes,honey—anaddedsugar—cananddoeshelpfightandevenpreventhealthproblems.Here’s thehealthbuzzabouthealinghoney.

SO,HOWDOESHONEYHEAL,ANYHOW?While honey varietals do have their individual healing properties, honey

itselfhasmanyhealingpowers.

It’stheantioxidants:Theseenzymesworkbothinsidethebodyandoutsidethebodytohelpstaveoffdiseaseandtheagingprocess.

It’sthepowerofosmosis:Becauseofthehigh-sugar,low-moisturecontentofhoney,itcreatesanosmoticeffect,drawingliquidoutofanythingthatcomesintocontactwithit—suchasbacteria,whichdriesup.

It’sacidic:Likevinegar,honeyisacidic(itspHisbetween3and4,aboutthe same as orange juice and not as strong as vinegar), which creates anunfriendlyenvironmentforbacteria.

It’sgothydrogenperoxide:Becauseofthisantiseptic(rememberourmomsputthisclearliquidonourwoundswhenwewerekidstohelpgetridofgerms),honeyhasantibacterialbenefitsandisagentlehealer.

HEALYOURSELF,HONEYForthousandsofyearspeopleintheEuropeancountries,fromGreeceand

ItalytoFrance,havesharedlowerratesofobesityandheartdiseasethanpeopleelsewhere. The consensus is that a healthy diet and lifestyle—which includesdarkhoneyanddarkchocolate—isthecommonthread.

The buzz is, honey heals. Anecdotal evidence, past and present day, andstudies in countries other than the United States show the healing powers ofhoney and how it may help to lower the risk of developing health problems,includingheartdisease,diabetes,andevensomecancers, too.Somedoctors intheUnitedStatesareturningsweetonhealinghoney.Here,takeapeekatwhat’sgoingonintheworldofhoneyandhealth.

HONEYANDTHEBIGCAccordingtoscientificresearch,cancer-fightingantioxidantsthatarefound

indarkhoneysmayhelplowertheriskofdevelopingsomecancers.Butit’sthecombinationofanantioxidant-richdietwithvegetablesandfruitsandahealthylifestylethatmaykeepcanceratbay—nothoneyasaquickfix.

How Honey Works: Still, research is in the works to find out if the

hardworking honey bees are the key to helping humans lower the risk ofdeveloping cancer. “Croatian researchers found significantly decreased tumorgrowthandspreadingofthecancerinmicewhenhoneywasingestedorallyorbyinjection.Honeywasfoundtobeaneffectiveagentforinhibitingthegrowthofbladdercancer,”101OptimalLifeFoodsauthorDavidGrotto,R.D.,L.D.N.,toldme.Webothdiscoveredthatresearchalsohasshownthathoneyappliedtosoresreduceddiscomfortinpeopleenduringcancertreatment,whichcanleadtosideeffectssuchassoresintheinsideofthemouth.Buthoneymaybeabletodomorethanbeusedinratresearchandpostcancertreatments.

Did you know . . . honey is a potent stimulant of the immune system inhumans? It is, revealsTheHoneyRevolution doctorRonFessenden,who sayshoney may inhibit metabolic stress, reducing the production of the hormonecortisol—oneofthebadguysthataffectourimmunesysteminabadway.Andyes,agoodimmuneresponseisagoodwaytoloweryouroddsofhavingtofacecancers,whichcanbelifethreatening.

Enterbeepropolis.Inchapter1,Iintroducedthis“beeglue”thatisshowingitsstufftotheworld.Forcenturiespropolishasbeenpraisedasanantiviralandcell regeneration stimulant. Propolis contains bioflavonoids and antioxidants.“Morethan300compoundshavebeenidentifiedinpropolissamples,includingpolyphenols,andmanyofthesecompoundshavesurprisingprotectiveeffects,”notesThe150HealthiestFoodsonEarthauthorDr.JonnyBowden.2

Scientificarticlesarepublishedaroundtheworldthatlinkinfectionfightingpropertieswithpropolis—ahoneybee’sgift tomankind.One compound frombee glue—caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)—is touted for its immune-boostingpowersandisbelievedtostopthegrowthoftumorcells.Propolishasalsobeennoticed for its ability to stimulate antibodyproduction,making it animmune-systembooster.3

ThebuzzaboutaMalaysianhoneywithitspotentialcancer-fightingpowersalso caught my eye. According to research conducted at the Universiti SainsMalaysia,Kelantan,dozensofstudiesshowedthattualanghoneyhasantioxidantpropertiesthatcanhaltthegrowthofcertaincancercells.4

Acacia honey, like theMalaysian variety, also has antioxidant properties.Italian researchers discovered chrysin, a natural flavone, in this honey varietalthat showspromiseas anantitumoragent.Further research isneeded toprovethatitcanbeusefulasamedicinetohelprealhumans,notjustpassingtestswithhumancellswithflyingcolors.

NotonlyarepropolisandMalaysianhoneyonthetableforfurtherresearchto keep cancer at bay, but bee venom just might be another cancer fighter:

“Research published in the FASEB Journal’s current [August 2010] issuedemonstratesthatakeyingredientinthetoxicvenomreleasedduringbeestingscanbeusedasatransporteragenttomoreeffectivelydeliverdrugsordiagnosticdyestoidentifyandfighttumors.”5

WhatYouCanDo:No,eatingaspoonfulofhoneyortakingpropoliseachdayisnotthecure-allforkeepingcanceratbayforalifetime—butitcan’thurttoincorporatehoneyintoyourdiet.Also,eatingatleast5servingsoffruitsandvegetables per day (recommendedby theAmericanCancerSociety)mayhelpkeepyoucancer free, too.And superfoodhoney—the raw,darker antioxidant-rich types, such as buckwheat—paired with anticancer superfoods can be thebeginningofanarsenalforyoutokeepthebig“C”outofyourlife.

HONEYFIGHTSFATNutritionists who believe honey is just another sugar will tell you that

honeyisnotgoingtobeafat-burningmiracleworker.Nottrue.Cooking and baking, for instance, will allow you to use less honey than

sugarbecausehoneyissweeter.Also,ifyouhaveasweettoothandarecravingsweets, includingcakes, cookies, andcandies, takinga teaspoonofhoneywillsatisfy your desire to overindulge in sweets laden with sugar that’ll pack onunwanted calories that come with plenty of fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Butsweet,purehoneycontainsnofat,nosodium,andnocholesterol.Oneteaspoonis a mere 21 calories. Plus, it’s been proven that honey provides an instantenergyboost,soyouaremoreapttogetamoveonandburnmorecaloriesthewayathletesdo.

HowHoneyWorks:Honeycanworktoburnfat, revealMikeandStuartMcInnes, authors ofTheHibernationDiet. They believe fueling up your liverbeforebedwith1or2tablespoonsofhoneywilloptimizefat-burningpotential.“Duringsleep,ourbodyusesfatforenergyduringrestandrecovery.Forthistooccur,ourlivermustbeadequatelystockedwithfuelreservestogetthroughtheeight-hourfast.”6

Honey may be your best friend forever to fight fat, but what about beepollen to curb your appetite? Bee pollen may also help you to blast fat,according to honey-savvy holistic nutritionists such as Canadabased AngelaYsseldyk (www.beepollenbuzz.com). Credit goes to its lecithin (bee pollen isrich in it), she explains, because it is a fat emulsifier and having adequateamountsofitinyoursystemmayhelpthefat-burningprocess.

WhatYouCanDo:Whilebeepollenmayhelpfightbodyfat,liquidhoneywithbeepolleninitmaybethesweetestwaytogo.(Itriedtastingbeepollenin

honeyand it’snoteasy toswallowunlessyou’reahoneybee.Beforebedtimetakeaspoonfulofhoney.Nutritionistsrecommend1tablespooninavarietyofways,includingputtingitintoacupofteaorasmoothie,onasliceoftoast,orintoapotoflow-fatplainyogurt.

HONEYANDVINEGAR:THEFABULOUSFATBURNERSNot only can honey help burn fat, but its counterpart apple cider vinegar

can help you to fight fat, too. Apple cider vinegar is rich in fiber and bloat-busting potassium, and it’s got another fat fighter thatworks.Acetic acid, themain ingredient invinegar,has longbeenbelievedbyvinegar lovers to revupmetabolism and to dissolve fat.What’smore, sweet honey can sweeten bloat-bustingfruitoraglassofwaterwithvinegarandhelpyoutoburnfatfasterandgetaflattertummy.

Remember,darkhoneyisbest.Ithasonly21caloriesperteaspoon.Ithasnofat. Ithasnosodium.Ithasnocholesterol. Itgivesyouenergy,soyoucanexercisetoburnoffmorecalories.Butthere’smoretothisdietplanthanvinegarandhoney.

Complex Carbs: Research shows that carbohydrates play a big role inrevving up your calorie-burning power. That’s because the body has to workharder toprocesscarbsthanitdoestoprocessfats.Smartcarbchoices includefiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Fiber contains zero calories, but its bulkdeceivesthebrainintothinkingwe’regettingthem.

LeanProtein–RichFoods: To keep yourmetabolism up, include protein-richfoods(skinlesschickenandturkey,fish,andeggwhites)withyourcomplexcarbsatmeals.It’sthebalanceofcarbsandproteinsthatbooststhethermogenicfactorofthemeal.Thiscanhelpthebodyproduceheatandburnmorecalories.Plus,low-fatprotein-richfoods,likethese,cancurbhungerpains.

Good Fats: You can indulge in good fats, like extra virgin olive oil, inmoderation.Notonlyisoliveoilahealthfulfat,butitcanmakevegetablestastebetterwithvinegarandspicesanditcanhelpfillyouupalso.

THETWO-DAYHONEYANDVINEGARDIETThis quickie fat-fighting jump-start two-day meal plan was designed by

NewJersey–basedToniGerbino.Itisaclassicdietshecreatedformemorethanadecadeago,towhichshegaveanew,improvedsweet21st-centuryupdate.

“It’sthesynergyofthefoods”thatmakesthisdietplanwork,saysthedietguru. “It’s not about howmuch you eat; it’s aboutwhat you’re eating.” Thatmeans you don’t have to count calories. As a prefall detox cleanse, I tried it

(again)andmytummywasflatondaythree.Youcanloseupto6poundsintwodays(itvariesdependingonyour individualsize)andfeelmoreenergizedandreadytostartfollowingahealthfuldietplanliketheMediterraneandiet.(Refertochapter6:“TheMediterraneanSweetener.”)

Breakfast:

Fresh seasonal berries or half grapefruit (with 1 teaspoon honey) Eggwhites

Lunch:

4ouncesfreshwhitemeatturkeyorchickenDark leafygreenswithdressingmadeof freshparsley,1 tablespooneach

extravirginoliveoilandapplecidervinegar,andspicestotaste1cupfreshseasonalberriesorhalfagrapefruit(with1teaspoonhoney)

Dinner:

6–8ouncesfreshflounder,sole,orsalmonAsparagus with lemon, apple cider vinegar, and parsley 1 cup fresh

seasonalberriesorhalfagrapefruit(with1teaspoonhoney)

• Drink a minimum of six 8-ounce glasses of water with fresh lemonthroughouttheday.

• Include fat-fighting green tea three times per day. This fat-burning teacontainsnorepinephrine,abrainchemicalthatspeedsupyourmetabolism.

•Youmayuseupto5teaspoonsofhoneyeachday...•...anddon’tforgetfat-burningrawapplecidervinegar(1to3teaspoons

perday).It’stastierwithhoneyinhotteaoronvegetableswitholiveoil.•Takeamultivitaminmineralsupplement.•Checkwithyourdoctorbeforestartingthisoranydiet.

HEARTYCHUNKSOFHONEYAhealthfuldietandlifestyleispartofthearsenaltobeatthebattleofthe

bulge,whichcanoftenbelinkedsoonerratherthanlater toheartdisease—stillAmerica’s number one killer for both men and women, according to theAmericanHeartAssociation.

Heart-healthy honey may help you to lower blood pressure and regulate

cholesterol by reducing the bad kind (LDL) while maintaining the good kind(HDL).

HighBloodPressureIt’sthetotalheart-healthydietandhealthylifestylepackagethatmayhelp

keepbloodpressurenumbersnormal—notjusthoney.Buthoneycanbeagoodthingforyourheart.

HowHoneyWorks:It’stimeyoucansay,“Pleasepassthehoney,”ratherthan pass on the sweet stuff, because its oligosaccharides—good-for-youantioxidants—mayhelpreducebloodpressure.Butthat’snotall....

The Honey Revolution author Fessenden links sleep deprivation andelevated blood pressure. If you’re not getting adequate zzz’s it can lead tohypertension, since you’re not allowing your body to get its needed rest andrejuvenation. That’s why consuming honey before bedtime is heart-healthy,becauseit“reduces thereleaseofadrenaline,acatecholaminethatraisesbloodpressureandheartrate,”saysFessenden.“Longersleepmeansareducedriskforhypertension.”7

What You Can Do: Try eating 1 teaspoon of honey before bedtime.Pairingitwithacupofmilkorherbalteawillincreasetheoddsofyougettingseven to eight hours of sleep and keeping those BP numbers at 120/80—andlower.

And chances are, if you have high blood pressure you may have highcholesterol,too.

CholesterolUpsandDownsInadults,totalcholesterollevelsof240milligramsorhigherareconsidered

high risk and levels from 200 to 239 are considered borderline high risk,according to the AHA. Your triglyceride level should not be more than 150.Researchprovesthatpolyphenols—likethekindfoundinhoney—canhelpyoustayheart-healthy.Research showsbee foodsmayalsohaveapositivebenefitontheheart.

How Honey Works: A small study in Japan showed that royal jellysupplements lower cholesterol levels in humans. The scientists studied theeffectsoncholesterolandtriglycerides.Severalpeopletook6gramsadayofaroyal jelly supplement for fourweeks. Their total cholesterol and low-densityLDL“bad”cholesterolwasmuchlowerthanthatofthosepeopleinthecontrolgroupwhoexperiencednochangeincholesterollevels.8

WhatYouCanDo: If youwant to lower your cholesterol, youmayget

helpfromroyaljellylikequeenbeesdo.Thisbee“caviar”suppliesheart-healthyBvitamins,antioxidantsCandE,morethanadozenminerals,18aminoacids,and other key heart helpers. Royal jelly is available at health-food stores. It’ssold inavarietyof forms, includingfreshroyal jelly, royal jellyhoney(this iswhatIhave,anditisedibleinsmoothies),andcapsules.Therecommendeddoseis1to2royaljellycapsulesdaily,saysRaySahelian,M.D.,butheaddsthatitisdifficulttoprescribeaspecificdosagesinceeachpersonisdifferentinhowtheyrespond.9Consultwithyourhealthpractitioner if yougo the royal jelly route.Butdon’tstopthere.

The fact is,medical doctorswill tell you that the teamingof aging and asedentarylifestylewithotherbadhabits(i.e.,smoking,overeating)meansyourriskofhighcholesterolandhighbloodpressureisapttogoup,notdown.While1 to 2 teaspoons of honey multiple times per week may lower your risk ofdeveloping heart disease, too, it is the wholesome diet and lifestyle habits(includingregularexercise)thatcanalsohelpyouregulatecholesterollevelsandbloodpressureandkeepheartproblemsatbay—anddon’tforgetthescourgeofdiabetes.

HONEYANDDIABETESRISK?According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 18 million

Americanshavediabetes.Anestimated90to95percentofAmericanshavetype2,whichboomersandelderlypeopleare facingas targetgroups thatmightbestung.

How Honey Works: Research shows that honey helps maintain blood-sugar levels in athletes. A study of 39 male and female athletes following aworkout ate a protein supplementmixedwith a sweetener.Thosewho ate thesupplement sweetenedwith honey, instead of sugar ormaltodextrin, achievedbetter results.Theyenjoyedoptimalblood-sugar levels for twohours after theworkoutandexperiencedbettermusclerecuperation.10

Nutritionists will warn you that honey is still sugar, so if you’ve blood-sugarissues,proceedwithcaution.Ifyoucheckouttheglycemicindex,honeyranks62nd,tablesugar64th.Theglycemicindexmeasureshowyourbodyturnscarbohydrates intoglucose, triggering an insulin response, explainnutritionistswhobelievepeoplewithdiabetesshouldconsumehoneyinmoderation,ifatall.If you are diabetic butwant to include the golden nectar in your diet, use thegoodstuff,pure,rawhoney.

WhatYouCanDo:Try1to2teaspoonsmultipletimesaweekandavoidaddedsugars inyourdiet regime.Also, eatingmore fiber-rich foods, lowering

dietaryfat,andexercisingregularlyhelpaidinblood-sugarcontrol.Peoplewhohavetype2diabetescanusuallycontrolthediseasebydietandlifestylechanges.To be safe, always check with your health-care provider before making anysweetchangestoyourdailyregime.

LONGLIVEYOUANDYOURHONEYHoney has a long shelf life and if you turn to honey for health

improvements and health ailments, the golden liquid just may help to extendyour longevity. Naturally, if you dodge cancer, diabetes, heart disease, andobesity, this in itself will help you to live a better life, right? And there arepeoplewhocan tellyou thathoney iswhatkeeps themgoing—evenafter age100.

What’smore,honeyproponentsbelieve royal jelly, the stuff that is akeyplayerinthemakingofthequeenbee(theonlybeethatisfedthiscreamythickfluidherentirelife),isrichinnaturalhormonesandBvitamins.Becauseofthisfoodfitforaqueen,shelives40timeslongerandislargerthantheotherbeesinthehive.Forhumans,royaljellymayhelpincreaselongevity,provideantiagingbenefits,andpreservevitalityinthebody.

Onewell-known pioneer of the honey industry at the Comvita Companyshowsthelongevityhoneyconnectionatwork.At63,ClaudeStratfordcouldbefound in his basement at homemaking and selling bee products. In 1976, heteamed with beekeeper Alan Bougen—two entrepreneurs ready to change thepeople’sidealsofnaturalhealth.Theduobelievedwholeheartedlyinthehealingpowersofbeeproducts,and in theseventies theywere thefirst toexportNewZealand manuka honey in a jar. The secret to Claude’s longevity may be 2teaspoonsofbeepollen,manukahoney,andoliveleafextracteachday.11

Speaking of longevity,Wendy Iturrizagawitnessed and documented “thesweetaphrodisiac”atworkbyobservingherneighbors,aretiredcouplebutveryactive,indulginginthehobbiesofcyclingandapiculture:

Intheirbackgardentheyhaveseveralbeehivesthattheytakecareofwithdiligence.EverymorningveryearlyIcanseethemfrommybedroomwindowwalkingup thehill to take careof their belovedbees.After lunch it is almostsurethattheywillspendtheafternooncyclinginthecountrysideandfromwhattheysay,theyspendveryactivenightsaswell!

ThecouplewholastsummercycledFrancefromnorthtosouthconfessedto me that they owe their energy to their bees. They systematically consumehoney and pollen every day. Honey on toast, pollen and yogurt, honey andcrepes,teaandhoney.Theyevenmaketheirownjams,breadsandbiscuitswith

honey.ItisnotasurprisemyneighborscouldmanagetheTourdeFrance.”12

The following recipewascreatedaspartof cholesterol-loweringprogramforChicagofirefighters.It’squick,simple,andtasty—containinghealingfoodsthatincludesweethoney.

Firefighter’sHoneyMuesli

1teaspoonhoney

½cuprolledoats

½cupskimmilkorlow-fatvanillasoymilk

1ouncemixtureofalmonds,walnutsandpistachios

cupmixeddriedfruit

Mixallingredientsandeatimmediatelyorcover,refrigerateovernight,andeat thenextday.Break itdown....Calories:330;TotalFat:8grams;SaturatedFat:1gram;Cholesterol:0milligrams;Sodium:90milligrams;TotalCarbs:56grams;DietaryFiber:6grams;Sugars:10grams;Protein11:grams.

(Source:DaveGrotto,R.D.)

In the next chapter, I’ll show you how the traditionalMediterranean dietand its common foods, including honey as a sweetener, continue to get athumbs-up inmedical journals and studies. It’s the antideprivation eating andlifestyle habits—regular exercise teamed with both good fats and sweets(includinghoney!)—thatworksformeandcanworkforyou.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH Honey may help boost your quality of life and enhance longevity by

stavingoffage-relateddiseases.Healinghoneywith itspowers isacknowledgedaround theworldasa

healingmedicine. Honey heals in a variety of ways—antioxidants, osmosis, acidic, and

bacterial.Honeyisafat-burningfoodbecauseitprovidesthebodywithenergyto

repaircellsandburnfat.

HONEY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY Disease/Condition HowHoneyWorksObesityThefructoseandglucoseinantioxidant-richdarkhoneysatisfyyoursweetcravingssooverindulgence in fatteningand/or sugary foodswithoutnutritionalvalue iseasier toavoid.HeartDiseaseAntioxidants indarkhoney help to lower the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.DiabetesDarkhoneymaycuttheamountof“bad”LDLcholesterolintheblood,whichmaylowertheriskofdevelopingtype2diabetes.CancerPhenolsindarkhoneyactasdisease-fightingantioxidantstohinderthecancerprocessandmayreducecertaincancers.AgingDarkhoneyinmoderationlowerstheriskofheartobesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—all diseases that can shorten lifespan.

CHAPTER6TheMediterraneanSweetenerTartWordsmake noFriends: a spoonful of honeywill.Catchmore flies

thanGallonofVinegar.—BenjaminFranklin1

Likeawaywardhoneybee in flight, I traveled through theNewEnglandstatesandtwoprovinces—QuebecandOntario—withmyLhasaapso/Maltese,Tiger.Hewassweetandbold.Ihadrescuedthewhiteshaggy-hairedpoochinWashington State, where blackberry honey is popular. It was this Bohemianlifestyle—hitchingrideswithmydogandeatingasimple,naturaldiet(includinghoneywhenIcouldaffordit)—thatkeptmeleanandhealthy.

Withmy shaggy-haired canine in tow I headed towardCanada. (I had tosmuggle him into the country because I didn’t have paperwork that wasrequired.)Oncewecrossed theborder, the closer to the citywegot, themoredisoriented I felt, not accustomed to being like a honey bee in a swarm. Thelocals spoke fluent French. (I did not.) The street signs were foreign and themetricsystemonfoodlabelsconfusedme.Iwaslost,butIhadmydogthatwasAmerican.

OnenightmycaninecompanionandIspentinaforestoffthemainroad.Wesnuggledupinmysleepingbag.AnothercreaturecomfortIenjoyedwasthefoods I guarded stuffed inmy backpack: fresh fruit, nuts,whole-wheat bread,peanut butter—and a jar of clover honey. It was a reality TV show real-lifemomentwhenIusedmyfingertoscoopoutthecreamybutterandgooeyhoney.Andyes,Isharedabitofhoney,butter,andbreadwithTiger(todayremindingmeofCerberus,thethree-headeddogwhowasfedahoneycake).

TigerandIhadcuddledandsleptinthebackyardofQuebec,onbeachesinthe Florida Keys amidwildflowers, on an Indian reservation in Arizona, in acornfieldinKansas,andinthebackofapickuptruckunderthestarsatamotelin Tennessee. From truck stops to national parks, this dog and I wereinseparable,likebeesandtheirbeekeeper.Tigerwasmyprotectorandsoundingboard. It was comfort foods, honey, peanut butter, and whole-grain crackersfromtheUnitedStates,thatdidn’tspoil,keptmeenergized—andIsharedwithmybestfriend.

AndwhileIdidn’tknowitthen,lateronasahealthauthorIlearnedIwaseating foodsof theMediterraneandiet—heart-healthyhoneyandpeanutbutter(inmoderation)withadog thatprovidedhearthealthbenefits, too,bykeepingmybloodpressuredownduringstressfulandlonelytimes.

MYBUZZONTHEMEDITERRANEANDIETANDHONEYSo,what is theheart-healthyMediterraneandiet,anyhow?There’snoone

“Mediterranean”diet.AstheAmericanHeartAssociationexplainsit,atleast16countries border the Mediterranean Sea. Naturally, diets, including French,Italian,andSpanish,differinthefoodsofchoice.Butthedealis,therestillisacommonthreadinthecuisineofthediets.

That means, if I got my long-awaited trip to Europe (especially France,Greece, and Italy), while the dishes I’d savor would be different, the stapleswouldsharesimilarities.TheupsideoftheMediterraneandiet,notestheAHA,is that folks who eat the averageMediterranean diet (in which more than 50percentof fat calories come frommonounsaturated fat, usually fromoliveoil)eat less saturated fat than you’ll find in the typical American diet. And heartdisease inMediterraneancountries is still lower innumbers than in theUnitedStates,whereit’sthenumberonekillerforbothwomenandmen.AndlongevityisstillhigherinMediterraneancountries.

TheAHAbelievesthatthesefactsmaybeduetonotjusttheMediterraneandietbutalsolifestylechoices,suchasgettingmorephysicalactivityandhavinga strong social support system. The jury is still out for the AHA before theyrecommendpeoplefollowaMediterraneandiet.

Another food pyramid of interest—author Steven Pratt, M.D.’sSuperFoodsRxHealthStylePyramid,hassimilarities to theOldways traditionalMediterraneanDiet Pyramid.His daily pyramid includes fruits (3–5 servings),vegetables(5–7servings),wholegrains(5–7servings),non-orlow-fatdairy(1–3 servings), fish with bones (1–3 servings), dark green leafy greens (1–3servings),healthyfats(1–2servings),andupto100caloriesdailyofbuckwheathoney—aswellasaerobicexercisemostdays(30–90minutes)and8ormore8-ounceglassesofwater.

The SuperfoodsRx Healthstyle Pyramid and Oldways traditionalMediterraneandietandlifestylecankeepyouworkinglikeaworkerbee.IfyoufollowtheMediterraneanpath,youcankeepslimandfitlikeFrenchwomencananddobecauseofportioncontrol,minimeals,sayingnotodeprivation,savoringfreshwholefood,andkeepingamoveon—secretsthatworkeffortlessly.

OLDWAYSTRADITIONALMEDITERRANEANDIETMy Mediterranean diet of choice, based on the Mediterranean Oldways

pyramid, was created using the most current nutrition research to represent ahealthy,traditionalMediterraneandiet.ItwasbasedonthedietarytraditionsofCrete,Greece, and southern Italy in 1960. Thiswas a timewhen the rates ofchronicdiseaseamongthepopulationtherewereamongthelowestintheworldandtheadultlifeexpectancywasamongthehighest.

ThedietofthepoorpeopleofthesouthernMediterranean,whichconsistedmainly of fruits and vegetables, beans andnuts, healthy grains, fish, olive oil,andasmallamountofsweetsandredwine,proved tobemuchmore likely toleadtolongevity.Andit’sthisplant-baseddietthatisstillpraisedtodayaroundtheglobe.

THEBEES’KNEESMEDITERRANEANSUPERFOODSInmyHealingPowersseriesIpushthephilosophythatthereisnoquickfix

for good health by eating one superfood—including vinegar, olive oil, andchocolate. Not only would it be boring, but it’s the total package of thetraditionalMediterraneandietand lifestyle, includinghoney, that is thegoldenticket to good health and longevity. Here’s the best of my world with new,improvedhoneyrulesIincorporatedintomyMediterraneanfood.

HONEY RULE #1: Go semi-vegan. I eat a plant-based diet, includingfruitsandvegetables,potatoes,breadsandgrains(wholegrains),beans(Idon’tlikethesebecausethey’refuzzy),nuts(I lovealmonds,cashews,andwalnuts),and seeds. But I also incorporate fish and poultry and eggs into my diet on

occasion.Bito’Honey:Trydrizzlingwhole-grainbreadandnutswithhoney.

HONEYRULE#2:Eat fresh foods. If it’s seasonally fresh and locallygrownI’mtheretogetmydoseofantioxidants.IamMs.Natural,aproducegal.Bit o’ Honey: I include all-natural, dark honeys, including buckwheat andmanuka,inmydietandlifestyle.

HONEYRULE#3:Useoliveoil likeanItalian.IuseextravirginoliveoilincookingandbakingandonFrenchbread.Itisthemainfatinmykitchen.IadmitthatI’lluseabitofEuropean-stylebutter(especiallyifIsautéfishorbakescones),butit’sEVOO;that’stheoilofchoice.Bito’Honey:Isometimesusepure maple syrup or organic brown sugar, but sweet honey is the sweetestsweeteneryou’llfindinmypantry.

HONEY RULE #4: Kiss off saturated fat. I aim for a daily total fatamount ranging from about 25 to 35 percent of energy, with saturated fatcomposingnomore than7 to8percentofcalories. It’seasier todowhenyoustayclearofmeat,butter,andcheese.Bito’Honey:Honeydoesn’tcontainfat,soyoucanuseittoaddflavortofoods,inwayssuchasdrizzlingitonawhole-grainmuffinorpancakes,ratherthanusinghigh-fatbutter.

HONEYRULE#5:Includecheeseandyogurt.Noneedtostayclearofgoat cheese orGreek yogurt, but I do go for low-fat varieties.Bit o’Honey:Insteadofeatingyogurtinfusedwithartificialfruitsandsweeteners,I’vegrowntoloveall-natural,organicplainyogurtwithaspoonfulofdarkhoneyinitandchunksof freshfruit.Drizzlingdarkhoneyoncheese?It isasuperway togetcalciumandextraantioxidantswithpanache.

HONEYRULE#6:Eatleanprotein.Iincludefish(suchaswildsalmonand water-packed tuna) and poultry (chicken and turkey) and a few eggs perweek(organicbrownones),includingthoseusedincookingandbaking.Bito’Honey:Ilovecitrus-flavoredhoneysonfishandpoultry.

HONEYRULE#7:Savornaturaldesserts. I lean toward fresh fruit asmy daily dessert and limit sweets (usually honey) or saturated fat to nomorethan a few times per week.Bit o’Honey: Eating honeys (nomore than 100caloriesperday)isokay,butIavoideatingsweetseveryday.Consumingabitof honey helps to conquer cravings for the sweet treats, including ice cream,pastries,andcookies.

HONEYRULE#8:Avoidredmeat.Thetruthis,Ihaven’ttouchedmeatformorethan30years.TheMediterraneandietallowsleanmeatafewtimespermonth—butIprefernottogothere.Bito’Honey:Refertohoneyrule#6andtryhoneyglazesonleanmeatdisheswithextravegetables.

HONEYRULE#9:Enjoyregularexercise.Iswimandwalkmydogstokeepmyweightandbloodpressureincheck,stayfit,andfeelenergized.Bito’Honey: Eating a dark chocolate honey truffle or spoonful of creamed honeybeforegettingphysical (for extra energy) and sippinga cupof teawithhoneyafter(tomaximizethefeel-goodendorphins)worksaworkout.

HONEYRULE#10:Drinkwine.IfIdrank,heart-healthyredwinewithits antioxidants would be my choice of spirit and I would opt for moderateconsumption—withmeals.(Iknowalcoholshouldbeavoidedduringpregnancy—butlikeaninfertileworkerhoneybeeIdon’thavetoworryaboutthat.)Bito’Honey: I’mcurioustotryhoneymead,butI’llsaveitformynext lifewhenIgetmarriedandgoonahoneymoon.

HONEY!THERE’SANEWCOMPOUNDThebuzz atOldways is thatwhilewe alwaysknewoliveoil, honey, and

walnutsweregoodfoods,newantioxidantshavebeenfoundinthismightytrio,foodsthatareincludedintheMediterraneandiet.Andthesethreefoodscontinuetobepraised.Oldwayshasacknowledgedthatthesefoodshavebeenstudiedatthe University of Granada and it’s been discovered even more healthyantioxidantsinphenoliccompoundsareinhoney,oil,andwalnuts.Thetwonewtechniques capillary electrophoresis andhigh-resolution liquid chromatographyallowresearcherstofindthesebeneficialcomponentsinanyplantfood.

Scientists believe that these three functional foods and a medicinal herbcalledTeucrium polium are able to provide different health benefits. Findingspublished in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show that thiscompound with high antioxidant activity can lower the risk of developingdisease,includingdiabetes,cancer,heartdiseases,andhypertension.2

Oldwayssays:“Whilethesenewtechniquesmayallowustoisolatesometheoreticalmagicbulletcomponentinfoods,wethinkthetakeawaymessageisahumblingone,remindingusofhowlittleweknowofwhatisinanyfood,andwhyit’sgoodforus.Eatingawidevarietyofwholefoods,especiallyplants,isthebestwaytocoverourbases.”

BUZZINGABOUTMEDITERRANEANGRUBANDHONEYWhat’s more, honey is used as a sweetener in the Mediterranean diet.

Oldwaysadds:“Whilewe think it isahighlyrecommendedsweetener,wearenot sure if we can go as far as to say it is the sweetener, because othersweeteners are used as well.” And that statement makes sense to me; as adedicated followerof theMediterraneandiet, sometimes Iwill combinehoneywith raw organic sugars or even table sugar, especially in baking—all inmoderation.

It’s not just Oldways andme that tout this diet full of traditional Greekfoods—and honey. In The Jungle Effect: A Doctor Discovers the HealthiestDietsfromAroundtheWorld—WhyTheyWorkandHowtoBringThemHome(NewYork:HarperCollins,2008)authorDaphneMiller,M.D.,giveathumbs-uptotheMediterraneandiet,too.“OnestudylookedatAngloCeltAustraliansliving in Melbourne. Anglo Celts who chose to switch to a Greek-styleMediterraneandiethadlowerratesofdiseasesandlivedlongerthanthosewhoatethetypicalAustraliandiethighinmeat,”notesthedoctor,whoincludes23references to honey inThe Jungle Effect—and includes the liquid gold in herrecipes.3

Common Foods and Flavors of the Mediterranean Diet PyramidVegetables& Tubers Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Spouts,Cabbage, Carrots, Celery Celeriac, Chicory, Collard Cucumber, DandelionGreens, Eggplant, Fennel,Kale, Leeks, Lemons, Lettuce,Mache,Mushrooms,Mustard Greens, Nettles, Okra, Onions, (red, sweet, white) Peas, Peppers,Potatoes,Pumpkin,Purslane,Radishes,Rumbega,Scallions,Shallots,Spinach,SweetPotatoes,Turnips,ZucchiniFruitsAvocados,Apples,Apricots,Cherries,Clementine, Dates, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Oranges, Melons, Nectarines,Olives, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Pomegranates, Strawberries, Tangerines,TomatoesGrainsBreads,Barley,Buckwheat,Bulgar,Couscous,Durum,Farro,Millet, Oats, Polenta, Rice,Wheatberries Fish & Seafood Abalone, Cockles,Clams, Crab, Eel, Flounder, Lobster, Mackerel, Mussels, Octopus, Oysters,Salmon, Sardines, Sea Bass, Shrimp, Squid, Tilapia, Tuna, Whelk,YellowtailPoultry,EggsCheese,&yogurtChicken,Duck,GuineaFowlEggs(Chicken,Quail, and Duck) Cheeses (Examples Include: Brie, Chevre, Corvo, Feta,Haloumi, Manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Ricotta) Yogurt, GreekYogurtNuts,Seeds,&LegumesAlmonds,Beans(Cannellini,Chickpeas,Fava,Kidney, Green), Cashews, Hazelnuts, Lentils, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, SesameSeeds (Tahini), Split Peas,WalnutsHerbs& Spices Anise, Basil, Bay Leaf,

Chiles, Clove, Cumin, Fennel, Garlic, Lavender, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano,Parsley,Pepper,PulBiber,Rosemary,Sage,Savory,Sumac,Tarragon,Thyme,Zatar Meats & weets Pork, Beef, Lamb, Mutton, Goat Sweets (Examplesinclude. Baklava, Biscotti, Creme Caramel, Chocolate, Gelato, Fruit Tarts,Kunefe,Lokum,MousseAuChocolat,Sorbet,Tiramisu)Water&WineDrinkPlentyOfWaterWineInModeration

2009OldwaysPreservaliondExchangeTrustwww.oldwayspt.orgOn the topic of recipes and theMediterranean diet, I made it a point in

choosingrecipesforthisbookthatuseavarietyofthefollowingcommonfoods.Most important, eating a variety of common Mediterranean foods and

gettingdailyphysicalactivityarepartofthesweetpackagethatworkstoloweryourriskofdevelopingdiseasesandupsyouroddsoflivingalongerqualitylifewhetheryou reside inEuropeorAmerica.Andyes, honey,oliveoil, andnutsalongwithothercommonMediterraneanfoodsareoftenpairedwithhoney,asinthishoneydeliciousrecipe.

MediterraneanWrap

1cupuncookedcouscous

½cupchoppedalmonds,toasted

½cupraisins

3cupscooked,shreddedporkroast

2cupsshreddedlettuce

¼cuphoney

¼cupoliveoil

¼cuplemonjuice

2tablespoonschoppedfreshparsley

1teaspooncurrypowder

1teaspoongratedlemonpeel

Saltandpepper,totaste

4pitabreadpockets,splitinto8rounds

1cuphummus

Cook couscous according to package directions. Inmedium bowl, gentlycombine couscous, almonds, raisins, pork, and lettuce. In small bowl, whisktogether honey, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, curry powder and lemon peel.Season with salt and pepper. Mix ¼ cup dressing into couscous mixture. Toassemblewraps,laypitaroundssplitsideuponworksurface.Spreadeachwith2 tablespoons hummus. Spoon approximately ½ cup couscous mixture downcenterofeachpitaround.Drizzlewith1tablespoondressingandfoldinsidestowrap.

ToPreparePorkforYourFavoriteWrap:Season1½lb.bonelessporkroastwithsaltandpepper;brownonallsidesinahotnonstickskilletwithalittleoliveoil.Add½cupchickenbrothorwatertopan,lowerheat,covertightlyandsimmer for 1 ½ hours, until roast is very tender. Check pan occasionally forliquidlevel;ifbrothhasevaporated,addalittlemoretopantomaintainamoistcooking environment. Remove roast from pan, let cool slightly and shred orchop pork coarsely. A 1½ pound roast will yield 4 cups of pork. Useimmediatelyorcoverandrefrigerateupto4days,untilreadytouse.Servecoldorreheated.Makes4wraps.

(Courtesy:NationalHoneyBoard.)

Whilegoodhoneyisgoodforyou,imaginehowmuchbetteritcanbeifit’sfrom different honey varietals, such as alfalfa, buckwheat, and leatherwood—whichhavebothmedicinalpropertiesandadistinctflavor.Takealookatpart3:“HoneyFlavors” tosee thewide,wideworldofhoneysandyou, likeme,canenjoy honeyed foods to nourish your body, mind, and spirit without taking avacation.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHOntheroad,purchasinghoneyandMediterraneancommonfoodswasa

challengeduetocashflow,butwhenIhadthemIcherishedtheeatslikegold....AndtheMediterraneandietincludeshoney,whichisarecommended

sweetenerintheOldwaystraditionalMediterraneandietandlifestyle.

The Mediterranean diet is widespread around the world and you canenjoyitwhereveryouare—includingregularexercise.

PART3HONEYFLAVORS

CHAPTER7HealingHoneyVarietiesThepedigreeofHoneydoesnotconcerntheBee.

AClover,anytime,tohim,IsAristocracy.—EmilyDickinson1

Duringmytravelsfromstatetostatelikearovinghoneybeeinsearchofasafehaven,IendedupinEugene,Oregon.Irecalloneeveninginthecompanyofanature-orientedcouplewholivedinacozyhousefortwo.Thewomanwasan inspiration tome:Her indoorgardenwith aplant light, twokittens,music,andmemorableteacollectionamazedme.Herknowledgeofeachteaandhowitwashealingleftmeinawe.ItwaslikeaforeignlanguageintroducedtomethatIhadtolearn.

When I tasted a cup of sage teawith its slightlymedicinal flavor, honeycametomyrescue.IknewthatnightthatIaspiredtohavewhatshedid:anall-natural,eco-friendlyhomeamidnatureandapantryfullofnature’sfinest,fromteastoothersuperfoods.Icravedtohavethemedicinalteasandhoneyvarietals,likeshedid,soIcouldfeastonthemlikeaqueenbeecontentedinherhive.

Stillnotatpeaceandfeelingalone, Ipackedupmyknapsackandheadednorth toPortland,Oregon. I founda studio apartment. I took awaitress job—swing and graveyard shifts and often back to back, like a honey beeworkingdoubleshifts.

Itwas a sweet experience to havemy own place in Portland.During therainydaysI’dbakebreadandfruitcakeswithahintofhoney.AtnightI’dservefood to thenightowls.Onmybreaks I’d sipblack teawithhoney tohelpgetthroughtheshift—busyatmidnighttill2:00

A.M., and then through the lull until breakfast full of fresh food, such aswafflesandpancakes, thatcouldhavebeenpairedwithhoney.Thefactwas, Iwas a human honey beeworking 24 / 7 and preparing to find a new comfortzone.

Honey bees work around the nation—at home or on the road like I wasdoing.Thewarmclimate of some states andof countries southof the equatorallowshoneybeestodotheirmagicnearlyyear-round,whileincolderregionstheworkersmust cozyup in theirhivesduringwintertime.Thearoma, flavor,andcolorofaparticularhoneytypeareallaboutthetypeofflowerfromwhichthebeecollects thenectar.Somehoneyshows traitsof theherbor treewhoseflowerthebeehasvisited.

HONEYFLAVORSHere,takealookat30popularhoneyvarietalsthatI’vetastedandenjoyed

(thankstodozensofhoneycompanies).Keepinmind,polyfloralhoneyismadefrommorethanonetypeofflower.Monofloralhoneyismadefromonespecifictype—like single-origindarkchocolate—and is indemandbybothbeekeepersandotherconsumers.

There are more than 300 unique types of honey available in the UnitedStates, each coming from a different floral source. The rule is, the flavor oflighter-colorhoneysismilderandtheflavorofdarkercoloredhoneysisstronger.Beekeepersandpeopleinthehoneyindustrywillalsotellyouthathoneyswiththemostpowerfulantioxidantpropertiesarebelieved tobeIllinoisbuckwheat,Californiasunflower,andHawaiiChristmasberry—thedark-coloredhoneysthathaveastrongerflavor.Still,Iadmitthatthelighterhoneysareeasyonthepalateandthedarkerhoneysareanacquiredtaste,muchlikedarkchocolate.

These days, the flavor classifications are as follows: pleasant flavor (onethat appeals tomost people), acceptable flavor (one that is acceptable, thoughnot universally appealing), unpleasant flavor (one that is acceptable to mostpeople although not everyone’s fancy), and offensive flavor (one that is notpalatablebyanyhuman).2

Aroma of honey is a lot like flavor and these two characteristics aresomething to write home about for honey lovers—occasional and everydayusers.Thearomaofhoneyisdescribedbyhoneyauthorstobeekeepersbythreesimple words: “strong,” “mild,” and “weak.” And personally, I love mildhoneys, such as a delicate wildflower, but I am also getting used to stronghoneyslikebuckwheat.3

ACACIA(Robiniapseudoacacia):Acaciahoney(whichsitsinabeautifulflutedbottle inmypantry) isproducedaround theworld, including theUnitedStatesandNewZealand.Russianfolkhealersputacaciahoneytoworktotreatheadaches, heart disease, insomnia, kidney diseases, and respiratory ailments.BestBlends:Pourover freshpeaches, dates, andnuts.MyPersonalTasting: IdrizzledacaciahoneyoverGreekhoneyyogurt, freshchopped figs,andslicedalmonds.Thiscombinationsurpassespreflavoredyogurtswithacattail’slistofartificialingredientsandsweetenersthatneedatranslator.

ALFALFA(Medicagosativa):Myfirstup-closeencounterwiththismild,sweethoneywaswhenIhadsomefreshfromthehiveandputinanice-sizedjarforme.ItwasagiftfromalocalReno,Nevada,beekeeper.Thenectarsourceisa legumewithblue flowers, and alfalfa is noted as themost popular honey inIdaho,Nevada,Oregon,Utah,andtherestoftheWest.Itisknownasaversatilehoney, and its proponents claim it is used to stave off allergies.Best Blends:Pairedwithcheesesandasagoodsourcefordressingsandsauces.Itisalsousedin tea and is a perfect table honey.MyPersonalTasting: I used this commonhoneyona sliceof localgarlicwhole-grainbread fromTruckee,California. Ithas a slightly spicy flavor, a sierra, earthy delight. It is a good feeling to eatfresh,localfood.

AVOCADO (Persea americana): Anotherwestern honey I befriended isfoundonCalifornia’savocadotrees,inavocadoblossoms.It’sagoodsourceofvitamins andminerals.Best Blends: This dark-colored honey boasts a butterytastethatworkswellwithcheeses,dressings,anddipsandpremiumicecream—such as dark chocolate.My Personal Tasting: I bravely tried this honey onwhole-wheat pancakes topped with chopped walnuts. During the hot summermonths, I made a cool Greek yogurt dip with this honey for raw cruciferousvegetables.

BASSWOOD (Tilia americana): Not a western delight but anotherAmericanhoneyfoundfromAlabamatoTexasandsouthernCanada.Basswoodhoney, coming from the basswood tree, is also called lime and linden honey,with awhite amber color. It’s a warm honeywith a spicy kick.Best Blends:Cheese,fruit,honeymustards.MyPersonalTasting:Myfirsttasteofbasswoodwasstirredinplainyogurt.ItwasthefirstunopenedhoneyjarIgrabbedoutofthepantry,anditwon’tbethelasttimeIusethisearthydelight.Itremindsmeofautumn—warm and savory. I also tried all-naturalwheat crackers spreadwithgoatcheesewithabitofhoneyontop—asuperhealthfulsnackonacool,crisp

falldaywithacracklingfireandafilmonTV.

BLACKBERRY (Rubus fruticosus): Produced in the United States,blackberryhoneyhasarichberryflavorwithnotesofblackberrythatremindmeoftheberriesIoncepicked.ThenectarsourceiswildblackberriesthatarefoundinthenorthwesternPacificstates—OregonandWashington.BestBlends:Fruit,yogurt.MyPersonal Tasting: I enjoyed this fruity honeymixed in a bowl ofgranolawithmilkaswellasonablackberryshortcakemadewithwhole-wheatbiscuitsandfreshblackberries.

BLACK LOCUST (Robinia pseudoacacia): Sweeter and lighter thanbasswoodhoney,thismildandpurehoneyisapleasantsurprise.Itboastsahighfructosecontent.TheblacklocustisfoundinNorthAmerica,butitssensitivitytocoldweather,andbloomingintheearlyspring,allowlocusthoneytoonlybeavailablesporadicallyintheMidwest.BestBlends:Pairedwithcoffee,tea,toast,andscones.MyPersonalTasting:Iputateaspooninplainyogurtandfruitandwassmilingbecausethenameledmetobelieveitwouldhaveastrongflavor.It’saclosecousintolightcloverhoney.

BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium spp): Like blackberry honey, this is anotherAmericanhoneywithfruitynotes,whichcomesfromtheblueberrybushwithitstinywhiteflowers.ItisfoundintheNortheast—NewEngland—andMichigan.The honey bee is integral to blueberry plants for pollination. Blueberries andblueberry honey are rich in antioxidants.Best Blends: Put in teas or pour oncheese and fresh berries.My Personal Tasting: Just 1 teaspoon of blueberryhoneymademycupofhotchamomileteawithasliceoflemonsweetandsassy.And blueberry honey is perfect with homemade blueberry–chocolate chipscones.Youget adoubledoseof antioxidants if youuse60percentorhighercocoa content dark chocolate. The chocolaty texture in awarmed-up scone isdelicious.

BUCKWHEAT(Fagopyrumesculentum):LiketheGoldenStateavocadohoney, this dark delight is also grown in California and north inWashingtonState as well asMinnesota, Virginia,Wisconsin, and eastern Canada—but itsroots are Asian. Buckwheat honey (its nectar source is the buckwheat plant)boastsmoreantioxidantpowerthantheothersI’venoted—andcontainsiron.Ithas been touted as one of the most useful healing honeys. Buckwheat has ahistorywith Russian folk healers of being a honey of choice, like acacia andcloverhoneys.Someof its healingpowers includeuse in treating fevers, high

bloodpressure,andrheumatism.BestBlends:Itisusedinbarbequesaucesandsavory baked goods such as gingerbread and ginger snaps or as a syrup forFrenchtoastandpancakes.MyPersonalTasting:Iopenedupthejarwithgreatcuriosity,likeliftingthetopofPandora’sbox.Tootimidtotrytherichhoney,Iputitbackinthepantrytoopenuponanotherday(likeinthefallwhenIbakeabatchofchewymolassescookieswithcrackledtopssprinkledwithraworganicsugar).

CLOVER (Trifolium repens): Welcome to the most commonnectarproducingplantofallhoneys—familiar tomostpeople,unlikebasswoodoravocadohoney.Cloveristhehoneyonthekitchentableforteaortoast.Thereisavarietyofcloverhoney,withitsnectarcomingfromred,white,alsike,andthewhite and yellow sweet clover plants.Aswith acacia honey,Russian folkhealers turn to this honey, to treat atherosclerosis and to lower high bloodpressure.Itcanalsobeusedexternallyonwoundsandcuts.BestBlends:Ahintof this honey can be pairedwith all foods from glazes to teas, because it’s afriendly andmild honey like the daisy flower.MyPersonalTasting: I had noqualms with this all-too-familiar all-purpose honey with amild, sweet flavor.WithouthesitationIputateaspooninacupofhomemadelemonadeanditwasperfectwithoutsurprisesordivingintotheunknown.Cloverhoneyislikeabiteof a darkmilk chocolate truffle or bar. It’s the friendly honey. It’s a friendlyhoneylikeadaisyisafriendlyflower—onethatissimpleandperfectforeveryoccasion.

CRANBERRY (Vaccinium macrocarpon): This fruity honey is a moreexotichoney thancommoncloverhoney. Itspleasant, tart, fruityhoneynectarstemsfromcranberrybogs,foundfromWisconsintoOregon.Itboastsimmune-boosting vitamin C. Best Blends: It is a supermatch with Thanksgiving,Christmas,Valentine’sDay,andotherholidaydishes,includingscones,poultry,and breads. My Personal Tasting: I tried a cranberry honey jelly that wasdelectablebythespoonfulandonhomemademuffins,fromcornbreadtobran.

EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus spp): From a plant grown in theNortheast,thishoneyisnothinglikethecranberryvarietalthatIfavor,especiallyincoldermonths.Eucalyptushasamedicinalscent,muchliketheessentialoilorleaves.Thenectarsourceisatreewithfragrantflowers.BestBlends:Pairwithcitrusysaladdressingsandglazesforpoultry.MyPersonalTasting:ThisisonehoneyIhavenottried,butI’dbemostapttoteamitwithlemonanduseitwithabakedchickenbreast.

FIREWEED (Epilobium angustifolium): Because of its name, I assumedfireweedhoneywouldhaveastrongflavor,butIwaspleasantlysurprised.Thishoney comes from a perennial herb and is found in Canada and the PacificNorthwest of the United States. Somewhat like basswood, fireweed honey islight incolor, “waterwhite,”andboasts a fruity, spicy, and sweet flavor.BestBlends:Mixwith tart berries or spread on plain cakes.MyPersonal Tasting:Hungry after an afternoon swim, I grabbed a container of fireweedhoney andteamed it with all-natural peanut butter on a piece of whole-grain bread. Itwasn’ttoosweetanditsweetenedmyday.

GOLDENROD (Solidago rigida): Like clover honey, here is anotherversatile gem. It comes from the United States and its nectar source is aperennialwithgoldenflowers.It’sanambercolorwithafloweryflavor.Thisisone honey that attracts people with allergies. Best Blends: Goldenrod is aversatilehoneyandcanenhancesweetorsavorynutbreads(bananatozucchini)and cheeses.My Personal Tasting: As a scone lover, I have baked dropped,circle,andtriangle-shapedsconeswitheverynutandfruit imaginable. Ipairedgoldenrodhoneywithapplewalnutsconesanditgavethesconesaspicykick.

HAWAIIAN CHRISTMAS BERRY (Schinus terebinthifolius): Hail toanotherantioxidant-richhoneythatisonetowritehomeabout.Ahealthfuldark-coloredhoneythatisderivedfromtheChristmasberryshrubwithrootsinBraziland found in Hawaii. Research at the University of Illinois showed that thishoney boasts antioxidants like buckwheat honey. Best Blends: It is a niceaddition to richcookiesandcakes.MyPersonalTasting: Its strong flavorwasbestputtousebyaddingthishoneytoabatchofhomemademolassescookiessprinkledwithorganicsugar.

HoneydewHoneyBlossomhoneyornectarhoneycomesfromflowersandotherplantsandis

the most popular honey. Honeydew honey, which I received fromChefShop.com, was a quality honey that I tried in plain yogurt. It is a bitdifferent—andanexoticexperience.Theprimarysourceofhoneydewhoneyisevergreen trees in Europe. On the oval jar a honey tag penned by GiuseppeCagnoni reads: “HoneydewHoney fromorganic farming; ITALIA.Honeydewhoneyisbeautifuldarkbrown,freerunninghoneyandbittersweet.Beesharvestsugarysecretionsfromtheleavesoftreesandconvertit tohoney.”Ittakesthesophisticatedpalateofadevouthoney lover to lovehoneydewhoney.Organic

honeydewhoneyisnotassweetasIthoughtitwouldbe.Itsrichdarkcolorwasalsoasurprise.GiuseppehasbeencreatingandfindingsomeofthefinestItalianartisanhoneys.

LEATHERWOOD(Eucryphialucida):Ifyou’relookingforamildhoney,thisexotictypederivedfromwhite-floweredleatherwoodtreesmaynotbeyourteaspoon of honey. This honey of Tasmania, Australia, is well known amonghoney lovers with a sophisticated palate—and it is an acquired taste, like 70percentdarkchocolate.Adarkerambercoloroffersdecadentnotesofsugarandspice.Best Blends: A good pairwith French bread and cheeseswith a strongflavor.MyPersonalTasting: I dripped a small amountof thedark syrupoverfresh,warmwhole-grainFrenchbreadfromtheSierraMountainsatLakeTahoewithafewslicesofsharpcheddarcheese.

LEHUA (Metrosideros polymorpha): If fruity honeys, such as blueberry,areyourchoiceofsweetness,tryatasteofthisHawaiianhoneywithanexotictwist. Called ohia, the lehua blossom tree is found in the forests on the BigIslandofHawaii.Hawaiianorganicohialehuablossomhoneyismadefromtheblossomofthenativeohiatree.Lightamberincolor,thishoneyboastsasweetbutterscotchflavor.BestBlends:ThisHawaiianhoneyisperfectwithfreshfruit,premiumicecreams,andhomemadecustard.PairingitwithfreshfruitorputtingabitincoffeewilltakeyoutotheBigIsland.Foodinthetropicsincludesfish,freshvegetablesandfruits,nuts,andcoffee.Thishoneyisrareandisprizedbyconnoisseurs for its light, delicate flavor and creamy texture. My PersonalTasting:Thistropical-style(myjarisfromChefShop.com)honeywelcomedmeonaprefalldayandwasasplendidandromanticsurprise.Ipoureditoverdarkchocolateicecreamtoppedwithchoppedmacadamianuts.Savoringthesweet,lighttastebroughtme,asonewhohasvisitedtheBigIslandseveraltimes,backtoparadise.

LEMON (Citrus limon): Citrus lovers will love lemon blossom honey.Native to India and China, this tree grows in Italy and the United States,includingCalifornia,Florida,andTexas.BestBlends:Lemonhoneygoeswellwith salads,poultry,glazes, teas, anddesserts.MyPersonalTasting:Creamedlemonhoney isnicepairedwithwhole-grain toastandsuperbwithchamomiletea,andlemonhoneyjellymademyhomemadeapplesconesnicer.

Manuka:TheHealingHoneyEnter the superstar manuka honey (Leptospermum scoparium ), which

comes from themanuka bush. This buzzedabout New Zealand healing honeyboasts a distinct flavor paired with a dark, rich amber color and gooey thickmolassestexture.It’sapopularhoneyinmedicalresearchbecauseitdoeshavearemarkable track record of showing super antibacterial healing properties inscientificresearch.

Not only does honey contain hydrogen peroxide, which has bothantibacterialandantifungalproperties,butitalsocontainsaphytochemicalthatmakes it even more extraordinary. Researchers have said it beats antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, such as superbug MRSA (methicillin-resistantStaphylococcusaureus).

But note,manuka honey sold as an edible honey and labeled “10+”willhavethesameantibacterialpropertiesasa10percentphenolsolution.Medicalmanukahoney,whichshouldonlybeusedtopically,cangoupto20+.4

Research has shown thatmanuka honey has a high antibacterial potency,whichinturnhelpstreatskininfectionsandaidsdigestion.Italsomayhelptostave off gum disease. When consumed regularly (it’s an acquired taste andeasiertousetopically)itisbelievedtoenhancewell-being.

ORANGE BLOSSOM (Citrus sinensis): Like other Californian honeys,thiscitrusfavoriteofmineisAsianborn,butgrovesalsoarefoundinArizona,Florida,andTexas.Itsnectarcomesfromavarietyofcitrussources, includingorange, grapefruit, lime, and lemon trees.Best Blends: Goat cheese and pinenuts. Orange blossom is ideal in poultry glazes, sauces, teas, and spa beautytreatments.MyPersonalTasting:Thiscitrushoney,oneofmyfavorites,gaveahomemadefruitsmoothieanicetropicalkickcombinedwithfreshpineappleandcoconut.

SugarPie,HoneyBunchOneprefallafternoon,afterwalkingmyorangeandwhiteBrittanysandin

betweenworkingonthishoneybook,orderingwood(Iwassensingit’sgoingtobe a cold fall and winter), preparing my October “Earth Changes” magazinecolumn, Iwhipped up a honey peach pie. Imade thisDeep South sweet old-fashioneddishwithanedgy twist—honeyandwhitepeaches—in thepresenceofmy two fun-loving canines, the double-trouble sweet dog duo,who simplyloveitwhenMom’scooking.

This time around in the kitchen, Seth,my brainiac four-year-old, put hisdaintyorangeandwhitepawsonthecountertopandlikeacraftycoyotealmostsnagged the pie in progress. “Drop it!” I said inmy best calm, assertiveDogWhisperer’s type voice. My canine responded to my command on cue. The

uncooked sliced peaches and pie dough didn’t plop on the floor like aminorearthquake.Sethielookedupatmewithhisdarkhoney-coloredeyesandsaidindog-ese:Whew!Thatwasacloseone.Thepiesurvivedapotentialpieshake-up.

Itriedmyhandsatalatticecrustbecauseit’sdifferent—achallenge.Peachpieisverylowincholesterolandhassomeprotein,iron,calcium,andvitaminsA and C—and fresh fruit pies are much lower in calories than cream pies.What’smore,replacingrefinedtablesugar—thewhitestuff—withabitofhoneywilllowerthehighsugarcontentinpies.Plus,orangeblossomhoneyisanall-purpose sweet andmild honey with a slight citrusy flavor—a fine choice forpies.Thebestpartistwofold:thearomaofspicesandhoneyandtheperfectlookfittoserveagroupofqueenbees.

HoneyPeachPie

7–8freshwhitepeaches,peeledandslicedinsmallwedges

1tablespoonfreshlemonjuice

½cupwhitesugar

1teaspoonofnutmeg

¼cupoforangeblossomhoney

1–2teaspoonsofgroundcinnamon

cupwhole-wheatflour

2tablespoonsMediterranean-stylebutter

2store-boughtcrusts

Place peaches in a bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice. In another bowl,combine sugar, nutmeg, honey, cinnamon, and flour. Mix with fruit and addsmallpiecesofbutter.Placeinonepiecrust;placetheotherpiecrustonaplate,cutinto1-inch-widestrips.Makelatticecrust,placinghorizontalstripsfirst,then

vertical.Fluteedges.Bakepiein350ºFovenforabout50minutes,tillpeachesaretenderandbubblyandcrustisgoldenbrown.Cool.Serves8.

PUMPKINBLOSSOM (Cucurbitapepo):Likeorangeblossom, this isafavorite honey of mine, especially in autumn. Produced in Oregon andCalifornia,pumpkinblossomhoneyisamediumamberwithawarmflavor.Thenectarsource is thepollinationofseedcrops.BestBlends:Squashrecipes.MyPersonal Tasting: I used this honey in homemade chocolate-chip pumpkinsconesandmuffins.

SAGE (Salviamellifera):Welcome toa light-coloredhoneymadefromavarietyofsageplantsgrowingontheCaliforniacoastandintheSierraNevadaMountains,likealfalfa,andnearmyhomeatLakeTahoe.It’stoutedforitsmild,delicateflavor.Thereareseveralvarieties,includingblackbutton,white,purple,andmixed.BestBlends:StrongItaliancheeses,herbalteas,andfreshlemonade.MyPersonalTasting:Sagehoneybrushedonachickenbreastgaveitanherbalflavorandwasaniceearthychangeformefromusingorangeblossomorcloverhoney.

Sidr,thePricelessHoneyMeetsidr;likebalsamicvinegar,thishoneyispricey(itmayrunmorethan

$200 a pound). A honey prized around the globe, it’s guarded by Yemen’sbeekeepers,whogobeyondthecallofdutytokeepitpure.ItsbotanicalnameisZiziphusspina-christiandithasbeentaggedassidraswellasjujube.Thehoneycolor is dark amber; the flavor is rich, and the texture is thick. Unlike otherhoneys that pair well with foods, this priceless gem is touted for its healingpowersdue to its antioxidants.Someof thehealth rewardsyoucan reap fromsidrincludehealingeyediseases,digestivewoes,andrespiratoryinfections,anditmayhelpirregularity.

SOURWOOD (Oxydendrum arboreum): Ignore its name (like firewoodhoney)becausethissweet,spicyhoneyisanythingbutsour.Itsnectarsourceisthe sourwood tree found in the Deep South, includingGeorgia andAlabama.Thishoneyisnotedforitsversatileuses,fromthetabletocooking.BestBlends:Sweetberrybagels,green tea,glazedpoultry.MyPersonalTasting: Ispreadahomemade whole-wheat biscuit with sourwood honey and paired it with aveggieomeletandthecombowasperfect,nottoosweetandnottoospicy,withasouthernfix.

STAR THISTLE (Centaurea solstitialis): Another versatile table honeylikecloverisstarthistle.Toutedasanoteworthyweedandplant,starthistleisfoundintheMidwest,California,andOregon.Ithasagoodflavorwithaspicypunch to it. Best Blends: A nice sweetness to drip on nuts and cheeses.MyPersonalTasting:Starthistlespreadonwarmhomemadecornbreadmakesforadeliciouscomfortfoodasasnackorpairedwithabowlofheartysoup.

SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus): Another impressive honey thatwowedmeissunflower,probablybecauseitboastsanItalianflair.Inmylivingroomabovethefireplacemantelisartworkofsunflowers—thenectarsourceisthe flower head. This honey is from sunflowers found in Georgia and thenorthernUnitedStates, includingNorth andSouthDakota.BestBlends:Goodwithfreshfruit,savorybreads,andGreekyogurt.MyPersonalTasting:MyfirsttasteofthickandcreamyGreekyogurtincludedsunflowerhoneyandslicesofjuicy purple grapes. Itwas amemorableTuscany-type treatwithout having toleaveNorthernCaliforniaandoneIprobablywouldfindeasilysouth inNapa,winecountry.

TULIP POPLAR (Liriodendron tulipifera): This versatile honey, likeclover but a bit stronger, is also a southern favorite. On tall trees with largegreenish-yellow flowers from the Gulf States to New England and southMichiganhoneybeeswillbefound.Thecolorofthishoneyisdarkamber,butthe flavor ismilder thanyou’d expect fromadarkhoney. It’s rich and sweet.BestBlends:A teaspoonor twoon topofall-naturalFrenchvanilla icecream;spreadonpancakesandmuffins;usedingingerbreadandmolassescookies.MyPersonal Tasting: I spread this honey on homemade corn-bread muffins anduseditinabatchofbranmuffins.

TUPELO(Nyssaogeche):ApremiumhoneythankstotupelotreesfoundinFlorida and southernGeorgia.Tupelo honey is light amber in color,with agreenishhue.Tupelohoneyboastsamild,notabletaste.Duetoitshighfructosecontentitwillnotcrystallizeforalongtime.BestBlends:Anicehoneytoppedoverblueandrobustcheeses;aglazeforpork.MyPersonalTasting:Ihavenottriedthishoneyyetduetothefactthatitisinabeautifultaperedbottleandissoprettytolookatitisdifficulttoopenthebottleandpairthehoneywithedibles.

WHITEHONEY(Prosopispallida):Ifyougetachancetogiveyourtastebudsararetreat,openyoureyesandhearttoarareHawaiianorganichoney.ItcomesfromtheflowersoftheKiawetree.Thistreegrowsatsealevelinnearby

desert regions on the leeward side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a singlefloralsourceofcertifiedorganic,unheatedrawhoney.BestBlends:Thisexotichoney can be tossedwith fresh seasonal fruit, salty, strong-flavored, and evenstinkycheeses,andcoffeeor tea.MyPersonalTasting:VosgesHaut-ChocolatcombineseffortswithRichardSpiegel’sVolcanoIslandHoneyCompany.Thisseasonalgourmetchocolatecompanyusesthewhitehoneyononesidenexttoadarkganache,formingadecadenttruffle.Eachtruffleisone-halforganicwhitehoney, one-half dark chocolate ganache. It is also sweet right off the spoon,whichI’vetriedbeforeswimming.

WILDFLOWER:Thiswell-lovedhoneybyhoneyfansandmoi isfoundaroundtheworldinaninfinitenumberofflowers.Itcanbeamild,richhoneyfrom a combination of spring, summer, and fall flowers. Autumn wildflowercomesfromfallplantslikegoldenrod,sothishoneyisdark,strongflavored,andrichinantioxidants.BestBlends:Regularwildflowerhoneyworkswell in teasanddrizzledoverteacakesandfreshseasonalfruit.Autumnwildflowerisbestinbakingandsauces.MyPersonalTasting:Isimplyadoreregularwildflower—it’saperfecthoneyatLakeTahoe,toutedforitswildflowersthatbloominlatespringandsummertime—andhaveuseditonhomemadestrawberryshortcake.

RareHawaiianSmoothie

1mediumpapaya

2smallbananas

¼cupapplejuice

¼cuporangejuice

2tablespoonsRareHawaiianOrganicWhiteHoney

1tablespoonpeanutbutter

1tablespoonnutritionalyeast

2teaspoonslemonjuice

1pinchofseasalt

6icecubes

Blendall ingredientsuntil smooth.Delightyourselfandyour friendswithapproximatelythree8-ounceservingsofthisdelicious,nutritiousRareHawaiianSmoothie!

(Source:VolcanoIslandHoneyCompany.)

HONEYCRÈMESCreamedhoneyisaformofthenectarofthegodsthatyou’llfancybecause

of its texture and delectable taste. Honey crèmes are blended with fruits orspices.Asuperbonus:Thesegemsstaysmoothwithoutrefrigerationandcanbesavoredbythespoonfulorpairedwithavarietyofedibles.Here’sjustatasteofwhatyoucangetfromthehive.

HoneyCrèmeFlavorUsesApricotCrèmeNotesofapricotToast,scones,muffins, pancakes, waffles, coffees, and teas Blackberry Crème Blackberriesmixed in pure honey Biscuits, bagels, and hot beverages Clover Crème All-naturalhoneyFrenchtoast,breads,muffins,andsconesCranberryCrèmeSweet-tart cranberries Tea breads, muffins, biscuits, and oatmeal Raspberry CrèmeRaspberriesmixed in pure honeyTopping forwaffles and pound cake SpicedCrèmePurewhippedhoney,withcinnamonandotherspicesMixedwithcreamcheeseforatoppingforbagelsandasadipforapplesandgingerbreads

(Source:HoneyRidgeFarms.)

MixItUpFlavored/fruitedhoneyishoneythathasfruit,coloring,orflavoringadded.

Infusedhoneyisahoneythathashadflavorsofherbs,peels,andspicesaddedtoit by steeping.Mix-Ins is another honeymixture that surprisedme, thanks toHeleneMarshall ofMarshall’s FarmHoney.We’re talking Honey&Apples,Honey&Almonds,Honey&WalnutHalves. “I produce theMix-Ins becausetheyaresowonderfultotaste,andusewithotherdishes.Allwedoismixhoneyandnutsand/orfruitstogether,”shetoldme.AndIdiscoveredanotherhoneydelight.

If you pair the nut honeys with Greek yogurt, like I did, you’ve got ahealthful and sophisticated treat. Nut honeys are a gourmet wonder. “Thealmondssoakupthesweetnectarofthehoneyandthehoneyabsorbsnaturallythenuttinessofthealmond,”explainsMarshall,whoaddsthattheMix-Insalso

pair nicely with breads, cheese dishes, rice, pancakes, waffles, and a host ofculinarycreations.Andyes,Idideatthe“nuttedhoney”rightoutofthejar.Norefrigerationneeded;sincehoneyisapreservative,italsopreserveswhat’sinit,addsthehoneyguru.

Spices, including allspice, anise, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, are alsousedtoflavorhoney.Butitdoesn’tstopthere.Vanilla,citrus,andgingerarepartofthepack,aswellasotherthingsthatareforpeoplewholovepurehoneysbutalsolovetoaddalittlespicetotheirnectar.

ARTISANALHONEYSAUCESANDDRESSINGSHoney goes well with some ingredients that will surprise you and your

palate.Artisanproducers (andchefs) are combininghoneyswithgood-for-youfoods, too.Not only do the honeyed sauces and dressings add an extra exotictouchtoyourfoods,buttheyalsoaddirresistibleflavorthatwillmakeyouwanttosharethesweetnesswithfamilyandfriends.

BALSAMIC VINEGAR: For 1,000 years, balsamic vinegar, coined“AcetoBalsamico,” has been valued for itsmedicinal properties. Aswith redwine vinegar, its grape-filled counterpart, balsamic vinegar contains powerfulantioxidantsthatprotectagainstheartdisease—andmayevenfightcancer.BestHoneyBlend:BalsamicHoneyVinegar is a honey lover’smust-have product.HoneyRidgeFarmssentmeabottle.Madefrom100percenthoney,it’ssulfitefreeanddelicatelybalancessweetwithtart,addingdepthandflavortoavarietyof recipes. The grape-based honey vinegar can be used for salad dressings,marinades,andsaucesordrizzledonvanillaicecream.Abonus:Onetablespooncontainsamere25caloriesandnocholesterol,sodium,orfat.That’ssweet.Butthere’smore....

Artisan honey vinegars are combinations of honey vinegar with herbs,spices, and other wholesome ingredients. These honey vinegars, fromlemongrasscoriandertosun-driedtomatoandtarragon,pairnicelywithsalads,vegetables,sandwiches,sauces,andevensoups.IfavorthehoneyvinegarfromHoneyRidgeFarms,butyoucangethoneyvinegaratspecialtyshopsandotheronlinemerchants.

CHOCOLATE:ImagineanItalianchocolatesaucesweetenedwithhoney.It is theultimatedessert toppinganda treat incoffeeor fordippingchunksoffresh fruit. Ingredients are pure and simple: cocoa and honey. Thank you,Magnolia Honey Company; this Chocolate Lace sauce continues tomakemy

dayandnight.

OLIVEOIL:Oliveoil,likebalsamicvinegarandothervinegars,hasbeencombined for health and beauty. Combining extra virgin olive oil with honeygetsyouplentyofdisease-fightingpolyphenols—andflavor.Plus,you’reusingahealthful fat and choice sweetener. Best Honey Blend: Olive oil and honeysauces and dressings are available at your health-food store and grocery storeand online. Also, recipes—cooking and baking—from breakfast dishes toentrees, often combine olive oil and honey. (See chapter 13: “Honey Bee-autiful” forhoneyandoliveoil treatmentsandchapter18:“Ciao,Honey!” forrecipes.)

JUDGINGATASTEOFHONEYWhenIbeganreceivinghoneys,Iwasabitoverwhelmed.Iopenedupeach

box,weekbyweek,andthe jarsofhoneyincreasedinnumber todozens.Onequestion that was naggingmewas: How the heck do I judge the taste of thedifferentvarieties?

Withchocolate,Ihadmyownjudgingformula.Ifitworked,thechocolatewasgone in less thanaweek.Thechocolate thatwasput intomy filecabinetand collected cobwebs didn’t make the cut. But honey is a different type oftasting. If I cooked or baked with each and every one, my petite size mightchangetogivemethelookofaspayedmiddle-agedcat.So,Iwentstraight tothesourceofhoneyknowledge—DeliciousItaly—togettheanswer.Here,takealookatthesixstepprocess:

1.Placethehoneyofchoiceintheclassicballoon-shapedglass.2.Warm the honey by cupping your hand around the glass and the light

heatwillreleasethenaturalscentandmakethehoneyslightlymoreliquid.3.Checkfor impuritiesbyholdingit to the light, thentakingaspoonand

allowingthehoneytofallbackintotheglass.4.Ourtastebudsrecognizesweet,salt,acidic,andbitterproperties.Thetip

ofthetongueiswherethesweetnessofthehoneywillhitfirst.5. A strong-flavored honeywill also have a so-called retronasale, which

willappearatthebackofthenose.6. Themore soluble honeys containmore fructose, the less solublemore

glucose.Puttingtoworkahoneyvarietalinarecipeisfunandthepossibilitiesare

endlessandexcitingwhenyougetcreative,likeinthefollowingrecipe,andaddteatogiveitanextrakick.

HoneyandLemonGreenTeaCupcakes

½cupboilingwater

1greenteabag

2cupsunbleachedall-purposeflour

½teaspoonbakingsoda

½teaspoonbakingpowder

½teaspoonsalt

Zestandjuice(¼cup)ofonelemon

¼cupbuttermilk

½cupbutter,softened

¾cupOrangeBlossomhoney

2largeeggs

Preheatovento350ºF.Pourboilingwateroverteabagandsteep3minutes.Remove teabagandallowtea tocool.Sift together flour,bakingsoda,bakingpowderandsalt; setaside. Ina liquidmeasure,combinegreen tea, lemonzestandjuice,andbuttermilk;setaside.Inamixingbowl,creambutteruntilfluffy.Add honey;mixwell. Add eggs, one at a time.Add half of the reserved dryingredients to thebuttermixture;mixon lowuntil just combined.Withmixerrunning on low, slowly add the lemon tea mixture. Add remaining dryingredientsuntil justcombined.Fillpaper-linedmuffin tins¾full.Bake18–22minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean.Removetowirerack;cool.FrostanddecoratewithHoneyLemonFrostingandCandiedLemonSlices(below),ifdesired.Note:Anymild-flavoredhoneysuchasclovermaybeused.Makes12–14cupcakes.

CANDIEDLEMONSLICESANDHONEYLEMONFROSTING

¼cupOrangeBlossomhoney

1lemon,thinlysliced

½cupbutter,softened

4cupspowderedsugar,sifted

¼cuplemonjuice

½teaspoonlemonzest

Preheatovento200ºF.Pourhoneyinasmallskilletandaddlemonslicesinasinglelayer.Bringtoaboilovermediumheat.Reduceheatandsimmerfor15to 20 minutes, turning slices occasionally. Remove from heat; reserve syrup.Placeslicesonaparchment-linedcookiesheetandbake10minutes.Turnslicesand bake an additional 10 minutes or until slices are dry. In a mixing bowl,cream butter until light and fluffy. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar;mixwell.Slowly add cooled reserved syrup and lemon juice and zest; mix well. Addremainingpowderedsugar;beatwell.*Anymild-flavoredhoneysuchasclovermaybeused.Makes12–14servings.


Now that I’ve infused some flavored honeys into your brain, in the nextchapteryou’llfindouthowteamingcinnamon,anancientsuperspiceusedsincebiblicaltimes,andhoneyisgoodforyou,fromheadtotoe(excludingthemyths)andtastesamazing,too.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH Honey varietals come from different shrubs, trees, flowers, and other

plants—offeringyoudifferentflavorsandaromas.Polyfloralhoneyismadefrommorethanonetypeofflower;monofloral

ismadefromonespecifictype—likesingle-origindarkchocolate.Thedarkerthehoney,themoreantioxidantsandthestrongertheflavor.Honeysofferdifferenthealingpowers.Manukaandsidrstickoutonthe

listofstandouthoneys. Honey, dark, light, or antioxidant richer than others, gets better when

infused with nature’s herbs, spices, and fruits. Not only do these ingredientsboost flavor and texture—they can also add more vitamins, minerals, andantioxidants.

Herbs,spices,andfruitscanenhanceyourimmunesystem,lowerriskofheartdiseaseandcancer,helpyoutoloseunwantedweight,anddomuchmore.

Flavored/fruited honey and Mix-In honeys give you more flavor andhealthfulherbs,peels,andspices.

Artisanalhoneysaucesanddressingspairedwitholiveoil,vinegar,andchocolateofferextrahealingpowers.

PART4MOREHEALING

SUPERFOODS

CHAPTER8HoneyandCinnamonPowerCinnamonbitesandkissessimultaneously.—VannaBonta1;2;3

Ifacedsweetandspicyexperiencesonmyroadtravels,likeahoneybeeinflight;Iwasstrickenbyuntimelychallenges.OneafternooninLasVegas,TigerandIwereinfrontofLadyLuckCasino.Itwasmyideatoleavemylong-hairedpartnerintheshadewithwaterat thedoorstepoftheentrywaywhileI triedtohitchasaferidebackhometoCalifornia.AsIwaswalkinginside,anoldermancalledouttome,“Nicedog!”Igotanuneasyvibebuttuneditout.

Fifteenminutes later, I left thecasino.Mybest friendwasMIA.Shockedanddisorientedlikeabeekeeperwithstolenbeecolonies,Istoodoutsideinthehotsun.Itriedtofightbackthetears.Afteralongsearchtherewasnorescue.Mycaninebuddywasgone.Icriedallnightlong.

Atdawn,atacaféIorderedacinnamonroll, tea,andhoney.Iwaslikeadevoted beekeeper without his bees. I was alone. It was one of the worstexperiencesIenduredontheroad.Andflashbacksofour travelsfromcoast to

coasthauntedmethenbutnowarecherishedmemoriesofadogandagirl—anamazinghuman–animalbond.Ileftaphotoofme,thehippiegirlwithherdoginOntario,on thebulletinboardat the local animal shelter.Throughall thepainandloss,Imovedon.

Afewmonthslater,fatepaidmeavisit.AblackLabradorpupwithsoulfulbrown eyes came into my life on the road.We rescued each other at OceanBeach,SanDiego.Webondedinstantlylikeabeekeeperwithnewqueens,andStoneFoxandI,CaliforniaButterfly,continuedonourjourneytogether.Aloyaldoganditsdedicatedhumanaresimilartothesuperpowersoftwosuperfoods—honeyandcinnamon.

HONEY’SCONSTANTCOMPANIONThedelicioustasteofhotcinnamonbunswithstickyhoneyandthescentof

homemade apple pie baking in the oven evokememories frommy childhood.Theearthy,invitingflavorofcinnamonhasbeenusedworldwidebyamultitudeofcultures for itsversatileseasoningpowersaswellas for itshealingpowers,forthousandsofyears.

Cinnamon comes from the bark of the cinnamon tree found mostly inCeylonandChina. Itcanbefoundinseveral forms, includingthestick,whichcan be grated or used to stir or season beverages—such as hot chocolate andapple cider. In ground form, cinnamon is the most common spice used forseasoningandbaking.Therearecountlessdishesthatcallforbothcinnamonandhoney—two of nature’s finest foods that complement each other as well asprovidemedicinalproperties.

AnewfeatureontheMediterraneandietpyramidistheadditionofspices,for reasons of both health and taste. Also, spices contribute to the naturalidentitiesofvariousMediterraneancuisines.

So,canaspice,likecinnamon,pairedwithhoney,whichenhancesthetasteofmany foods andwarms the hearts of allwho enjoy its aroma, hold healingpowers to relievepainand revupyoursexdrive? I tooka lookat thepopularclaimsandthisiswhatIdiscovered.

HONEY AND CINNAMON HEALTH BENEFITS: 10 REALREASONSTHEDUOISSWEET

Honey and cinnamon have a lot in common. Like honey, cinnamon’shealingpowershavebeenpraisedfromfolkmedicinesincebiblicaltimestothemodern day. Cinnamon’s powers can help prevent age-related diseases andconditionssuchascancer,heartdisease,andobesity.

Cinnamon, like honey, contains antioxidants. Also, both functional foods

areusedforhomecures.You’llalsodiscoverbothcinnamonandhoneyprovidenaturalhealingpowers fromhead to toe.Here, takea lookat the real researchbehindtheclaimsconcerningthispowerfulduo.

1.Aphrodisiac:Iscinnamonreallyawaytoreignitepassion?Perhapsitis,according to past research at the Smell & Taste Treatment & ResearchFoundation inChicago, Illinois.Whenmenwere exposed todozensof scents,theonlyonethatgotapositivesexualresponsewasthearomaofhotcinnamonbuns.

TheRealHoneyandCinnamonCure:Refertochapter18:“Ciao,Honey!”forcinnamonandhoneyrecipes toget that romantic touchwithcinnamonandhoney.Ifthatdoesn’tprovideresults,atleastyou’llbegettingnature’ssweetestfoods with nutritional benefits—without fat or cholesterol—and that can alsohelpenhancelibidoforbothmenandwomen.

2. Arthritis: Aches and pains from creaky cartilage and joints, like alackluster love life, can wreak havoc on your lifestyle and well-being.Whilecinnamon is not amagic bullet for gaining flexibility and losing pain, it doescontain anti-inflammatory compounds thatmay be beneficial in reducing painandstiffnessinmusclesandjoints.

TheRealHoneyandCinnamonCure:Trya cupof cinnamon tea teamedwithafreshcinnamonstickandateaspoonofhoney.Youmaygetthepainrelieffrom theanti-inflammatorycompounds incinnamon, and thehoney (alsowithanti-inflammatory properties) will provide instant energy so you can do dailystretches (orevenmake love,and that’llprovide reliefofpaindue to the feel-goodendorphins).

3.Cholesterol:Whilepain isn’t fun, tallyingupout-of-whackcholesterolnumbers isnopicnic,either.Powerfulphytochemicals incinnamoncanreduceblood sugar, aswell as triglycerides (fat in your blood), total cholesterol, andLDL “bad” cholesterol in peoplewith type 2 diabetes. Team thatwith honey,which has no fat or cholesterol, and you may just be able to keep yourcholesterollevelshealthy.

The Real Honey and Cinnamon Cure: Incorporate honey and cinnamonpowder in your diet regime, which should be a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.Also,ifyouareoverweight,honeyandcinnamoncanhelpyoutoloseweighttokeep your “good” HDL cholesterol numbers up. Don’t forget B vitamin–richfoods,suchasfishwithahoneyglazeorasmoothiewithwheatgermandhoneyfor vitamin B6 and French toast with egg,milk, and honey or poultry with ahoneyglazeforvitaminB12.

4.Colds:Ifcinnamonandhoneycanhelpkeepsugarlevelssteady,canit

stave off a common cold? There are many home-cure remedies that call forhoneyandcinnamontohelpcurethecommoncold.Doesitwork?Thiscombocoldbustermayhelpstaveoffacommoncoldaswellasspeedupyourrecoverydueto itsantibacterialandantiviralproperties.But ifyour immunesystemhasbeencompromisedandyou’rekeepingcompanywithsomeonewhohasacold,cinnamonandhoneymaynotbe100percenteffective.

TheRealHoneyandCinnamonCure:Addingteatoyourdailydietregime,especiallyantioxidant-richgreenandblacktea,pairedwithhoneyandcinnamon,can help you to keep your immune system strong so if you do catch a cold,you’llbeabletokickthevirusfaster.

5. Hair Loss: A cinnamon-honey cure may keep you well, but can itmaintainastrongmane?WhenIthinkofcinnamonandhoneyasacure-allforthinninghair,theclassicILoveLucyepisode“RickyThinksHe’sGoingBald”comestomind.Inthekitchensheputsherhusbandthrough“guaranteed”scalptreatments.It’sabsurd,andbelievingaspiceandsuperfoodconcoctionisgoingto halt hair loss is ridiculous. Hair loss is due to many factors, includinggenetics,aging,stress,andapoordiet.

TheRealHoneyandCinnamonCure: Ifyour family tree isonyourside,thenyoumaybeabletostallFatherTime(andhairloss)bylearningtochill,andhoneycanhelpyoutodojustthat.(Seepart6:“HoneyCures.”)Also,usingbothcinnamonandhoneyinyourdailydietmayhelpyoukeepyourmane(orwhat’sleftofit)becauseeachcontainsantiaging,disease-fightingantioxidants.

6.ImmuneSystem:Honeyandcinnamonmaybeausefulcoldbusteraswell as bolstering your immunity against disease from the flu to cancer. Thecaveat: You need to also bolster your immunity in healthful ways, from anutrient-rich immunity-boosting diet to exercise and a healthy lifestyle (i.e.,minimizingdistressandgettingadequateshut-eye),tokeepbugsandsuperbugsatbay.

The Real Honey and Cinnamon Cure: Taking 1 to 2 teaspoons dailymultiple times per week along with including antioxidant-rich honey andcinnamon in nutrient-rich meals can help bolster your immunity. Also, drinkgreen tea and a teaspoon of honey (especially acacia and sunflower varieties)onceortwiceaday.

7.Infertility:Yes,thehoney-cinnamonpaircanhelpkeepsicknessatbay,butcanitalsohelpawomantogetpregnant?Ayurvedamedicinepractitionerstouthoneyforhelpingbothgendersachievefertilitywonders.However,myleftsideofthebrain(thepracticalonethatthinksandreasons)saysyouwouldhavebetterluckaskingapsychicadvisorforamagicpotion.

TheRealHoneyandCinnamonCure:Butnote,somemenandwomenwho

arestressedouttryingtoconceivemaybesabotagingtheirgoal.Inotherwords,relaxing has been said to help couples get pregnant.That said, because honeycanhelptocalmnervesandcinnamoncanhelpthebodystayclearofdiabetesand unhealthy cholesterol, the spicy-sweet cure can domore good than harm.Your best bet:Bake a batch ofCinnamonHoneyBuns and let nature take itscourse.

8.Longevity:So,ifthehoney-cinnamoncombocanenhanceyourimmunesystemand fightdiabetes, it justmayaddyears toyour life,ornot.Thereareelderlyfolks,from80to100plus,whopopupfromtimetotimeinthenewstoremindusthattheyincludethegoldennectarintheirgoldenyears.Also,thesesame people are often down-to-earth people who eat nature’s foods, whichincludeherbsandspices—likecinnamon.

TheRealHoney andCinnamonCure: Like going bald, living a long lifeoftenislinkedtogenes.Canwegivecredittohoneyandcinnamonforhelpinghumanstoliveto100yearsold?Again,theleftbraintellsmeit’samixedbagofstrategies,includingahealthfuldiet,regularexercise,socialbonds,apurposeinlife, and staving off unhealthy lifestyle habits, that is key to longevity—notsweethoneyandspicycinnamon.Still, ifyou include these twosuperfoods inyourday-to-daylifealongwithawholesomelifestyle, thenyes,myrightbrainsays,HoneyandCinnamonPower!

9. Stomach Upset: From hairless to queasy—can honey and cinnamoncome to the rescue ifyour stomach is turning topsy-turvy?The sweetener andspice are tummy friendly.Cinnamon is a carminative—which simplymeans itcan help relieve gas. If it works for you, no doctor or rat study should workagainstyouandconvinceyoutoturndownthehoneyandcinnamonhomecure,becauseitmayworkforyourailment.

The Real Honey and Cinnamon Cure: A hot cup of tea, such as ginger(whichisproventosootheanupsetstomachornausea),orlow-fatmilkwithateaspoonofhoneyandcinnamonpowderorafreshstickcancalmyournerves—andthatmayindeedhelpgetridofqueasies.

10.Weight Loss: Last but not the least mind-boggling, can honey andcinnamonbethetickettoaleanbody?Somefolkssayyes,thesetwosuperfoodscanhelpyou to shedunwantedpoundsASAP.While I dobelievebothhoneyand cinnamon can help you, if you don’t exercise and do still overindulge infood,no,a“HoneyandCinnamonMiracleDiet”willnotwork.Still,honeycanhelpyoutocutsweetcravings,soifasweettoothisruiningyourdietingefforts,honeycancometotherescue.Cinnamonaddsflavortofoods,suchasoatmeal,soyouwon’tbetemptedtousehigh-fatbutteroraddedsugars.

TheRealHoneyandCinnamonCure:Eachday,trydrinking2cupsoffat-

burning green tea and cinnamon powder.Not onlywill the tea and cinnamonhelp revupyourmetabolism,but thehoneywill alsohelpgiveyouenergy soyou’llsticktophysicalexerciseandburnmorecalories.

Whetheryou’relookingtogetthatlovingfeelingorfightingacold,eatingoneCinnamonHoneyBun,likeinthefollowingrecipe,pairedwithacupofhotherbal tea, will make you feel good and just may help to follow through onbattlingyourhealthwoeanddoitsjob.Andthereisalwaysthechancethatthearomainyourkitchenwillrevuptheromanceinyourlife.

CinnamonHoneyBuns

¼cupbutterormargarine,softenedanddivided

½cuphoney,divided

½cupchoppedtoastednuts,optional

cupraisins

2teaspoonsgroundcinnamon

1poundfrozenbreaddough,thawedaccordingtopackagedirections

Grease 12 muffin cups with 1 tablespoon butter. To prepare honey nuttopping,mixtogether1tablespoonbutter,¼cuphoneyandchoppednuts.Place1 teaspoon topping in each muffin cup. To prepare filling, mix togetherremaining2tablespoonsbutter,remaining¼cuphoneyandcinnamon.Rolloutbread dough onto floured surface into 18 x 8–inch rectangle. Spread fillingevenly over dough. Sprinkle evenly with raisins. Starting with long side, rolldoughintolog.Cutloginto12(1½–inch)slices.Place1slice,cut-sideup,intoeachpreparedmuffincup.Setmuffinpaninwarmplace; letdoughrisefor30minutes.Placemuffinpanonfoil-linedbakingsheet.Bakeat375ºF20minutesor until buns are golden brown. Remove from oven; cool in pan 5 minutes.Invertmuffinpantoremovebuns.Makes12buns.


In the next chapter, “Sweet Stuff: Honey Combos,” you’ll discover thathoney is found in avarietyof foods, frombreads andcandy to ice creamandyogurt.Thebestpartis,yes,thesecombinationsareoftengoodforyou,thanks

tohealinghoneyanditspowers.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH Cinnamon and honey are both chock-full of antioxidants—which can

lowertheriskofheartdiseaseandcancerandincreaselongevity.Pairingcinnamonandhoneycangiveyouadoubledoseofantioxidants

andessentialmineralsandvitamins,too.Cinnamonandhoneyproviderealhealthbenefits,includingrevvingup

yoursexdrive,boostingyour immunesystem,soothinganupset stomach,andhelpinginweightloss...

. . .butnote,cinnamonandhoneycannot takecreditonthisplanetforgrowinghairandmakingbabies.

Usingcinnamonandhoneybothinsideandoutsideofyourbodyfortotalhealthcarecanbegoodforyourmindandspirit.

CHAPTER9SweetStuff:HoneyCombosIfyouhavenohoneyinyourPot,havesomeinyourMouth.—BenjaminFranklin1

AfterIworkedhardforthemoneyinOregon,likeaworkerbeetransportedto pollinate crops,my devoted dog, StoneFox, and I fled back to theGoldenState.WelandedinHollywood,SouthernCalifornia.ItisaregionfullofhoneybeesandwarmweatherwhereIendedmyjourney—forawhile.Weweregivenrefuge by a communal-type group of like-minded artistic, fun-loving people,muchlikeabeecolony.

My jobwas kitchen duty: cooking and baking.One day before a coastalpicnic, I baked a batch of chocolate-chip cookies. I didn’t have a gourmetkitcheninourBohemian-typeapartment.Iwasresourceful.Therewasnotablesugar in the house, so I turned to honey as my main sweetener. I remembersipping iced tea laced with honey from our favorite health-food store andnibblingonsemisweetchocolatechipsduringthebakingprocessfrombeginningtoend.

Teaming the sweet pair worked like a bee charmer. The cookies weresavoredbymyfriends,much likehungryworkerbees feedingonnectar. I feltlikeaqueenbeemust feel (yes, Ibelievehoneybeeshaveemotions likedogsandcatsdo),contentwithagoodcolonyandreapingrewardsofgoodsweets.

THESWEETTHINGSMove over, sugar; honey is the up-and-coming sweet thing on the block.

Theuseofhoneyinfoodsisbecomingmorepopular,thankstothehealthwaveof the 21st century. Think dark honey instead of white sugar—like darkchocolateinsteadofmilkchocolate—that’smakingabigsplashworldwide.

Creditgoes toconsumers fordemandinghoney-basedproducts,accordingtoGlobalIndustryAnalysts.Ahikeinthevarietyandassortmentofhoney-basedfood products, such as yogurts and drinks, is because we know honey is “anappealingingredientascomparedtoartificialsweeteners.”What’smore,honeyis out of the closet and touted for its antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, andproteins,soit’sgettingwell-deservedattention.2

EachtimeIgotothegrocerystore,Inoticethattheword“honey”isputinbigprintonboxes,cartons,andpackagesofproductssuchasbreads,breakfastcereals, candy, honey drinks, ice cream, yogurt, and much more. Countlessproducts touting honey’s all-natural, wholesome image are available to theconsumer, likeyou andme, everyday.Here,meet some sweet honey combosthataremakingabuzz...

Breads andBakingMixes: Corn-breadmix, packagedwheat bread, andpancakeandbiscuitmixesarejustsomefoodsthatboastthatfiveletterword“h-o-n-e-y.” One time I grabbed a honey pancake mix and was as excited as aforager bee in spring, ready to try it with fresh blueberries. My excitementplummetedwhenIreadthelabel:“powderedhoney.”Ithought,I’dratheruseareal,rawnaturalliquidhoneytohavecontrolofmysweethoneypancakes.AndImadehoneypancakesfromscratchandmonitoredmyhoneyaddition.

Fresh-bakedstore-boughtbreadsthatincludehoneyareadifferentspeciesofhoneyfoods,especiallyiftheingredientlabellists“honey”withouttheword“powdered.”Honeyhelpsbakedgoodslastlong,sinceit’sagoodpreservative,andthatworksforme.

Breakfast Cereal: As with breads and pancakes, I prefer to use liquidhoneyonoatmealorgranola,especiallywhenIcancontrolthehoneytype.Eachbowl of cereal can be a new and exciting experience, unlike if you eat theprepackagedhoney-sweetenedcereals.ButI’veenjoyednaturalhoneygranolas

(withrealhoney)andHoneyNutCheerios(withrealhoney).

Candy:Incandies,honeyisusedindifferentcountries,insuchproductsasnougat(aconfectionmadefromahoneypasteandnuts)fromFranceandhalva(a confectionof crushed sesame seed in abinderof honey) fromGreece. It isbelievedthathoneymaynotbethesweetenerofchoiceforcaramelsbecauseitsnaturetoquicklyabsorbmoisturewilllessenthetimebeforetheexpirationdateandsoftenthecandy,whichmayendupasonestickyblob.

But Ididn’thave thatproblemwithVosgesmilkchocolatecaramelswithtupelohoneyandbeepollen.NordidIhaveastickymesswithLakeChamplainCaramel Five Star Bar (with fresh Vermont cream, butter, sugar, honey, andvanilla,slow-cookedincopperkettles,yieldingcreamycaramel;darkchocolatechunksandalmondsareaddedandcoveredinmilkchocolate).TheChocolate’sHoneyCaramelsare1¼-inch-in-diameterand½-inch-thickroundcandypiecesboasting a beehive and wildflowers decorating dark chocolate, filled withcaramel and laced with honey. Wrapped in embossed Italian gold foil, thesehoneycaramelsare theultimategift forhoneylovers, likeme,whooftenhavehoneyandchocolateonthebrain.

Duringmysearchfortheultimatehoneycandy,Iquicklylearnedthatmanyhoneycandies,suchashoneysaltwatertaffyandgourmethoneyjellybeans,usehoneyflavoring—notrealhoney.Butthatwasn’talwaysthecase.

I was sent a box of Manuka Honey & Rainforest Lemon Delight thatdelightedmeandprobablywoulddothesameforahoneybee.ItisafusionofNewZealandmanukahoneyandAustralianlemonmyrtle(plussugar,glucose,andwheatstarch).Therub is, the itemis importedfromNewZealandand it’snotcost-effectivefortheproducttobeshippedtotheUnitedStates.(Ifyougotoor live in Karori Wellington, New Zealand, check out Loukoumi, Ltd.) Thelemondelight’scounterpartHoney&HazelDelightwasinspiredbytraditionalMediterranean recipes. Loukoumi blended roasted hazelnuts with honey fromNewZealand.Notetoself:Relocatetodownunder,whereIcanhaveaconstantsupplyofthesecandies.

Honey Drinks: Good-for-you honey drinks, much like healthful vinegarconcoctions, are popular in Asian countries such as Japan. Honey drinks areoftenpairedwithlemonjuiceforasweetandtart twist.Tofruit juices,coffee,andteahoneyisaddedastheprimaryand/orsolesweetener.AndIpreferpurehoney rather than honey-flavored syrups and artificial sweetenerswith honey.It’sanaturegranola-girlthing.Honeyismypreferredsweetthinginbeveragesandcrunchytreats.

HoneyIceCream:Addinghoneytocalcium-richicecreamssoundslikeasweet idea, right?Not somuch. It isbelieved thathoney icecreamsmaymeltfaster than thosemadewith sugar.As a lover ofHäagen-Dazs ice cream andtheir Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream, I didn’t have a meltdown issue. Out ofcuriosity, though, I put two premium vanilla ice creams to the test. Yes, thehoney ice cream didmelt a bit faster, but this is amoot point tome becausewhenIdishupascoopitismeanttobeeaten,notadecorationtoadmire.

HoneyNuts:Honey-glazedalmonds,cashews,walnuts,andothernutsareeasily found in grocery stores and online specialty shops, and you can makethem, too. Nuts are a healthful food chock-full of monounsaturated fat andprotein and play a role in the Mediterranean diet—like honey—if eaten inmoderation.ItriedHoneyRoastedCashewsfromOh!Nuts,anonlinecompany.These honey-glazed cashews are all-natural sweet candy. The ingredients:cashews,sugar,cottonseedand/orcanolaoil,andhoney.Oneservingisamere150 calories, with protein, iron, and calcium. The flavor was earthy, fullflavored,andthesweetestthingwithacrunch.

SnackBars:Honeyisthickandstickylike“beeglue,”whichcertainlycanhelpbindabar—homemadeorstore-bought—andgivessnackbarsasweetandhealthfulflavor.Good,crunchyhoneyandoatsgranolabarsandchewyproteinbars—many brands—provide a list of healthful, all-natural ingredients, andhoneyisoneofthem,whichisagoodthing.Speakingofhealth...

Yogurt:HoneyisusedasasweetenerinGreekyogurt.Thisisbetterthanyogurts that have been sweetenedwith artificial ingredients.Honey is the realthing. I prefer to use a spoonful of my own honey in a cup of yogurt, butsometimes for convenience, ifyou’renot athome, ahoneyyogurtwouldbeaperfectthing.

AHoneyofaTaleAsthestorygoes,inavalleyatthefootoftheRockyMountainsjusteastof

YellowstoneNationalParkinnorthernWyomingisasmallfarmwhereClarenceandBessieZellerraisedtheirfamilyofthreesonsandthreedaughters.

Tosupportthefamily,theyproducedhoney.ThishoneywasmadebybeestheycalledLittle Johnnies.The termoriginated from thewildbeesClarence’sfathertookfromthebeetreesontheShoshoneRiverbottoms.LittleJohnniesaremean, and they attack just for the fun of it. They just love to sting, but they

gatherthesweetestnectar,whichmakesthisspecialhoney.Bessiebegancreatingthehoneycandymorethan50yearsagothankstoan

optometrist.HepointedouttoherthathersonMitchel’svisionwouldimproveifsugarwasnotpartofhisdiet.Inaquestforanaturalsugar,sheturnedtohoney.“Oneyearlater,hedidn’tneedglasses,”saysthecandymaker.

When the boys grew up, they left home. Time passed. The sting of theLittleJohnnieswas like thePiedPipercalling themback to the farmand theirbelovedbees.

In 1976, they decided tomake use of an old family recipe fromBessie’sancestorsinScotlandandmakehoneycandyforsale.Theboyshadmadetaffyaskidsandhadlotsoffunstretchingit.Theyhadall thenecessaryingredientsfordeliciouscandy—thatspecialhoney,therecipe,andthedesire.Morerecipeswere developed, and in 1979 they started making honey pecan pralines, nowknownasPecanPearls.Andthenthechocolateandhoneycandiesfollowed.

In theQueenBeeGardensgourmetcandycatalog,words tout thehealingpowers of both honey and chocolate. Researchers believe that chocolate’sappeal,likethatofhoney,isacomboofitsnutrientsandchemicalcomposition,aswellasfatandsugar.Naturally,it’snotedthat“allchocolatesarenotcreatedequal”—remindingyoutolookforchocolatecontainingnohydrogenatedfatandoils.Chocolateisconsideredhighqualityiftheonlyfatiscocoabutter.Thebestchocolate should be low in sugar. And, as with honey products, choose achocolatewithfewaddedingredientsorfillingsthatarehighinfatorsugar.Butthestandouthoneycandydoesn’tstopthere....

QueenBeeGardens ison topof thebenefitsofpollen—“thenatural foodwithenzymes,antioxidantsandvitamins.”QueenBee’sPollenDropsareuniqueamongcandies.Developedasanutritionalsupplement,theynotonlytastegreatbutalsocontainnutritiouselements.PollenDropsaremadewithfresh-from-the-hivehoney,creamerybutter,drymilk,algin,andvanilla.Stretchedtogivethemafinetexture,PollenDropsareataffy.Topreservethenutrientsinthepollen,itis stretched into thecandyonlyafter thecandyhasbeencooled,giving it thatgoldencolor.

(Source:QueenBeeGardensgourmetcandycatalog.)

HONEYANDCHOCOLATEHoneyandchocolatearebothsuperfoodsthathavebeenusedsincebiblical

times. The healing benefits of chocolate, like honey, were prized and noted4,000yearsago.

Eatingchocolate, likehoney,canhelpenhancethe immunesystem, lower

the riskofheartdisease, cancer,diabetes—evenobesity—andboost longevity.Chocolate, like honey, is chock-full of antioxidants. What’s more, bothsupersweetscanrelievedozensofailments,includingdepressionandhighbloodpressure,andrevupenergyforbothworkandplay.

Honeyandchocolatehavea lot incommon,especially if it’squalitydarkchocolateandraw,naturalhoney.Bothforbiddenfoods—because theycontainsugar—play a role in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet (savored inmoderation) and lifestyle and are an integral part of life in Italy and othercountries.Andwhen theyare teamed togetheryougetadoubledelight,not toforgetantioxidants.

Okay, enough about sweet things and why they’re sweet. How about achocolate honey candy recipe? I tried this recipe one daywhen Iwas cravingdark chocolate. Instead of using peppermint I used a potpourri of creamedhoneys:apricot,blackberry,peach,andraspberry.Also,Iused60percentcocoacontentchocolatechips.

HoneyChocolateMintPatties

1cup(6ounces)semisweetchocolatechips,divided

½cupwhippedhoney

½teaspoonpeppermintextract

Powderedsugarfordusting(optional)

Linebakingsheetwithwaxedorparchmentpaper;setaside.Placehalfofchocolate in small, microwave-safe container. Microwave on “High” (100percent), 1 to 2 minutes, until melted; stir until smooth. Drop a heaping ½teaspoonofchocolateonpaper.Withbackofspoon,spreadchocolateonpaperto 2 inches. Repeat to form 24 circles; chill until firm. In small bowl, blendhoneywithpeppermintextract.Spoona scant teaspoonofhoneymixtureontoeach circle. Freeze until firm. Microwave remaining chocolate; using sameprocedure. Spread a heaping ½ teaspoon of chocolate on top of each candy,makingsurehoneyiscompletelycoveredwithchocolate;chilluntilfirm.Pattiesmaybestoredinrefrigerator.Dustwithpoweredsugarbeforeserving,ifdesired.Makes24servings.


Speakingofsweetcombos,inpart5:“TeaandHoney,”you’lllearnthattheworldof teaswithhoneys is likeagreatplacewithanamazingmust-dorollercoasterinHoneyland.Thewiderangeofteasandhoneysisamazing.Teamingthese two old-world superfoods with healing powers is one more secret tostaying healthy, maintaining your weight, stalling age-related diseases, andlivingalonger,happierlife.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH Honey-related products are becomingmore andmore popular and are

betterforyourhealth. Beware of products that boast “includes honey” and note other

ingredients,too,andseewherehoneyplacesontheproductlabel.Theclosertofirst,thebetter.

HoneydrinkswithvinegarareindemandbothintheUnitedStatesandaroundtheglobe,especiallyinAsiancountries.

TheFrenchparadoxexistsandmakessense...TheFrenchpeoplewhodo indulge in chocolate, nuts, ice cream, and honey in small portions on aregularbasisandwhogetamoveondaily—plusdrinkantioxidant-richredwineinmoderation—stayhealthyandlivelonger.

Bothhoneyanddarkchocolatehavebeenfoundtocontainantioxidants—compounds linked to increasing heart health, lowering risk of developingcancers,andboostinglongevity.

Pairingtherightchocolatewiththerighthoneyindessertsisanartthatcanbelearnedforyourpalate’sandhealth’ssake.

PART5TEAANDHONEY

CHAPTER10Tea(s)withYourHoneyWhenthegirlreturned,somehourslater,shecarriedatraywithacupof

fragrant teasteamingon it;andaplatepiledwithveryhotbuttered toast,cutthick,verybrownonbothsides,withthebutterrunningthroughtheholesinitingreatgoldendrops,likehoneyfromthehoneycomb.

—KennethGrahame,TheWindintheWillows1

After my freewheeling days in sunny Southern California, from themultiplebeachestomountainsandthedesert—placeshoneybeesarefound—ItookatriptoCatalinaIsland,westofLongBeach.ThedestinationwastherusticZaneGreyPuebloHoteloverlookingAvalonBayandthequainttowntoutedforits cosmopolitan feel. Inside thedesert gold room—the studyof theAmericannovelist—wasasweettreat.

Thefirstmorning,Iwalkeddownthestairstothecharmingswimmingpoolarea overlooking Avalon Bay. I was greeted with a continental breakfast,includingfreshapples,bananas,oranges,coffee,andtea.Mydreaminparadisewasdisturbed likeabeecolonybeingbotheredbyan intruderwhenIcouldn’tfindit:“Where’sthehoney?”Isaidoutloudtomyself.Eatingtoastandsippingteawithoutnature’ssweetestgift issimilartobeingservedasliceofhotapplepiewithoutvanillaicecream.ButIsurvived.

Thesedays,atLakeTahoe,IdogetmyMediterraneanfixwithoutleavingthesierra.It’stheMediterraneanfoods,theresortwhereIswim,andhoney,thecommon sweetener of theMediterranean diet, that keep me at peace withouttraveling like a forager. And a cup of tea and honey maintains thatMediterraneanfeeling....

HONEY(ANDTEA),LET’SFALLINLOVEFor centuries, people all around the world have enjoyed the simple,

soothing pleasures of a good cup of tea with a good teaspoon of honey, andnowadaysthereismorereasontodoso.Blackandgreenteasarenotonlygoodtasting,especiallywithhoney,buttogethertheypackapunchofnutritionalandhealthbenefits.

Herbalteascomefromavarietyofplantsotherthantheteaplant.Theyaremade from leaves, berries, flowers, fruits, and the bark of herbs and spices.Althoughmostherbalteasdonotcontaintheantioxidantpropertiesof“real”tea—black,green,oolong,white,andred—pairedwithantioxidant-richhoneytheydopossess awallopof good-for-you compounds that can enhanceyour healthandwell-being.

Anothernewfeatureon theMediterraneandietpyramid is theadditionofherbs,likespices,forreasonsofbothhealthandtaste.Also,herbscontributetotheMediterraneandishes.

Medical doctors, nutritionists, scientists, and beekeepers are nowconfirmingwhathealershavebeensayingsincebiblicaltimes—teasandhoneys

haveavarietyofhealingpowers.

SWEETSIPSHere aremy six favorite tea and honeymarriages—but there are infinite

combinationsforbothyouandmetotry.Thereisnorightorwrongcombinationandwhat’ssweettoyoumakeshoney-teabeveragesasweetsip.

1.BlackTea:ThefirstteaIwasintroducedtowasbasicblacktea—whichdoes contain caffeine—and I have enjoyed it plain but realized it did need asweetflavorboosttoit.Also,EarlGreyandEnglishbreakfastteas(perfectforanIrishbreakfast,completewithfriedpotatoes,scrambledeggs,andscones)arepartoftheblackteagroup.

BestHoneyMatches:BasswoodhasadistinctflavorthatI’veusedinplainyogurtforarichflavoranditcangiveblackteaakick,too.Sourwoodboastsacaramel taste that canmake a common black tea come to lifewith taste. EarlGreyteamswellwithavocado,blueberry,andeucalyptushoneys,too.It’smoreexoticandexcitingthanjustusingasimpleall-purposecloverhoneythatcomeswithoutpleasantsurprises.

2.GreenTea: Touted for itswide array of health virtues, thisAsian teadoescontaincaffeine,likeblacktea,butnotasmuch.It’sanacquiredtasteandthat’s where honey comes into play, so you can get the best of taste andnutritionalbenefits.

BestHoneyMatches:Blueberryhoneyhasafruitytastethatcangiveanicekick to green tea, not themost flavorful tea. Sage honey ismild, aCaliforniafavoriteofminethatbringsoutthebestofgreentea.

3.FruitTea:Welcome to lemon,orange, rosehip,andapple teas.Thesefruityteasaresweetandsometimestart,whichcallsforahoneysidekick.

BestHoneyMatches:Mild-flavoredhoneyssuchassageandalfalfabringout the best in fruit teas because they don’t overpower the fruity taste butmaintaintheintegrityofthefruitflavor.

4.HerbalTea:Herbalteascomefromavarietyofplantsotherthantheteaplant.Theyaremadefromleaves,berries,flowers,fruits,andthebarkofherbsandspices.

Although most herbal teas do not contain the antioxidant properties of“real”tea,theydopossessothergood-for-youcompoundsthatcanenhanceyourhealthandwell-being.There isawiderangeofherbal teas, includingginseng,cinnamon,licorice,andmint.

Rooibos(roy-boss) is the“new”herbal teaontheblock—oftencalledredtea.Likegreenandblackteas,thisteacontainsantioxidantsthatmakeitheart-healthyandimmunityenhancing—andit’scaffeinefree.

Best Honey Matches: Earthy and warm herbal teas go well with mildalfalfa, clover, orange blossom, and sage honeys—common honeys thatcomplementdistinctherbalflavors.

5.OolongTea: This tea, popular inAsian countries, contains the healthperksofbothblackandgreenteas.Arobust-flavoredteathatcanhaveasweettastelendsitselftodifferenthoneys.

BestHoneyMatches:Oolong,notateafamiliartome,waseasytotrywithafriendlyCaliforniaorangeblossomhoneywithitscitrusysweettaste.Anotheroolongmateistupelohoneywithitslightambercolorandherbal,fruityflavors.

6.WhiteTea:And last but not least,welcome to this pale tea.Found inChina,itisbelievedtoranknumberoneforitsantioxidants.It’sabitsweetandmellow.It’sthenewteaontheblockfortealovers.

Best Honey Matches: Fireweed honey is light colored and smooth, likewhitetea—thetwocomplementeachother.Wildflower,oneofmyfavoritemildhoneys,alsogoesnicelywithwhitetea.

Asadevoutteadrinker,Ibelieveyourchoiceofhoneyandteaisapersonalone—like pairing dark chocolate with different fruits, herbs, and spices. Theselection also depends on the season to yourmood. But popular and friendlyhoneys, such as clover and orange blossom, are suitable anytime, anyplace,becausetheyarenottoostrongandwillnotoverpowerteas—alltypes—andyoucan’tgowrongforyourselforifyou’reservingotherpeople.

TRAVELSWITHHONEY(ANDTEAS)Teaandhoneyhaveplayedastarringroleinmylife,decadeafterdecade....In my twenties: I recall in Hollywood, California, I was a carefree

unpublishedauthor.MybestfriendandIwouldfrequentapopularhotel/coffeeshoponSunsetBoulevardandorderspicycinnamonteaandpairitwithhoneywhilewewaitedforourtossedgreensaladsandtobediscovered.

Inmythirties:InSanFrancisco,asapennilessgraduatestudent,afterclassand on-specwriting assignments I’d visitmy dentist in the FinancialDistrict.Teawasofferedinthewaitingroom.I’dsiporangepekoewithabitofhoneytocalmdentaljittersuntilIwascalledintothedentalchair.

In my forties: During this passage of my life, I was a busy magazinejournalist.Black teawith its caffeinecontentwas thedrinkof choiceas Imetdeadlineafterdeadline.Also,inbetweenwriting,lookingforMr.SoulMatewason my plate during tea-and-honey blind dates. The tea kept me centered andcominghometomybestfriend:myloyalLabrador.

Inmy fifties: I live as a solo author-intuitive in the sierra, chamomile teaandhoneymytrustycompanions.Inthesummerit’scitrusteawithsagehoney;

in the fall it’s herbal tea and alfalfa tea; in thewinter it’s black andgreen teawithorangeblossomhoney;inthespringit’sfruitteasandcloverhoney.

AsI lookbackontheyearsof teaandhoney, it’sclear that thisbeveragehasbroughtmecomfort.Severalyearsago,beforeIpennedthebookTheManWho Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist (Boulder, CO:Sentient Publications, 2006), the natureloving scientist paid me a visit at mycabin at Lake Tahoe. For five hours we chatted about his past and presentearthquake predictions. In between bites of cheese, French bread, andcheesecakeandsipsofchamomile tea,wediscussedwhatwasshakingaroundthenation.Likeoldfriends,JimandIdiscussedfaultlineswehadexperienced.Today,ifIservedthesefoodsI’dgivethemaworldlytwistwithhoneyvarietalsinmypantry.I’dprovideavocadohoneyforthecheeseandFrenchbread.Thecheesecake would be drizzled with a blueberry or lemon honey, and for thecalmingchamomile?I’dofferacinnamonandcloveteaororangeblossomfromCalifornia.Thepotpourriofhoneyswouldhaveaddedanearthysophisticationto the European-style buffet I created for the man who predicts quakes andtaughtmehowtotuneintomyintuitionanddoit,too.Thankgoodnessforteaandhoney—thetwofriends thathavekeptmecompany,andcalmandskinny,throughouttheyears.

HOWTEETOTALERSSTAYSLIMSpa nutritionists will tell you that drinking a soothing hot beverage is

similartohavingahotcupofsoupbeforeameal.Itsatisfiesyourappetiteandyou’lleatless.Ahotliquidcanfillyouup,notout.

Herbalteaswithhoneyarecaffeinefree,unlikeblackandgreentea,coffee,andsoda.Ifyoumaxoutoncaffeinatedbeveragesitcancauseyourbloodsugartospikeandplummetlikeanamusementparkride,leavingyoufeelingtiredandcranky or likely to reach formore caffeine or junk food to get another quickpick-me-up.Thisdoesnothappenwithsoothingteas.

Some of the best skinny teaswork to helpwomen andmen get and stayslim because they contain herbs, including marshmallow root, dandelion, andparsley,thatcanhelpstimulatewaterlossand/orbeatbloat.Then,ifyouturntotheweight loss teasuperstar—green tea,aknownfat fighter—you’llbeon thepathtorealweightloss.

Notonlycandrinkingteashelpyoutolosewaterweight,butthesoothingbeverage can also calm and uplift your spirits. This connection betweendestressingandteasisanotherslim-downperkthatisusedathealthspasaroundtheworld and by the rich and famous.Tea breaks give you aminivacation toreplenishyourbody,mind, and spirit.Here, takea lookat this recipe, straight

fromachefwhoknowsspafoodandspateas.

RosehipandCranberryTea

2cupswater

1½cupscranberryjuice

1clove

2rosehipteabags,or2rosehip-blendteabags

2tablespoonscloverhoney

2orangeslicesforgarnish

Combine the water, cranberry juice, and clove in a medium-size pot setovermediumheat.Bringtoasimmer.

Usinga spoon, remove theclove from the cranberry juice.Place the rosehipteabagsintoawarmedteapot,pourinthehotcranberry-watermixture,stirinthehoney,andsteepfor5to7minutes.Pourintomugs,garnishwithorangeslicesandserve.

(Source:ReprintedwithpermissionfromTheGoldenDoorCooksLight&Easy,byChefMichelStroot,publishedbyGibbsSmith©2003.)

Speakingofteaandgoodhealth,inpart6:“HoneyCures”you’llgetatasteof how honey and teaming different types are the natural path to tending toannoying and chronic health ailments, including allergies, colds, sore throats,andsomuchmore.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHMedicaldoctorsandscientistsarenowconfirmingwhatherbalistshave

knownforyears—teaandhoneyhaveavarietyofhealingpowers.Throughouthistory,ancientcultureshaveusedherbsandhoneystostay

healthyandlivelonger. Antioxidant-rich “real” teas, including black, green, oolong, and red,

pairedwithdarkerhoneysprovideextrahealingproperties. Tea and honey pairing is a personal preference, but there arematches

thatarepopular,includingblacktea:basswood,clover;greentea:sage;fruittea:sage, alfalfa; herbal tea: clover, orange blossom; oolong tea: orange blossom,tupelo;whitetea:wildflower.

PART6HONEYCURES

CHAPTER11HomeRemediesfromYourKitchenThefruitofbeesisdesiredbyall,andisequallysweettokingsandbeggars

anditisnotonlypleasingbutprofitableandhealthful;itsweetensmouths,curestheirwounds,andconveysremediestoinwardulcers.

—SaintAmbrose1

Likeawaywardhoneybeespreadingitswingsandreturningtoitscolony,Iheadedbackhomewithmydog,StoneFox,toNorthernCalifornia.Butwegotsidetracked.OnthewayweendedupinFresno,CentralCalifornia—ahoneybeehaven. I was a nanny. My job was to tend to two kids and one giant,cumbersome Saint Bernard. It was a semi-rural neighborhood in the hotsummertime. On my days off I’d flee on a 10-speed bicycle. My dog and Imoved wild and free through the orange groves—a place where honey beesworked.Ipickeduporangesunderthefruittreesandtookthemhometousethefruitsofmylabor.

In thekitchen, asusual, I foundmyself like aworker in its hive.Clad inblue-jeanoveralls,barefoot,andgoldenbrownfromthesun,I’dplayroadsongs,suchas“VenturaHighway”and“BorntoBeWild,”anddoahoneybeewaggledance—but I was all alone. I created fresh orange juice Popsicles sweetenedwithabitoflocalfreshorangeblossomhoney—usedinmyhomeremedies.Thehoney helped soothe dry skin, insect bites, PMS, and sunburn—all ailments IenduredwhileenduringCentralCalifornia,aplaceIdidn’tfeelwashome.

Discoveringhomecures,likethese,cangiveyoupeaceofmind—andoftenwork to cure common ailments, which will make you a believer that yourkitchencabinetislikeamedicinecabinet.

CURESFROMYOURKITCHENI’ll describe 50 common health ailments alphabetically and provide

amazing at-home honey cures. I include tried-and-true folk remedies, real-lifestories,scientificstudies,andmedicalexperts’wordsofhoneywisdom—andmyownexperienceswithhoney.Butcaution,consultyourhealth-carepractitionerbeforeputtingtoworkanyhoneycure.

1 ACNE (Brush off blemishes): Red dots on your face, back, andshouldersarethescourgeoftheyoungandbeautiful.Butadultsaren’timmunefrom adult acne or flare-ups. As a teen, I blamed my mom and dad for myblotchyface. (Genesandhormonescanplaya role inacne.) I turned togooeyClearasilcreamandsmellyStridexpadsandwent towar likeafearlessIndianusingwarpaintandgettingreadytogotobattle.Butmyeffortsdidn’twork.

I ended up going to a dermatologist and using a potent topicalmedicine.After applying more rather than less (I don’t follow instructions) I ended uptyinganavybluebandanaacrossmyforeheadtohidetheunsightlyblotch—andwasgratefulforthehippiefashiontrend.IfIhadknownthattherewasagentlercuretoclearupmyface,Iwouldhaveuseditinaheartbeat.

What Honey Rx to Use: Put a dab of honey (a darker variety such asmanuka)onblemishes.Repeattwiceperday.Sipacupofchamomileteatochill—and drink 6-to 8-ounce glasses of water daily and stay clear of the emptynutritionofsugarybeverageswithcaffeine.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:It’stheantibacterialcompoundsinhoneythatworkto help fight redness, inflammation, and infection and dry up the blemish.Manukahoneyisantioxidantrich,whichcanhelpgiveyouaclearer,smoothercomplexion. “As a teenager,” recalls one honey lover, “I would smear raw,organichoneyonmyfaceanddiditafterIcamehomefromschool,everyday.”Two months later, he recalls seeing sweet results—a 50 percent clearercomplexion.Thecreditgoestousingtheright“type”ofhoney—notprocessedkinds.

2ALLERGIES(Stopseasonalmisery):Dealingwithannoyingacneisnopicnic,butsneezing,arunnynose,andcoughingcanruinanindoororoutdoorevent,thankstoseasonalpollen.Everyyearwhentheyellowpollenarriveslikean uninvited visitor atLakeTahoe I hold a tissue in one hand and amon thephone to a pharmacist with the other. I am always on a mission to find thenaturalremedytostopmysniffles.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Tryeatingatablespoonoflocallyproducedhoney.Proponentsofhoneytellmethatyourimmunesystemwillgetusedtothelocalpolleninit(itshouldbewithina50-mileradiusfromwhereyoulive).

Why You’ll Bee Happy: By taking the honey cure, you may lose your

allergysymptoms.Ornot.It’sworththeeffortandislesspriceythanavisittothedoctororanallergist.Also,honeyisanaturalremedyanddoesn’tcomewithunknownsideeffectslinkedtoallergymedicationsorpriceyshots.Onesummerday, I looked outside and the Tahoe yellow pollenwas everywhere—on cars,trees,andtheground.Istartedputtinghoney(notjustthelocalalfalfavariety)inmytea,yogurt,andbaking.Twodayslater,mysniffleswerehistory.Whetheritwascoincidenceorahoneycuredoesn’tmatter.Itworked.

Ifyouhavemildrespiratoryproblems,fromallergiestoasthma,honeymayenhance the immune system to build up a better arsenal against airborneallergens—and help you breathe easier. Honey enthusiasts like D. C. Jarvis,M.D., believe honeycomb is excellent for treating certain breathing problems.Thehoneyprescription,accordingtohim,waschewinghoneycomb,whichmaylinetheentirebreathingtract.2

Also, eatinghoneyon adailybasiswas recommended: “As far as I havebeen able to learn,Vermont folkmedicine uses honeycomb as a desensitizingagent; from the results obtained by its use it appears to be anti-allergic in itsaction.”Dr.Jarvisgivescredittothehoneybees.3

Beekeepers tell me that honey may help allergies linked to trees andragweed—theculpritinhayfeveranditsirritatingsymptomsduringspringandautumnmonthsandoftenrightbefore.Ifmoldandfoodallergensarebotheringyou,honeyisnotgoingtobeyourallergycure.Asbeekeepersarebusyatworksellinglocalhoneytoallergysufferers,IambusyincludingalltypesofhoneysinmydietbecauseIwanttobecoveredinbothseasons.Andifhoneycanhelpmecopewithcongestionandsneezing,I’min.Whilefurtherresearchisneeded,I’mnotgoingtowaitforscientists togototheir labratsforago-ahead.Morehoney,please.

3ANEMIA(Ironup):Allergiescanaffectpeopleofallages,butanemiamaybemoreofaproblemforpeoplewhoaredietingorvegetarianswhoarenotgetting sufficient iron. Simply put, anemia is a lack of red blood cells andhemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells thatmoves oxygen to cells in yourbody.Thesymptomscanincludefeelingtiredandlight-headed.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Tryincorporatingadarkhoney,suchasbuckwheat,in your daily diet. Pair it with Mediterranean iron-rich foods, including fish,seafood,apricots,andfigs.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: If you’re borderline iron deficient, you need topumpmore iron into your body. The daily recommended value of iron is 18milligrams. If you are borderline anemic, you can boost your iron intake byincreasingiron-richfoodsanddarkhoneyscontainingiron,whichcanhelpboost

redbloodcellsinthebody.4ANXIETY(Beat the jittersmonster):Anemia sometimescomeswith

warnings of symptoms, but when anxiety hits (often worsened by stress) youknow it like when an earthquake strikes. Anxiety can wreak havoc on yournervous system and up your odds of experiencing heart disease, stress eating,andotherchronichealthproblems.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Ifyou’reunderpressureandfeelinghighanxietyorsenseastressfulevent is in theworks,makeacupofchamomile tea.Put in1teaspoonofyourfavoritehoney.Repeattwiceadayasneeded.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Honey—allvarietals—is toutedby folkmedicinehealers for its calming effects. The natural superfood can help soothe yournervesratherthanputyouinhigheranxietymode.Thereliefitprovidesmaybedue to its multiple vitamin B content—antistress vitamins. Pairing it withcalming tea ormilk (which is rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid thathelps toalleviate feelingsof anxietyand stress) canhelpyou tochill.Sonexttimeyouwant to relax,oneof thebestcures iscarbohydrates—and thefastestworkertogivingyouachillpillisnature’ssweethoney.

5 BAD BREATH (Freshen up your mouth): Feeling anxious if yourbreathisnotassweetasitshouldbe?Badbreathcanbelinkedtoavarietyofcauses,fromabadtooth,gingivitis,andeatingonionstosinusitis.

WhatHoneyRx toUse: Try 1 teaspoon of honey in a cup of herbal tea.Repeatasneeded.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy: Ifyouaresufferingfrompostnasaldrip,drinkinghotteawithhoney(whichhasantibacterialproperties)canhelpclearupmucusandthat’llhelpsweetenyourmouth.Drinkingacupofhoneyandchamomileteawillalsosootheinflamedgumtissuebecauseofitsanti-inflammatoryproperties.Onions,likeanypungentfood,willtakeawhiletofadeout,butahoneyandtearemedymayofferaquickfix.Andifyouhaveatooththatneedsattention,seekitandsavethatsweettooth.

6BEDSORES(Staveoffa sorespot):Halitosiscanbea sensitive issueforfolks,butbedsoresareanotherpain(atanyage).Ifyou’vebeenacaretakerforanelderlyperson(orifyou’retheonewhoisdealingwithbedsoresduetobeingbedridden)you’reawareof thepotentialofgettingandcopingwithpainandpotentialinfection.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Tryapplyingamedicinalhoney,suchasmanuka,onthesore.Repeat inthemorningandnight.Followdirectionsontheproductyouuse,becausetherearedifferentformsavailable.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Scientificresearchproveshoneycontainspowerfulantibacterialcompounds,whichcanhelpsootheinflammationandhealsores—

allkinds.So,ifthistried-and-trueall-naturalcureworks,itwillprovideasighofreliefandhoneypowerwillbeawelcomedchangeforthebetter.

7 BED-WETTING (Catch a break): Coping with bedsores can be achallenge,butsoisnotknowingwhattodowhenyourchildwetsthebed.Thisisnotaneworabnormalproblem,butitdoestakepatiencetofindtherightcure.I recall in the film2012 themother pointedout to her husband that yes, theirseven-year-olddaughterstillwetthebedandgavehimthebedgeartodeal—aswe see her at the store buying more nighttime diapers. But wetting the beddoesn’thave tobe theendof theworld,because in the realworld there is thehoneycurethatmayreallyworkwondersforyouandyourchild.

What Honey Rx to Use: The Vermont country doctor D. C. Jarvisrecommends 1 teaspoon of honey at mealtime and before bed. Avoid givingwaterafewhoursbeforebedtime.4

Why You’ll Bee Happy: One reason why this cure may do the trick isbecause honey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that can relax the nervoussystemandallowsleeptobewithoutinterruptions.Adrybedwillmakeyouanda child feel empowered, boost confidence, and give incentive to continue theold-fashioned remedy until the mission is accomplished without super sci-figimmicks.

8BLAHS(Tryasweetpick-me-up):Bed-wettingtoblahs,bothwoescantakeatollonone’swell-being—bodyandmind.Ifthebillsarestackingupandyou’re working hard for the money or are out of work, you may be feelingdown-and-outlikeanailinghoneybee.Ormaybefamilymembersorfriendsareunhappy?Isthecatordogsick?TemporarysetbacksandstressorsinlifecanzapourPollyannatypeofmood.Cantherebeakitchencurethatcanmakeyoufeelnotallgloomanddoom?

WhatHoneyRx toUse:Put lemon juice fromone lemon intoan8-ouncecupofwaterwithiceorcupofhotwater.Add1teaspoonofwildflowerhoney(ithasmedicinalproperties) and stir, sip, andwait for a change inyour spirit.Repeatasnecessary.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Makeway,sugarysodasandcaffeinatedjava!Thishoneycurehasfructoseandglucosethatareabsorbedinthebloodstreamfasterthanyoucansay,“Ifeelundertheweather.”It’sanaturaljolt toyournervoussystemandnaturallyrefreshing,soitprovidesaworkerbeepick-me-up.Thinkabuzzinghoneybeeonawildflowerinthespringtime.

9BONELOSS(Preventbrittlebonedisease):Osteoporosis,withthelossof bone density, is often thought of as an older person’s disease, but just likefeelingblah, it can strike at any age.Bone loss canhappen formany reasons,including if you have a small, thin frame (like I do), a family history of

osteoporosis,arepostmenopausal(likeIam),aresedentary(asanauthorIam,but Iexercisedaily), andeatadiet low indairyproductsandother sourcesofcalcium(Iamayogurtandlow-fatmilkaddict).

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Includeateaspoonofhoney(inpureliquidformorbeepollen)inacupofplainyogurtorsmoothiewithlow-fatmilkeachday.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:HoneycontainscalciumandBvitamins—includingvitamin B6. The bone-building nutrient plays a big role in bone metabolismbecause it’s necessary for hydrochloric acid production, which is required incalciumabsorption.Bestfoodsourcesincludepoultryandfish.Thesefoodscanbe teamed with honeys, such as glazes. (See chapter 18: “Ciao, Honey!”) toenjoythevarietyofrecipesthatcanhelpyoumaintainstrongbones.

Boron deficiencymay also be connectedwith an increased risk for boneloss. Boron, like vitamin B6, helps metabolism of calcium and magnesium.Boron is richest in honey and fruits, especially apples, pears, grapes, dates,raisins,andpeaches,andinlegumes,soybeans,andnuts—allofwhichthehoneybeepollinates.

Also,usewholefoodsratherthanprocessedones.Thiswayyou’llnotlosenature’s nutrients.Whole foods include whole grains (brown rice and whole-grain flour), which you should use instead of white flour products. Use freshvegetables,ratherthancanned.Optforbeans,freshfruits,nuts,andseeds.Allofthesenutrient-densegood foods (strongbones needmore thanBvitamins andboron)canbeenhancedwithgoodhoneytomaintainstrongbones.

ABack-to-NatureBeeGirlMeet Angela Ysseldyk (www.beepollenbuzz.com), nicknamed Bee Girl.

She grew up on theDutchman’s Gold bee farm in Carlisle, Ontario, Canada:“WhenIwasayounggirlgrowinguponabeefarm,mymommadesureIwasfed plenty of raw honey and bee pollen. I can even remember sprinkling beepollengranulesonmyhomemadegranola!”

Sweethoneywasthefolkmedicineofchoiceinthehousewhensheoroneof her four siblings got a cold. “It was raw bee propolis for us and notantibiotics,”saysthepro-beegirlwhoisbuzzingaboutthefactthathermotherraised her holistically. The diet of the farm for her family was whole,unprocessedfoods,andtherewasnojunkfoodallowedinthehouse.

Astimepassed,Angelagothercallingtoteachpeopleaboutgoodnutrition,supplements,andorganic food.So, thenextstopwasattending the InstituteofHolistic Nutrition in Toronto. The end result: One bee girl blossomed into aRegisteredHolisticNutritionistwhoteachespeopleatahealth-foodstoreabout

thehealingpowersofhoneyanditshealingby-products,includingroyaljelly—thegiftsofbeesandfedtolarvaeandvirginqueensandqueenbees.

10BURNS(Babyskinburns):Bonelossdoesn’thurtuntilyoufall,butaburncanbepainfulimmediately.WhenIwasakidIrecallmymomwasfryingchicken,theoilsplattered,andsheburnedherarm.Itwasbutterthatsheusedtosoothetheinflammationandpain.ItwasabigdealbecauseIsawthepoppingoilandsmallstovetopfire.Thesedays,ifIexperiencedacookingburnI’dtryadifferentquickhomecure.

What Honey Rx to Use: Apply manuka honey or a first-aid lotion withmanukahoneyontheburnedarea.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: The Vermont country doctor D. C. Jarvisrecommendshoneyforburnsbecause itcan relieve thepainfulsmarting,staveoffblisters,andspeedupthehealingprocessoftheburnedarea.5

11 CAVITIES (Kiss off dental caries): Like skin burns, holes in yourteethcanstressyououtandhurt,too.Sincehoneyisasweetener,itisbelievedthat it can cause visits to the dentist and drill. But hold off on laughing gas,becausethesedaysmedicalresearchersbelievethattherighttypeofhoneycanactuallystaveoffcavities.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Optforthedarkertypeofhoneywhenchoosingthehomecuretoincludeinyourhealthy-teethdietregime.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:HoneyguruJoeTraynorsaysthefactis,“sucroserotsyour teeth;honeyisgoodfor teeth.”Heexplains that toothdecayrequiressucrosetoformplaque(thestickystuffthatformsontoothenamel).Weknowgranulatedwhitesugaris100percentsucrose,buthoneyismadeofglucoseandfructose—andtheantibacterialpropertiesofhoneyhelpkeeptoothdecayatbay.

ResearchsuggestsTraynorcouldberight.Thehoneybee’sby-productmaybeuseful in treatmentofcavities.Theextractofpropoliswas lookedat for itsantimicrobial activities. The findings, published in the African Journal ofBiotechnology, show that the “bee glue” has a strong antimicrobial action andhintsthatitmaybeusefulinthetreatmentofdentalcavities.6

TheQueenBee’sHoneyTipsforColdandFluSeasonIn my pantry are bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and other gifts of the

honey bee—and from Dutchman’s Gold natural honey and maple products.Dazedandconfused,Icontactedafewfolksinthehoneyworld,butnobodysaidthat theyhad tried the royal jelly or other beeproducts.Then, I contactedmylocalhealth-food store. Iwas told that theydo carry these special by-products

and that they are used for medicinal use—not like honey varietals we put toworkindrizzlingoncheesesandyogurtandincookingandbaking.

ErikaVanAlten ofDutchman’sGold hasmore than two dozen years ofexperiencewiththehealingpowersofhoney,andsheshedsomelighttomeonwhathoneyprescriptiontousewhenyou’renotsurewhichonetouse....

“Thesoundofacoughfromacoldisararememoryfrommychildhood;however, Idorecall thesweet tasteofhoneyandthemorningritualsofeatingbeepollen....

Mymother,Annie, theQueenBee andDr.Mom,was quick to quell theonsetofcoldandfluviruseswiththeapplicationoftherapeuticbeeproductsinourfamilyhive.Weusedhoneytoeasemanyillnessesbutalsootherproductsthat the bees work hard to collect such as bee propolis, royal jelly, and beepollen. These products have been applied to prevent and heal disease andmaintainhealthforthousandsofyears.

Dry and sore throats: pure honeycomb; buckwheat honey; honey sticks.Fever, flu,cold,orbronchial infection:propolis throatspray;propolis tincture;rawpropolischunks;propoliscapsules.Stresscold:freshroyaljelly;royaljellycapsules. Immune booster and energizer: bee pollen. Try a tablespoon in asmoothieorallonitsown.

12COLDSORES(Goodriddancetotheouch):Acommonwoecanpayyou an untimely visit in the form of an unsightly cold sore—both comeuninvited. Imagine this all-too-familiar scenario:Youwake up in themorningbeforeabigevent.Inthemirrorared,swollencoldsoreorfeverblisteraroundthemouthgivesyouarudeawakening.It’sgoodtoknowthesesoresarenotlifethreatening.Yes,you’ll survive theredblister(s)causedby theherpessimplexvirus,andtheywillgoawaybythemselvesafterseveraldays.Thegoodnewsis,theremaybeagentlewaytospeeduptheirdepartureandyourhealingprocess.

What Honey Rx to Use: Dab honey (manuka is recommended, but anyhoneymaywork)ontopofthecoldsore.Repeattwotothreetimeseachday.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: There are different antibacterial compounds inhoney that can help fight skin sores. Jane from New Britain, Connecticut,decided to give the cure-all healer a try on a cold sore that had just begun toreddenonherupperlip.“I’veusedover-the-counterproductswhichhelp...butnotuntilthecoldsorehasbloomedinabig,uglymessonmyface.”Thehoney(fromTheManukaBeesCompany),diditsjobinstoppingthiscoldsore.Twodayslater,thecoldsorewasdormant,likeavolcanowarningthathadfizzled.

13CONSTIPATION(Getregular):Coldsoresarepainfulandnotpretty,butbeingirregularcanmakeyoufeelugly.Irregularitycanbeduetoeatingless,

restingmore.Also,noteatingenoughfiber-richfoodsordrinkingenoughwater,achangeinclimateandenvironment,aswellasnotstayingphysicallyactivecanwreakhavoconyourdigestivesystem.Buthoneycomestotherescue.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Beforebedtimeorinthemorning,try1teaspoonofhoney in a glass of warm water with fresh lemon. Or, if you prefer, try thathoney cure in a fresh cupof strong java, andyour irregularwoewill soonbehistory.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Because honey contains a healthy dose of sugar,which can cause amild laxative effect, itmay help induce regularity in somepeople, especially sensitive individuals. (Yes,honeyhasbeenmysweet friendduringirregularspells.)

14 COUGH (Outfox irritating hacking): Irregularity and coughs caninterruptour lifeaswelikeit.Nomatterwhatageyouare,acoughisanotherunwelcomevisitorandcanmakeyoufeelterrible.Let’sfaceit,coughmedicinecanbepricey,doesn’ttastegood,andmayormaynotdoitsjob.Also,whatifit’sinthemiddleofthenightorthedrugstoreisclosed?

WhatHoneyRx toUse:A teaspoonofbuckwheathoney is recommendedbeforebed.Oryoucanmakesyrupof1teaspoonlemonjuice,1teaspoonhoney,and1teaspoonapplecidervinegar.Repeateachremedyasneeded.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Twentieth-century scientists have proven thathoneycanstopacoughjustlikecoughmedicinedoes—andevenbetter.AgroupofPennStateCollegeofMedicineresearchersdiscoveredthathoneymayofferparentsaneffectiveandsafealternative.Thefindingsshowedthatbuckwheatatbedtime was more powerful for curing a cough in children thandextromethorphan (not recommended for children less than six years old), acoughsuppressantfoundinover-the-countercoldmedications.Butnote,honeyis not to be given to children under the age of one due to the ill effects ofbotulism.7

What’smore,Dr.D.C.Jarvisnotesthathoneywillactasasedativetothenervoussystem.Italsowillattractandholdfluidwhenyou’resleeping.8

15 DEPRESSION (Defeat the blues): Now that the kids or you aren’tcoughing,thebadnews,accordingtotheNationalInstituteofMentalHealth,isthat about 10 percent of Americans wade through at least one bout ofmelancholy misery sometime during their lives. The victim list of depressionsufferers includes Virginia Woolf and Ludwig van Beethoven, as well aseveryday people including truck drivers, clerks, salespeople, actors, andmusicians.Nooneisimmune.

WhatHoneyRx toUse: Try a spoonful of honey.Or opt for bee pollen,

whichisrichinB1,B2,B6,andB12—andcontains18aminoacids.Takeitonadailybasisbeginningwithafewgranules,workinguptoateaspoonasneeded.If you’re feelingdown,don’t giveupon thehoneycure.Althoughdepressioncan prove to be a depressingly complicated ailment, daily health habits canoffsetitseffects.Thatmeansgettingregularexercise(honeycanhelpboostyourstamina), eating healthy (refer to chapter 6: “TheMediterranean Sweetener”),andgettingadequatesleeptohelptreatmilddepressionmaydefeatthoseblues.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: There is light at the end of the dark tunnel forgloom-and-doomfeelings.Researchshowsthatdietandlifestylecanloweryourrisk of depression—and honey plays a role in feeling upbeat. Depression hasbeenlinkedtolackoftheBvitamins.Thesevitaminsareofteninvolvedintheproductionofenergy,andalargecomponentofdepressionmayencompasstheinabilitytogetoutofbedanddealwiththeupsanddownsoftheworld.

Amino acids, also found in honey and bee pollen, are the vital buildingblocksofproteinandmayalsohelpimprovemood.Theaminoacidsareusedbythebody toconstructbrainchemicals thathelpalleviatedepression.Soarewefeelingabithappier?

16 DETOXIFICATION (Say good-bye to toxins): Feeling down is adrag,andwhenyourbodyispollutedthat’lldragyoudown,too.Nomatterwhatseasonyou’rein,it’shealthfultogiveyourbodyaminivacationfromtoomanyunhealthy toxins. I’m talking about junk food (i.e., empty-calorie processedfoods), caffeine, and high-fat foods. A minidetox minifast is healthier than atotalfastbecauseit’snotamajorshocktoyoursystem.Youcanstilleatwater-densefruitsandvegetablestohelpyoutocleanseyoursystem,alongwithdarkhoney,whichcansweetenthegoalofdetoxingyourbody,mind,andspirit.

What Honey Rx to Use: Mix a teaspoon or two of strongerflavored,antioxidant-rich honeys (such as buckwheat or leatherwood) paired with 1teaspoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar in cold or hot water eachmorningbeforebreakfast.

WhyYou’ll BeeHappy: By pairing honeywith aminifast of fresh fruits,vegetables,and6-to8-ounceglassesofwater,youwillhelptogiveyourorgansa rest from toxins in foods and cleanse and rejuvenate your body. Also, thehoneywillgiveyouanenergeticbuzztohelpyoustayphysicalaswellasstaveoffcravingsforsweets.

17DIARRHEA(Leavebehindapeskyproblem):Aboutoftherunscanbe triggered by many things, including a detoxifying minifast, antibiotics, oreating a food gone bad.Everyone at one timeor another has experienced thismiserablevisitorandwantsittogoawayASAP.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Try1cupofcalmingchamomileorgingerteawith1teaspoonofhoneythreetimesperday.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Personally, I stay clear of the anti-go tablets,becausewhile they canwork often irregularitymay follow.Honey and tea, asoothing,naturalremedy,iscomfortingandcanhelpstoptheurgetogoandgo.Itworksbecausehoneyisaquickandeasyroutetoeasingintestinalproblems,as it coats the stomach lining.Teamhoneywithyogurt, anotherprobiotic thathelps keep the “good” bacteria in your system. Both honey and yogurt boastantibacterialpropertiesandprobioticeffects—andgetridofthe“bad”bacteria.It’sawin-winendresult.

18 DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS (Tame tummy drama): Running to thebathroomor feeling the pain of colitis (inflammationof the colon) or irritablebowelsyndrome(IBS:aspasticcolonthathasamindofitsown)canbeapainintherear(punintended).So,whenyourinternalpipesareoutofwhack,that’sacuetoturntothefriendlybacteriafoundinsweethoney(andinthefuturebeforeasasweetpreventativemeasure).

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Take1tablespoonofmanukahoney(lessthan10UMF), bee pollen, or propolis on an empty stomach. Or, if preferred, put 1teaspoonhoneyinacupofsoothinggingerorpepperminttea.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Scientists inNewZealandfoundacauseofupsetstomachisthebacteriastrainHelicobacterpylori.A5percentsolutionofhoneyslowedthegrowthof thebacteria. Ingredientsusedweremanukahoney(UMF20+),beepollen,andpropolis.9

Astudyisgood,butifitworksforyouit’sgreat.Backinmycollegedays,forinstance,IBSpaidmefrequentvisits.Isawagastroenterologist.Hetookoutaprescriptionpadandscribbled:“Drinkwater,eatfiber-richfoods,destress,andexercise.” In retrospect, I realize he was spot-on. But in hindsight I sense heshouldhaveincludedhoneyontheat-hometo-dolist.

19ENERGYDRAIN (Beat low energy):Getting your digestive systemback on track is a good feeling, but then what if your energy plummets?Savannah Bee Company founder Ted turns to liquid gold—the good stuff. “Itake a healthy-sized spoonful of bee pollen every day. It givesme a boost ofenergyandispackedwithallofthevitaminsandmineralsyouneed,”hesays.“Itissaidthatmancansurviveonbeepollen,water,andsunshine.Ithelpsmestayhealthyandhopeful.”

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Eachmorningincludeateaspoonofbeepolleninyour breakfast. Go ahead and take it solo. Or try The Honey Association’sEnergyDrinkrecipe:¼pintorange juice,¼pintnaturalyogurt,2 tablespoonsclearhoney.Placealltheingredientsinaliquidizerandblenduntilsmooth.Pour

intotwotallglasses.Servestwopeople.WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Honeyisasourceofnaturalunrefinedsugarsand

carbohydrates,whichareeasilyabsorbedbythebody.Thatmeans,you’llgetaquick energy boost with longlasting effects. Athletes include it in their dailydiets.ItwasevenusedbyrunnersattheOlympicGamesinancientGreece.Ifaspoonfulofhoneyeverydaycangiveyouextraenergy todoallof the thingsyouwanttodo,whetheritbeworkorplay,itmakessensetogiveitatry.Andeatinghoneybeatsdrinkingsodaswithcaffeineorcoffee,whichgiveyoualiftbutleaveyouwitharoller-coasterrideofupsanddownsuntilyougetyournextfix.Stickwiththehoneybee’senergyprescription.

20EYEHEALTH(Guardyoureyes):Feelingenergizedisagoodthing,but having good eyesight is not to be taken for granted, either. I’ve had twomiddle-aged friends who fell victim tomacular degeneration (deterioration ofthemaculaintheeye,whichcanleadtoblindness).Eyesightisapreciousthingandoftenweforgethowimportant it isuntilourowneyesareaffected inonewayoranother.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Includedarkhoneysinyourdailydietteamedwithantioxidant-richfruitsandvegetables.

Why You’ll BeeHappy: Holistic doctors believe that flavonoids in foodscanprotect your eyehealth.Weknow that darker honeys contain antioxidantsand when included in the daily diet couldn’t hurt your eyes—but, of course,large governmentfunded scientific studies have not been done to proveconsuming honey can help eye disorders. ButHoney: TheGourmetMedicineauthor JoeTraynorpointsouthowasmallgroupofpeoplewithconjunctivitisapplied honey under the lower eyelid as any eye ointment would be applied.Improvement was the end result, with Traynor saying that it may be theflavonoids in honey that have the properties to access the lens. He adds,“Antioxidantandosmoticpropertiesofhoneycouldalsobea factor.Certainlythepotentialbenefitsofhoneytotreatcataractsdeservemorestudy.”

21FIBROMYALGIA (Lose theaches andpains):Maintaininghealthyeyesisabigdeal,andsoiskeepingachesandpainsatbay.Ifyou’vegotchronicpaininthemusclesandsofttissuessurroundingjoints,fatigue,andtendernessatspecific sites in the body, youmay have fibromyalgia syndrome or fibrositis.Today,medicalpeoplegetit:Theyacknowledgethepainlinkedtothenervoussystemandthereisreliefprovidedfrombothconventionalmedicineandnature.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Try1teaspoonofhoneyinacupofhotteathreetimesperday.Forrelievingtightmuscles,tryamassagewithahoneyandmilkmoisturizingcreamand/orahottubsoak.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Honeyisanenergizingliquidthatcangiveyoua

lift so you’ll be more apt to be happy to exercise (which releases feel-goodhormonalendorphinsthat’lllessenpain).Honeyalsocontainsanti-inflammatoryproperties,andbothhoneyandtea,especiallycalmingchamomile,canhelpyouto fight stress and relax—amust-do. And the massage and hydrotherapy canhelprelaxyouandyourmuscles,whichcanreducepain.

22 GALLSTONES (Prevent these little guys): Aches and pains in themuscles can come and go, just like gallstones. The adage “An ounce ofprevention is worth a pound of cure” applies to this health ailment, which ismore common in older people. Obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes are allcausesofgallstones,whichcanbeapain—butthegoodnewsisthatyoucanbeproactiveandkeepgallstonesawaywithahealthfuldietandlifestyle.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Incorporatehoneyinyourdietinavarietyofwaysandforms,includingtakingateaspoonofthegoldenliquideachday,puttingitin a cup of tea or low-fat milk, and drizzling it on nutrient-rich fruits andvegetables.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Ifyoukeepyourweightincheck,youuptheoddsofbeatinghighcholesterolanddiabetes.Honeyusedinmoderationcanhelpyoustayclearofsweetjunkfoodbecauseitbeatssweetcravings.Italsogivesyouenergy to stay physical, so you’ll bemore apt to rev up yourmetabolism andkeepgallstoneswheretheybelong—outofyourlife.

23 HANGOVER (Sip away the blahs): Enjoying a healthful diet andlifestylecanhelpyouavoidthedreadedhangoverduetooverindulgenceofthespirits. A killer headache and the hypersensitivity to noise can be enough tocause you to seek a hangover helper thatworks, even if you have to find thenearestbeehiveandpleadwiththebeestoletyouhaveabitoftheirbrew.

WhatHoneyRx toUse: Try a spoonful or two of honey in a cup of hotchamomile or ginger tea. If you can stomach it, a piece of whole-grain toastspreadwithhoneymaybehelpful,too.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Simply put, honey is chock-full of fructose andenzymes—agodsendtofolkswhooverindulgeinspiritsofanykindonenightorweekend because it can rev up the metabolism of alcohol, according to theHoney:TheGourmetMedicineauthorJoeTraynor.

24 HEADACHE (Bye-bye, pain): Hangovers and headaches—both arenot to be takenwith a grain of salt, because it can hurt oh, so bad.There aredifferent types of headaches, tension, cluster, migraine, and sinus related.Personally,Iampronetosinusheadaches,andthesecanbeworsethangettingarootcanal.

What Honey Rx to Use: One cup of tea with 1 teaspoon of honey (thedarkerthevarietalthebetter)istheremedy.Repeatasneeded.Also,drinkplenty

ofwaterandrelax.WhyYou’llBeeHappy:IwentstraighttotheNewYorkHeadacheCenter

inNewYorktoaskAlexanderMauskop,M.D.,ifhoneycanhelpreducetensionheadaches.“Thewayhoneymightworkfortensionheadaches,”hesays,“isbytreating hypoglycemia, which can cause tension and migraines, although it ismore advisable to avoid getting hungry and eat small frequent meals.” Butcaution is advised, because the good doctor warned that honey can causereactivehypoglycemiaandworsentheheadache.

But can a teaspoon of dark antioxidant-rich honey or a cup of herbal teawithateaspoonortwoofhoneyhelpalleviatetheache?Thedoctor’sresponsegave me hope for those pesky headaches that sneak up on me like a timetraveler:“Yes,someantioxidantscanhelppreventheadaches,ascanmagnesiumandvitaminB.”So,Iquicklyturnedtoabrewedcupofhoneyandtea(2cups)and2teaspoonsof lightbuckwheathoney,andyes,mysinusheadachefor thedaydidsubside.

25HEARTBURN(GetridoftheburnSTAT):Apoundingheadacheisapain,butheartburn is likeamonster relative that invadesyourbody.Commonculprits include tomato sauce, salsa, and alcoholic beverages. Time healsoccasionalheartburn,butwhywaitforthepaintogowhenyoucanuseanall-naturalcurethatcanprovidereliefperhapssoonerratherthanlater?

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Take1teaspoonofhoneystraightortryitwith1cupofhotpepperminttea.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Moveover,ROLAIDS!Honeyhaspropertiesthatnaturally ease heartburn symptoms. Thanks to its effect on the bacteriaassociatedwithgastriculcers,it’sthe“remedyforheartburn,gastricacidrefluxorindigestion,”saysTheHoneyRevolutionauthorRonFessenden,M.D.What’smore, “honey consumed is rapidly dilutedwith saliva and gastric juices, so itdestroys bacteria.” Honey is also a probiotic, promoting the growth of thehealthybacteriainthegut.

26 HERPES (Soothe the sting): Heartburn comes and goes, as doesherpes,avirusthatplaguesmillions.It isapainfulconditionduringoutbreaks,but there are treatments that can speedup theprocessof flare-up,whether thesoresareonthemouthorinthegenitalregion.

WhatHoney Rx toUse: Apply a dab ofmedicinal honey to the affectedarea.Repeateverydayuntilthesoreorsoreshavehealed.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Mainstream doctors will prescribe acyclovirointment. But research shows that Mother Nature may have a more gentlesolution.Infact,somemedicaldoctorsandhoneyproponentsbelievehoneywithitsanti-inflammatoryandhealingpropertiesworksbetter thandrugsforherpes

—andit’snatural,availablewithoutadoctor’sokay,andcheapincomparison.27HOARSENESS (Get ridof the frog):Sores in theprivatepartsor a

raspyvoicethateveryonecanhear—whatisworse?Welcometothesoundofavoice that has roughnotes.Themost commoncauses are acute laryngitis to acold,flu,orirritationlinkedtousingyourvoicetoomuch.Otherlesscommonandlessseriouslinkscanbetoallergiesorsinusitis.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Tryacupofhottea(Irecommendchamomile)with1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice. Repeat as needed.Combine this natural honey curewith drinkingwater. Turn on the humidifier(squeaky clean to prevent bacteria) if you live in a regionwith lowhumidity,likeIdo,andtrytotalklessratherthanmore.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: While show hosts have told me my voice is“soothing,” I give due credit to this honey cure, which coats the throat.Chamomile relaxesme and I’ve noticed that if you’re in a comfort zone yourvoicewillsoundlessraspy,too.Honey-lemonlozengeshavehelpedmegiveasmootherperformanceandalsosoothetheitchypainofoverworkedpipes.

28HOTFLASHES(Runforthecoolhive):Ascratchyvoice isn’t fun,buthot flashes (yes, I experiencedmyshare) aren’t a tropicalvacation, either,butcanfeellikeonewithoutmakingtravelplans.OnetimeataBarnes&NoblebooksigninginReno,Nevada,outofnowhereahotflashpaidmeavisit.Myfaceturnedbrightred.Itwasunsettling.I’velearnedtriggerscanincludestress,heat,andhotbeverages.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Take1teaspoonofhoneyandpairitwithicedtea,preferablychamomileorgreen.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Acolddrinkwillrefreshyouandkeephotflashesat bay. Green tea is touted by Japanese women, who do not experience hotflasheslikeweAmericanwomendo.Andhoneyhasacalmingeffect thatwillhelpgetridofthatinvasivewarmrush,soonerratherthanlater.

29 IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOST (Get a daily immunity boost): Hotflashescomeandgo,asdoesafeverthatmaysignalyouthatyourimmunityisdownandacoldorfluiscomingon.Didyouknowthatyourbodyisreadytogotowar?Infact,it’sonalertfromthetimeyou’rebornuntilthedayyoudie.Theenemies are viral and bacterial invaders that attack your health.Although youmaynotbeawareofapotentialbattlegoingon,therearethingsyoucandotostayhealthyandkeepthepeace.

Theanswerliesintheimmunesystem.Theimmunesystem—thatis,yourbody’sdefense system,madeupof billionsofwhite blood cells or “warriors”that are ready to destroy potential enemies—can protect you against illness,includingacold,flu,bronchitis,andpneumonia,ifit’sfedtherightsuperfoods.

WhatHoney Rx ToUse: Put a teaspoon ofmedicinal honey in a cup ofimmunity-boostingteaforadoubleeffect.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Enterhoneywith itsantibacterialeffects.“HoneycanstimulateB-lymphocytesandT-lymphocytes tomultiply, thusboosting theimmunesystem,”saysHoney:TheGourmetMedicineauthorJoeTraynor.

30 INFERTILITY (Up your pregnancy odds): As a part-time phonepsychicadvisorwhousesherintuitivegift,Ioftenfieldcallsfromwomenwhowanttoknowwhenoriftheywillbewithchild.SometimesIpickuptheenergythattheremaybeaneedtonudgenatureandrecommendseeingtheirdoctortogetthehelptheymayneed.However,therearefolkremediesthatalsoshouldbeconsideredifyouorsomeoneyouknowneedsabitofafertilityboost.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Eatroyaljelly.Followtheinstructionsonthelabelforhowmuchandhowoftenyoushouldindulgeinthe“foodofroyalty.”Itcanbetakenstraightorinasmoothie.It’savailableathealth-foodstores.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Royaljellyisthestuffthataqueenbeeindulgesin,andherfertilityrecordisoffthecharts.Thispriceybeeproductischock-fullofgood-for-you essential minerals, B-complex vitamins, proteins, amino acids,collagen, essential fatty acids, and more nutrients. Sarah Ferguson (“Fergie”)wasnotedtoeatroyaljellywhileshewastryingtobecomepregnant.10

31 INSECT BITES (Take the itch away): Getting pregnant can be asurprise,ascangettingbitbyaninsect.Theskincanbecomeredandinflamed.Worse,ifyou’rebityou’llwantthepaintogoawaySTAT.Honeymaycometotherescue.Justaskme.Iwasbittenbyaspideronewinter.Mycheekbonewaspainful and red. If I had known that there was a natural remedy to keep theswellingatbayIwouldhaveuseditinbetweenicingthearea.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Putalightdressingofmanukahoneyonthebite(s)afewtimesperday.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Medicinal honey, such as manuka, “has anti-inflammatory properties independent of its properties that combat bacterialinfection. Inflammation has been reduced by honey when there were noinfectionsinvolved,”saysformerbeekeeperTraynor.So, ifyouusehoneyandexperience the inflammationdiminishing fromapainful insectbite,youwon’tbecomplaining.

32 INSOMNIA (Find sweet dreams): Getting bit hurts, but not gettingadequateshut-eyecanhave long-termhurtfuleffects, too.Everhit thehayanddiscoverthatwhenyoureyesshuttheyopenupagain?Youtossandturnoreventurn on the tube.The clock is a barometer of your lack of shut-eye.Countingsheep,thinkingofpleasantthoughts—nothingseemstohelpyoufallasleepandenterSlumberland.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Totryit,justtake1or2teaspoonsofyourfavoritehoney,especiallybeforegoingtobed.Wantadoubledutypotion?Trysippingacupofhot2percent low-fatmilkwithadashofcinnamon.The tryptophan inmilkwillhelptocalmyou.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:So,canhoneyhelpyoutodozeoff?Yes,itcan.It’smagic trick, according toTheHoneyRevolution authorRonFessenden,M.D.,providingneededglycogentotheliversothebraindoesn’tgoinsearchofextrafuelintheearly

A.M.hourswhenyoushouldbeinDreamland.“Consuminghoneybeforebedtimealsoreducesthereleaseofadrenaline,acatecholaminethatraisesbloodpressureandheartrate,”addsthehoneyguru.

33INTERSTITIALCYSTITIS(Relievethesymptoms):Ifanythingcankeep you from sleeping at night, it’s a bout of cystitis (inflammation of thebladder, which causes the urge to urinate)—a problem for both women andmen.Flare-upscanhappenandcanbeannoyingandenough tomakeyourun,notwalk, toaurologist.Thereare triggerfoods,oftenhigh inacidity, thatcantriggeraboutofinterstitialcystitis(IC),whichisachronicinflammationofthebladder. The good news is, honey is not a troublemaker, despite its aciditylevels.

What Honey Rx to Use: Opt for a cup of chamomile tea (black tea canirritate the bladder) with a teaspoon of honey. If you have any problems,consider honey uses, including candles and cosmetics, that can be calming toyoumentallyandspirituallyduringaflare-up.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Jill H. Osborne, founder of the InternationalCystitis Network (ICN), says, “We’ve never had a complaint about honeytriggeringan IC flare.”But shecautions ICsurvivors to stayclearof artificialsugars(whichmaytriggerbladderdiscomfort),sosweethoney(orregularsugar)isthepreferredsweetenerofchoice.

34LACKLUSTERLIBIDO(Findingyourgroove,again):Speakingofwoesbelowthebelt,atanyageyoursexdrivemaywaxandwaneduetostress,hormones,work,kids,poorcommunication,ormaybeyou’re justnot that intohimorher.Canhoneygiveyouanudgetoupyoursexdrive?Yesandno.AsIhavesaidbefore,Idonotbelieveonesuperfood—evenhoney—canchangeyourlife,especially ifyour lifestyle iswreakinghavoconyourbodyandmind. It’sgottobeacombopackage.So, ifyouincorporatehoneyintoyourdietregimeandeathealthyfoods,exercise,aredestressed,aren’toverworked,sendthekidstoHappyland, communicatewith you-know-who, and copewith out-of-whackhormones,yes,honeymayhelpyoufeelfrisky.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Incorporateasmallamountofroyaljellyintoyour

diet (in such foods as smoothies and cereal). The recommended use: 1 or 2grams per day, notes Annie’s Apitherapy. Follow instructions on the productlabelandconsultwithyourhealthpractitionerbeforeyoutrythisproductfromthehive,becausebeeproductsmaycauseanallergicreactioninsomepeople.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Royaljelly,fitforaqueenbee,maybehelpfulinthestressdepartment,staveoffsymptomsofPMS(thinkcravings,crankies,andcramps), and lessen female and male menopause woes, such as fatigue andimpotence,accordingtoAnnie’sApitherapyinOntario,Canada.

If your libidomakes a comebackyou’ll feel like a fertile queenor dronehoney bee. Lovemaking does have plenty of virtues, boosting self-esteem,calmingyou,burningcalories,promotingintimacy,improvingsleep,andaddingyearstoyourlifespan,anditispleasurabletofeelconnectedtoanotherhuman.That’sright;makingloveislikefindingyourgrooveagain.

HoneyLoveShe’sassweetastupelohoney...—VanMorrison,“TupeloHoney”

Speaking of aphrodisiacs, honey and lovemaking have gone together likethe birds and the bees since biblical times. Although less attention is paid tohoneytodayasalibidoenhancer,itwashighonthelistofaphrodisiacfoodsfortheancients,especiallyinGreeceandRome.

Did you know... honey, a timeless aphrodisiac, is included in the list of“foodsforlove”?Itsnameisusedasanendearment,from“HoneyPie”to“MyHoney.” The word “honeymoon” was coined in ancient Europe becausenewlyweds derived their amatory stamina from drinkingmead—awinemadefrom honey—during the first month of married life. Because honey is easilydigestedandhasbeenabsorbedasa superenergysource forathletes since theancientOlympics,thinkofthepossibilitiesitholdsforenhancingthesexdrivewhenyouaretiredandtemptedtomumblethosethreelittlewords:“Nottonight,honey.”

Andhoney’ssexvirtues,forbothbeesandhumans,havebeentimeless.InTurkey,menbelievehoneycanrevupthesexdriveandTurkishwomenclaimitrecharges their sex appeal. The use of honey is also touted in classic books,including theKamaSutra, an Indianworkon sex, andThePerfumedGarden.What’smore,thehoneybeehasanoddsexlife.Whileworkersarenotsexual,avirginqueenbeemateswithfromsixtomorethanadozendronesinflight—aonetime ordeal; the drones are used for fertility and go to bee heaven shortlyafter.Othersarepushedoutofthehivecomewinter.

Duringmy roadadventures (likeavirginqueen), I sippedand sharedhotteaandhoneywithmorethanoneman—butsimilartodrones,Iwastoorestlesstosettledowninoneplace.Teaandhoneywerepartoftheromanticinterludes.Thetea(chamomileandgreen)hadacalmingeffectforme,andthemildhoneyflavorwithitsinstantfuelenergizedusboth.Asaresult,intimatechatendedupinlingeringpillowtalkwitheverlastingmemoriesthatIcherish.

HoneyBeeSexSecretsEnergizingbeefood, likehoney,providesaquickenergeticboostthatcan

give bothmen andwomen the oomph to say, “Yes, tonight, honey,” becausethey’ll have a pick-me-up that works to make them feel in the mood forpleasuring,whichtakesphysicalstamina.

Eroticediblescanignite thelibidobecauseof thesensorysensations.Thesightofgoldensweetandstickyhoneymatchedwitheroticfoods,suchasfigs,darkchocolate,andjuicystrawberries,canleadtospontaneousanduninhibitedlovemaking.

Flower power can link honey and sex, because of honey’s connection toaphrodisiac-typeflowers—jasmineandorchids—withfragrantscentsandshapesthat lead to both romantic images and innuendo of a woman’s genitals andvirginity.

Raw Honey is believed to be a sexual aphrodisiac, since it containssubstancessuchaszincandvitaminsBandE—thesexynutrientsthatrevitalizesexdrive.

Sugar,likehoney,isnature’shelperthatcanhelpyoutoeatfewerhigh-fatfoods and more low-fat, naturally sweet nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, andwholegrainsthatenhancehearthealthandbloodflowtoprivatepartsforbothmenandwomen.

Honeyhasbeenasweetingredientwithasexualmeaning—combinedwithother love foods—in lovers’ recipes. These sexy foods can rekindle carnaldesire. Sweet honey and romance go together like juicy strawberries anddecadentdarkchocolate,asyou’llseeinthisrecipefitforavirginbee,drone,orhumanreadyforlove.

StrawberryChocolateTart

1 cupssliveredalmonds

¼cupbutterormargarine,cutintopieces

3tablespoonssugar

1eggyolk

½cuphoney

½cupunsweetenedcocoapowder

1teaspoongratedorangepeel

2teaspoonswarmwater

1pintstrawberries,hulledandsliced

Placetoastedalmondsinfoodprocessorwithmetalbladeinplace;processuntil finely ground. Add margarine, sugar and egg yolk; process until doughforms a ball. Chill 1 hour. Spray 9-inch tart pan (with removable bottom)generouslywithnonstickcookingspray.Pressdoughintobottomandupsidesoftartpan.Doughwillbesticky.Bakeat350°Fdegreesfor12to15minutes,untilshell is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool. In small bowl, whisktogether honey, cocoa powder, orange peel and 2 teaspoons warm water. Toassemble tart, spread chocolate filling into cooled tart shell. Arrange slicedstrawberries in overlapping rings to cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.Makes8servings.


35 MORNING SICKNESS (Pamper your stomach): Remember thesaying:“Firstcomeslove,andthencomesmarriageandthenababycarriage.”During pregnancy more than half of women will cope with the trials andtribulations of an upset tummy, usually during the first trimester. Whileanticipatinganewbirthisapositivething,reachingforcrackersandhopingthequeasieswillflyawaylikeahoneybeeisnotawalkinthepark,althoughthatmaybewhereamom-to-bewishesshecouldfleeduringaboutofnausea.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Makeaconcoctionbyputting1teaspoonofgingerrootinto1cupofboilingwaterandsimmeringitfor10minutes.Strainandaddlemon and honey to taste.Or steep a bag in 1 cup of boilingwater for a fewminutes.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Bothgingerandhoneyaretoutedtobeasoothingnaturalmedicineforthestomachandintestines,relievingnausea.Ihaven’tgivenbirthtoachild,butIhaveexperiencedanupsetstomach,especiallyifmyfurrychildren were having tummywoes—I get upset and get sympathy pains. Theginger honey tea remedy calms me and can help calm a jumpy stomach—helpingmetobeabettermom.

36 MUSCLE CRAMPS (Shake that sharp pain): Feeling queasy canwreakhavoconyou,butacrampthathitsfornoreason,whetheritbeinafoot,aleg,orevenyourstomach,canbeenoughtomakeyouholler,“Enough!”andprayforacurethatworkstoworkoutthatcramp.

What Honey Rx to Use: Drs. Patricia and Paul Bragg advise taking 2teaspoonsapplecidervinegarand1teaspoonhoneyinaglassofdistilledwaterthreetimesperday.11

Why You’ll Bee Happy: This folk remedy may work by allowing theprecipitatedacidcrystalsinyourcirculatorysystemtoenterintoasolutionandpassoutofthebody.Andifthatdoesn’tdothetrick,honeyisaknownmusclerelaxant,soyou’vegottwohealingfoodsworkingtogethertoworkthatcrampoutofyourlife.12

37 PMS (Swat hormonal woes): Yes, menopausal years come with amixedbagofmonsters,butpremenstrualsyndromeisn’tabagofgoodies,either.Ugh.IrecallthescourgeofPMSwoes.Symptomsvary,butcommoncomplaintsincludecrampsandchocolatecravings.Yearsago,youweren’tsupposedtodothesugardance,evenifyoucravedtotossthecatandmateoutthedoor,eatacartonofdoublechocolate-chipicecream,andgotobeduntilthenextcentury.When your out-of-whack hormones such as progesterone and estrogen wreakhavoconyourwell-beingduringPMSing,addingmagnesium(anutrientthatcancalmthenervoussystem)-richdarkhoneycanhelpsoothethosefrazzlednerves.Thatmeanslesscrankies.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Tryaspoonfulofhoneyandacupofchamomiletea.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Bothsweethoneyandteawillhelpyouchill.Also,honey will help to give you an energy boost that can give you the desire toexercise or make love, and either activity can induce endorphins, which canreducepainfulcrampsandrelaxyournerves.

38PREGNANCY(Controlyourbloodpressure):SpeakingofPMSandhormones . . . somewomen have a hard timewith unwanted health problemsduring their pregnantmonths, a challenging period. I have hadmore than onefriend who battled with high blood pressure, stress, and weight gain during

pregnancy.WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Afixofrawhoneytwoorthreetimesdaily.Usein

acupofherbalteaand/orsolo.WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Honeyhasacalmingeffectonthenervoussystem,

whichinturncanlowerbloodpressureandcalmdailystressors.Personally,onedayImeasuredmybloodpressureanditwashigherthanwhatitusuallyis.Iateateaspoonofcreamedhoneyandwaited10minutes.Itookmybloodpressureagainanditwasbelowmynormalreading.AndIdidn’thaveanydesiretoturntoanxietyeatingorcomfortfood,whichcanpackonunwantedpounds.

39SCARS(Minimizetheeffects):Scarsoftencomewiththeaftermathofa pregnancy or a cut, puncture, or wound. Several years ago, my dog SimonjumpeduponthebedIwasonandinhispuppyexcitementscratchedmyfaceunderneaththenose.Itwasasemi-deeplacerationbutdidn’trequirestitches.Iaskedthenurseifitwouldscarandshedidn’tanswerme.AsI,andperhapsyou,too, know, preventing scarred tissue is a challenge. Some honey proponentsbelievehoneymayminimizescarringifusedonawound.

What Honey Rx to Use: Apply a small amount of honey, preferablymanuka,toawoundwithcottonbeforeapplyingabandage(orpurchasemanukabandagesforconvenience).

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Itisaknownfactthatwhenhoneyisexposedtoairitactslikeamoisturemagnet.Thisaction,inturn,maybehelpfulinlesseningscarringbykeepingtheskinmoistduringtheprocessof theformationofnew,improvedtissue.Therearepriceycommercialantiscarringsalvesavailable,butwithhoney’sreputationforhealingskin,it’sworthagoforbothtwo-leggersandfour-leggers.

40 SEASONALAFFECTIVEDISORDER (Uplift your spirits): Scarsareaburden,butsoareseasonalhang-ups.Ifit’sJanuaryorFebruaryandyoufind yourself with unwanted winter body fat, irritable, and fed up with theshorter days, colder nights, and lack of sunshine and warmth, you may besuffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), coined by Dr. NormanRosenthal,whoenduredthetelltalesymptoms.Sufferersknowtoowellthatlowmoods,weightgain,andanxiety,especiallyinthewintermonths,arepartofthepackage.Butdon’tdespair,becausehoneycanbehelpful.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Tryacupofhotteawithmilkandhoney.Repeatasneeded. Or opt for a teaspoon of creamed or liquid honey and exerciseimmediatelyafter.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: People with SAD often have low levels ofserotonin(acompoundfoundinhoneyandmilk),abrainchemicalbelievedtobe involved inmodulatingmoodandappetite.Byeating tryptophan-rich foods

suchasmilksweetenedwithhoneyyoucanboostlevelsofserotonin.41SINUSITIS(Doawaywithsinusmisery): In thewinterSADcanbe

dreadful,butinfall,winter,spring,andsummerpeoplewithsinuswoescanbemiserable, too.We’re talking headache, sneezing, congestion, andmore. Coldweathercompoundedwithlackofhumidityandcentralhouseheating(orindoorair-conditioninginhotweather)canexacerbateyoursymptoms.

WhatHoney Rx toUse: Opt for a teaspoon of honey, three times a day,during the time you feel a bout of sinusitis on its way. Or take one chew ofhoneycombeveryhourforfourtosixhours.Cheweachamountfor15minutesanddiscardwhatremainsinyourmouth.13

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:“Wheninflammationofoneormoreofthesinusesappears,itdevelopsonanalkaline-urine-reactionbackground.Whenhoneycombis chewed the urine reaction is shifted from alkaline to acid, showing howquickly honeycomb brings about a change in body chemistry,” explains folkmedicinedoctorD.C.Jarvis.14

42SKINDRYNESS(Takecareofyourskin):NotonlydoIfacesinusproblems,butmoisturizing skinwith anSPF (sunprotection factor) is amust,especiallyinhighaltitude.Thewintertimeisharsh,thankstotheheaterbeingon24/7, and since I swim year-round, chlorine doesn’t help. It can be drying toyourhandsandfeet.Nottoforgetthechancesofgettingathlete’sfootfromthecementaround thepools.And thesun,whereveryouare,canbehardonyourskin,too.What’smore,whenIbringwoodintothehousetomakeafireI’vecutmyhandsmorethanonce,nottoforgetfallingonsnow-coveredground—morecutsandscrapes.

WhatHoneyRx toUse:Washhandswithmanukahoney soap and latherwell. Using a lot of friction helps to get rid of dead skin and germs. Rinsethoroughlyanddry.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Manuka honey helps the skin absorb and retainmoisture.Manukahoneyalsocontainsvitamins, aminoacids, andantioxidantsthat are good for the skin. Manuka soap can be helpful for different uses,including moisturizing dry skin, cleaning infected wounds, cleaning acne andeczema,removingfacialmakeup,treatingathlete’sfoot,reducingtheappearanceofwrinkles,andkillingbacteriaonthesurfaceoftheskinthatcauseinfections.(I’veusedavarietyofhoneysoaps—andhaveenjoyedthemall.MyfavoriteisHoneymark Manuka Honey Soap. It’s handmade (UMF 16+) and from NewZealand.)

43 SLUGGISH SPORTS PERFORMANCE (Farewell to lack ofenergy):Ifyou’vegotasinusinfection,youwon’tfeellikerunningamarathon

or doingmuch of anything that requires physical exertion. As a kid, I was acompetitiveswimmer.WhileIwasbusycopingwithbutterfliesinmystomachbeforeperforminginfrontofacrowd,itwasasweetfixthatmydadgavetome.Acandybarwasthefuelofchoicebeforeswimmingthebackstrokeinthat25-yardswimmingpool.Thesedays,afterIswimthebreaststrokeIturntoasmallpieceofchocolatetocurbmybigappetite,andthiswayIstaveofftheurgetoovereatandgainingunwantedweight.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Achocolatecandybar,orhoney,willdothetrickbeforeyouperformaphysicalraceortask.Abonustip:Drinkacupofbrewedcoffeebeforeyourphysicalperformance.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Athletesarealltoofamiliarwiththeenergeticbuzzlinkedtothepropertiesofqualitysweets.Notonlydoesitenhanceenergy,butitalsocurbsdistractinghungerpangsbefore theyparticipate inaphysicalevent.Andyes,brewedcoffeecontains caffeine (approximately85milligramsper8-ouncemug),muchmore than chocolate (1ounceof semisweet dark chocolatecontainsabout20milligramsofcaffeine).Icanvouchthatcoffeeandhoneycanboostenduranceandperformance.Remember,moderation.

HoneyIsanAthlete’sTeamPlayerStayingonthetopofyourgameinexercisetakesmorethanaspoonfulof

energizinghoney,providingacarbohydratecontentof17grams.Buthoney,thenaturalenergizer,canworkforyourworkingmuscles,sincecarbsarethemainfuelthebodyusesforenergy.InNutrition101studentsaretaughtthatcarbsareessentialinthediettohelpmaintainmuscleglycogen—storedcarbs—whicharethemostimportantfuelsourceforathletestohelpthemkeepgoing.

HoneyPowerHoney is an ideal athletic aid for athletes and everyday people who get

physicalandwanttostayfit.

Preexercise: Sports nutritionists, past and present, have advised and doadvise eating carbsbefore an athletic activity for an energyboost.Purehoneystepsuptotheplatewheneatenbeforeaworkoutorotheractivity.How?Howdoes it do it? Simply put, honey is released into the system at a steady ratethroughoutphysicalactivity.

During exercise:Turning tohoneyduring aworkout helpsyourmusclesstaynourishedlongerandputsofffatigue.

Postexercise:Researchers have shown that a comboof carbs andprotein

after physical activity (within 30 minutes) can refuel and delay the onset ofmusclesoreness.What’smore,carb-proteincomboscanhelpkeepyourblood-sugarlevelssteadyafterexercise.

Powerupwithhoney:Stayinghydratedisimportantforanyonewhogetsphysical.Addhoneytoabottleofwaterforanenergyre-jump-startduringyournext workout; try mixing peanut butter and honey, or honey and light creamcheese, as a dip for fresh fruits or vegetables. Peanut butter and honeysandwichesonwhole-wheat breadwill giveyou a high-energybite andyou’llget carbs,protein, and fat.Honey is aconvenient,on-the-go sourceofenergy;takeitwithyouforathleticeventstohelppowerupandrechargeyourenergy.

(Source:NationalHoneyBoard.)44TENSION(Escapetensetimes):Ifyou’vegotanenergeticbuzz,you

maywanttofleetensetimesduetopressureonthejob,at-homeconflictswithfamily, friends or neighbors, or events that cannot be controlled. The key tochilling is learninghowtogowith theflow—andfindingnaturalways tohelpyoudeal.

WhatHoneyRx toUse:Try1 teaspoonofhoney in aglassof fresh fruitjuice, such as orange, grapefruit, prune, or cranberry, all rich in heart-healthypotassium,yourbloodpressure’sbestfriend.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy: Ifyouincludefreshjuicesteamedwithhoneysinyourday-to-daydietregime,you’llbegettingantistressBandCvitamins,andthese good-for-you nutrients can help you to stay cool and calm during theroller-coastertimesthatweallfaceonetimeoranother.It’sthecombinationofnature’sremedies, likethese, thatcanworkonthosenerveswhentensionrisesandyouneedalittlehelpfromthehoneybee’sgifts.

45THROATSOOTHER(Takethestingaway):Tensionisadrag,butasorethroatcandragyoudown,too,whereyoudon’tfeellikewalkingortalking.Honey has been used as a home cure for centuries to help soothe one of thesymptoms associated with a common cold—namely, a killer sore throat.AccordingtotheAmericanAssociationofFamilyPhysicians,manythingscancauseasorethroat,includinginfectionswithviruses,suchascoldsandflu;sinusdrainage;andallergies.

WhatHoneyRx toUse: For relief of symptoms, take a spoonful of yourbuckwheat honey, as often as youneed, to relieve irritation. Inbetween, sip acupofteawithhoney.Also,trypurehoneycombandhoneysticks.Don’tforgetall-naturalhoney-lemonlozenges,whichalsocoatthethroatforquickrelief.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Letmecounttheways.One,honeywillcoatyoursore throat, the symptom of a cause. Two, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatorypropertieswillhelphealtheculpritcausingyourpain.

46TICSANDTWITCHES (Dodgemuscle quirks): Sore throat and atwitchingmusclecanbothbeirritating.Irecallonedaymylefteyelidtwitchedoff and on for about two hours. There was no reason—and not only was itannoying,butIwascluelesstowhyithappenedalso.

WhatHoneyRx toUse:Take1 teaspoonofhoneyandchill,whetheryouaremeditatingorexercising.

Why You’ll Bee Happy:My choice of cures to chase away that odd eyetwitchwastakingateaspoonofhoney(Ichoseanapricotcrème)andhittingtheswimming pool. After about 30minutes of lap swimming the eye twitchwashistory.“Honeycontainsacetylcholine,whichactsasachemical transmitterofnerve impulses,” explains Traynor. So, I believe the combination of takinghoneyanddestressingis thecureforminorticsandtwitcheswithanunknowncause.

47WAISTWHITTLER(Blastbellyfat):Twitchestotummybulge...ifyouhaveabulgingtummy,you’dprobablyconsideratwitcheasiertogetridof.Butwait;therearethingsyoucandotogetaflattertummy.Withtherightdietand exercise, anyone can tame the bulge and have a young-looking, flatterstomach.Andversatilehoneycanhelpshrinkyourtummy.

WhatHoneyRxtoUse:Bothmorningandnight,drinkan8-ounceglassormug of tea (dandelion or parsley boasts diuretic effects), with a teaspoon ofhoneyandateaspoonofapplecidervinegar.Teamthispotionwithgrazingandwatchingyourfatandsugarintake.

WhyYou’llBeeHappy:Honeyandapplecidervinegar contain thebloat-bustingmineralpotassium,asdoesproduce.Buteatingsmaller,more frequentmealsisalsokeytogettingatrimmerwaistandkeepingyourmetabolismrevvedup.Plus,cuttingdownonhigh-fatrefinedcarbs,suchascandybarsandcookies,willhelpyoutominimizebellyfat, too.Turning tohoneywillhelpyoutoeatfewersugarytreatsandenjoyaflatterstomach.

48WOUNDS (HealWounds):Onceyou’vegota flat stomach,whatdoyoudoifyoustubyourtoeorcutyourfinger?Honeyisbelievedbyscientists,such as Dr. Peter Molan (refer to chapter 3), to be one of the nature’s mostpowerful wound dressings, which really works. As I’ve noted many timesalready,honeyhasantibacterialproperties.Butthat’snotall....

WhatHoneyRx toUse:Trymanukahoney,available inmanyforms. It’savailableonlineinlotions,creams,andbandages.Applyasdirected.

WhyYou’ll BeeHappy:Honey can numb pain. It is osmotic and attractswater. Since bacteria are mostly made of water, they are sucked dry in thepresenceof honey.Bacteria are further inhibitedbyhoneybecause thegoldenliquidproduceshydrogenperoxideandisacidic(likevinegar).Honeyactivates

theimmuneresponsebyprovidingglucoseforthewhitebloodcells.Itspeedsupthehealingprocess.Itcreatesamoistenvironmentbydrawingserumupthroughtheskintissuesthathelps“moistscab”formation.

What’smore,honeyalsoreducesinflammation,helpssheddeadtissue,andstimulatesthedevelopmentofnewbloodcells.Honey’santisepticqualitiesalsohelppreventinfectionsfrommovingtootherwounds.Onapersonalnote,Ididcutmytoeonthedeck.Iturnedtomanukahoneydespitemyyoungerbrother’smockingmychoiceof remedy.Twodays later, theonce-unsightlywoundwasnearlyhealed.

49 WRINKLE AND GRAVITY FIGHTER (Nourish aging skin):Woundscanhealwiththehelpofhoney,andhoneycanalsosmoothyourskin.Although antioxidant skin nutrients—found in honey—are essential tomaintainingantiagingskin,otherthingsplayarole,too.Duringyourforties,oilglandsarelessactive,whichmeansmoisturizingismoreimportant.Skinisnotas firm inyour fifties, due to thebreakdownof collagen,whichgives skin itselasticity.Thesolutionismoremoisture,whichgivesitelasticity.

WhatHoneyRx toUse:EatvitaminEfoodsources,which includewheatgerm,almonds,sunflowerseeds,andlegumes,withhoney.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Antioxidant skin nutrients are essential tomaintainingantiagingskin.Also,usinghoneymoisturizers(refertochapter13)can provide more moisture—a must-have for smoother skin. At every age,dermatologists stress using sunscreen daily with an SPF at all times whenoutdoors;wearingsunglassestoprotectyoureyesfromharmfulultravioletraysandtostaveoffsquintingthatworsenscrow’s-feet;gettingasmuchsleepasyoucan(honeycanhelphere);andexercisingregularly toboostcirculation,whichwillimproveskintextureandtone(energizinghoneywillgiveyouthaturgetogodoit).

50UNIVERSALEMERGENCYAID(Optforanall-purposeworker):A sore throat can hurt, but an untimely event, such as a blizzard, earthquake,hurricane, or wildfire, is much worse. Imagine grabbing a few of yourbelongings, including a first-aid kid, and getting the heck out of Dodge. Orstaying put. Either way, having honey on hand in time of disaster can be agodsendifyoumustendureacut,orstomachache,needanenergeticboost,orevensufferfromdryskin.

WhatHoneyRx toUse: Put a basic honey, such as clover or alfalfa,andmedicinal manuka honey into sealed plastic containers and store these honeyproductswithyouremergencysupplies.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: If you experience a major quake, hurricane,tornado, or flood or are stuck in a car during a snowstorm, having honey can

help, from keeping a cut from getting infected to soothing frazzled nerves.Duringanaturalorman-madedisaster,honeyjustmaybetheessentiallifesaverthatyou’llbegladyoupackedawayforemergencypreparedness.Eatinghoneycanhelpboost the immunesystem,which isvitalduringastressfulevent,andlower the risk of heart disease (yes, it calms, and that can prevent your bloodpressure from skyrocketing). Also, honey—in a variety of forms—can helprelieve insomnia (oftenaproblemaftera traumatichappening)aswellasgiveyou energywhen you’re feeling tired and challenged.DuringWW II soldiershadhoney,andbackintheancienttimesGreekandRomanwarriorsusedhoneyforcutsandwounds.Itistheultimatecure-allintimeofneedandshouldbepartofyourfirst-aidkidinthehome,office,andcar.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHIf the following chart doesn’t specify which variety of honey to use, go

ahead and use your own preference: all-natural, raw honey, dark varietals arerecommendedforbestresults.

AilmentorOtherPurposeFormofHoneyWhatItMayDoAcneHoneyfacial with other superfoods Clear your skin Allergies Alfalfa honey Relievesneezing and congestionAnemiaHoneyBoost red blood cellsAnxietyHoneyand tea Soothe frazzled nerves Bad breath Honey Freshen mouth BedsoresHoneyAid in healingBed-wettingHoneyRelax nervous systemBlahsHoneyBoost feel-good endorphins Bone loss Honey and yogurt Strengthen bonesBurnsManukahoneySoothesmartingandinflammationCavitiesHoneyAidinhealthier teethColds/flusCranberry,wildfloweroracaciaSpeedrecoveryColdsoresHoneyHelphealingConstipationHoneyAid in regularityCoughHoneySoothe tickle Depression Honey Uplift spirit Detoxifcation Chestnut honeyCleansebodytoxinsDiarrheaHoneyHelpregulationDigestiveproblemsHoneySoothe stomach upset Energy drain Honey Boost energy levels Eye healthHoney Protect vision Fibromyalgia Honey Lessen aches and pains GallstonesHoney Prevent gallstones Hangover Honey Speed recovery Headache AcaciahoneyRelievepainHeartburnHoneyAlleviate theburnHerpesHoneyAid inhealing Hoarseness Honey Soothe raspy voice Hot flashes Honey Maintainnormal temperature Immune system boost Honey Maintain strong immunityInfertility Honey Enhance fertility Insect bites Honey Heal inflammationInsomniaHoneyAid relaxation and sleep Interstitial cystitisHoneyRelax andsoothemusclesLackluster libidoHoneyRevupsexdrive,energize,calm,andenhance stamina Morning sickness Honey Help queasiness Muscle crampsHoney Relax nervous system PMS Honey Lessen cramps and crankies

Pregnancy Honey Lower high blood pressure ScarsManuka honey Heal scartissue Seasonal AffectiveDisorder Honey Boostmood and energy and lessensimple carb cravings Sinusitus Honeycomb Relieve stuffed-up nasal passagesSkin dryness Manuka Help dry skin Sluggish sports performance Honey barEnergize and increase stamina Tension Honey Calm nervous system Throatsoother Honey Soothe the throat Tics and twitches Honey Calm nervousimpulsesUniversalemergencyaidHoneyActascure-allWaistwhittlerHoneyHelp get rid of belly fat Wounds Manuka honey Heal Wrinkle and gravityfighterHoneyAidinsmoothingskin

In chapter 12, “Honeymania: Honey for the Household,” you’ll find outabout thesweetbuzzthathasstuckaroundforcenturies thanksto itsversatile,naturalusesinthehome.

PART7FUTUREHONEY

CHAPTER12Honeymania:HoneyfortheHouseholdWhenyoushootanarrowoftruth,dipitspointinhoney.—Arabproverb1

Likeafieldbeemakingabeelinetoitscolony,IreturnedhometoSanJose,aregionstillplentifulincornfields,lemonandappletrees,andflowergardens.Mylifeincludedthethreeofus:onemotocrossracer;mydog,StoneFox;andme.WefoundagardenapartmentintheSouthBay.

Atypicalnightbeforearace,I’dbeinthekitchenofourgardenapartment.Busyasaworkerbee,I’dcreatepeanutbutterhoneyballs.InabowlI’dmixuppeanutbutter,raisins,nuts,andhoneytoholditalltogetherlikehoneycomb.Onourdrivestodifferentraces,webothenjoyedthehoneyballsforenergyandafeel-goodboost.

The summer before our domesticated San Jose lifestyle, we campedoutdoors like wild bees in Sonora, gold miner’s country. Again, I was amidnaturewith theTuolumneRiver, trees,and flowers—ahoneybee’sparadise. Iremember making sun tea laced with honey. A local woman watched me

working,sunning,andswimmingintheriverwithmylab.Shecalledouttous,“Lifeisshortandyou’llrememberdayslikethis!”Today,herwordsringtrue.Icanenvisionthefreedomoftravelingfromplacetoplacelikeahoneybee.

Inthischapter,Iwillshowyouthatwhilehoneyisusedasafood,it’salsomaking a splash in theUnited States and around theworld for other reasons.There’s the amazingworld of honey and how it’s used in amazingways.Thenectarofthegodsis“in”andappreciatedbothindoorsandinthegreatoutdoors,whereveryourhoneybeespiritguidesyou.

THEHONEYCRAZETheNationalHoneyBoard’srecentsurveyshowsthataprohoneyattitude

is on the mark, sort of. More than 500 households, both men and womenbetween the ages of 21 and 74, were contacted to find out about their honeyattitude:

•65percentofhouseholdscurrentlyuseandhavehoneyintheirhome.•60percentofrespondentsreportedpurchasinghoneywithinthepastyear.•One-quarter of the total number of respondents did not know that pure

honey has no other ingredients. Those who believed there were ingredientsadded to honey expected to find syrups, sugars, and/or preservatives on theingredientlist.

•Morethantwo-fifthsofallhouseholdsindicatetheyarewillingtopayapremium of about 10 percent for whole-wheat bread, barbeque sauce, andbreakfastcerealmadewithhoney.

• For the total number of respondents, it was reported that honey wasprimarilyusedasasweetenerinbeveragesand/orasaspreadontoastandthuswasusedmostoftenatbreakfast.

(Source:NationalHoneyBoard,2009.)

WIDESPREADHONEYAPPEALWhilehoney is ahouseholdname in thekitchen forpeople in theUnited

States, it is praised for its edible uses around the globe, too. If traveling inanother country, you’ll find these honeys can be a fruitful experience (liketastingchocolate in foreigncountries),as importsaresweetbutnotas fresh tothepalate.

Honey Type Country(ies) of Origin Acacia Eastern Europe (Hungary,Romania, Bulgaria) Apple blossom UK Borage UK/New Zealand CherryblossomUKCloverCanadaNewZealandEucalyptusAustraliaHawthornUKLavenderFranceSpainLeatherwoodTasmaniaLimeblossomChina/UK/Poland

Orange blossom Spain/Mexico Rosemary France/Spain Strawberry cloverAustralia Wild thyme Greece/New Zealand/France/Spain SunflowerFrance/Spain

(Source:TheHoneyAssociation.)

BEESWAXINYOURHIVEWelcometotheworldofbeeswax,anothergiftofthehoneybee.BeforeI

enteredHoneyland,Iwascluelesstousingthishoneyproductinmyhome.I’vediscoveredthat it isacommonhouseholditemthat isusedfor lotsofessentialneeds.We’retalkingcandles,soaps,andfurniturepolishes.

Once you try beeswax candles, honey soap, and homemade beeswaxfurniture polish it’s going to be a task to goback towhatever itwas that youwere using before. If beeswax items make it into your home, they will be amuch-appreciatedstaple.

CANDLES—ABEE-AUTIFULGIFTI love thewarmthandambiancecandlescreate inmyhome.Theglowof

candlesmakeseachroominyourhomemoreinviting.Inthekitchen,ascentedcandle provides a nice effectwhenyou’re cooking andbaking.Whenyou areservingamealatanytimeoftheday,candlesinthediningroomorlivingroomcan make the occasion more special and comforting. Moving on into thebathroom,weallknowcandlescanprovidearelaxingspa-typeexperience.Andfromthelivingroomtothebedroom,fromdusktolatenight,flickeringcandlesaremoresoothingandromanticthanabrightlight.

In ancient Egypt, tombs revealed carvings of candles.During theMiddleAges in Europe, only the wealthy could afford beeswax candles. In 1857,paraffin wax, stearin, and a wick were combined to create candles everyonecould afford.Nowadays, beeswax is often used tomake candles and beeswaxcandlesare inmanywaysbetter than thepopularparaffincandles—lesscostlybutwithaprice topaywhenitcomestoyourhealthandwell-being.Afterall,thebeeswaxcandlesare100percentpure.What’smore,theyburnaclean,hot,andbrightflame,arelonglasting,createminimalsmoke,andarenontoxicandnonallergenic.Andthat’snotall....

Dutchman’sGold’sbeeexpertsexplainthatbeeswaxisanaturalwax—andimmediatelytheword“natural”hasgotmyattention.Astheytellit,beeswaxissecreted by the glands of honey bees as they do theirwork of producing andstoringhoneyinthehive.Notonlydoesbeeswaxhaveanaturalscent—likethefloralsourcefromwhichthebeesgathernectar—butwhenbeeswaxcandlesareburnedtheymakenegativeionsthatremovetoxinsandimpuritiesfromtheair.

Thinkphilodendronplantsandmakeroominyourhouseforthenaturalcandle,agifttoyoufromthehoneybeeandtheirpeoplewhomakecandles.

ACandlestickMaker’sBeeswaxStoryFerdinandKnorrcame to theUnitedStates in1904after fleeing fromhis

nativePolandandtheRussianCzar.Tinkeringinhismachineshopandenjoyinghishobbyofbeekeepingprovedtobeasuccessfulcombination.Fredproducedanimprovedhoneycombforhisbeesandhisfamouscandlessoonfollowed...candlesthatweredripless,smokeless,andhadagentlescent.

Thecandlesweredeveloped in1928and initiallysold togift shopsandalocalinn.

Thebusinesstookofflikeaforagerbeeandhasbeenoperatedbyhisfamilysincethemid20thcentury.

Henry, Judy, and new owner Steve havemadeKnorr Candle Factory anongoing success by using the finest materials and holding on to traditionalmanufacturing methods. Knorr’s high quality dripless 100 percent beeswaxcandleswithwicksareawelcomeadditiontohomesinallfiftystatesandaroundtheglobe.

Speaking of locale, 160,000 bees must travel 150,000 miles collectingnectartoproduce60poundsofhoneythatyieldonly1poundofbeeswax.

Ado-it-yourselfcandle-makingkitwithcandlerollinginstructionspaidmea visit, thanks to Knorr’s. I received all earth-tone colors from the BeeswaxCandleColorPalette.At first, the instructions appearedchallenging (I flunkedthe IQ test ingradeschooland thearmy test, too: ithad lotsofmathand toolrecognition).So,whenIfirstsawthediagramsmythoughtwas,I’moutofhere.But then, it made sense. Diagram A shows how to roll one 8-inch candle;DiagramBshowshowtorolltwo4¼–inchcandles,andDiagramCshowshowtorollonejumbo4¼–inchcandle.Butnote,it’seasyonceyougetthehangofitafterafewtries,andeasierthanmakingcandlesfromscratchoverahotstove.I’llsavethatprojectforasnowday.

THEABCSOFBURNINGBEESWAXCANDLESIstherereallyafinearttoburningbeeswaxcandles?Well, ifyouwantto

enjoy those beautiful tea lights, tapers,molds, and pillars, yes, there are sometipstohelpyougetitrightthefirsttime.

•To ensure even-burning and dripless features, keep all beeswax candles

awayfromdraftsandceilingfans.•Donotleaveburningcandlesunattended.• Keep out of reach of children and companion animals. Remove any

potentialflammablematerialfromthevicinityofcandles.•Pillarcandlesaremorehighmaintenance than tapers.Tokeeppillars in

tiptop shape, trim thewickwhenneeded to¼ inch.Alwaysput out the flameusingacandlesnuffer.Besuretheemberisout.

•Whenpillarcandlesarefullyextinguished,pouroffexcessliquidwaxintoanonflammablecontainer.Withaknifeorsharptool,trimoutsideedgesonthetopofthecandledowntotheheightofthetopwick.

(Source:Dutchman’sGold.)

SWEETHOLIDAYS,SWEETHONEYAs a kid raisedCatholic I can remember honey played a role during the

holidaysinsuburbiawhereIgrewup.EvenonFridays(nomeat)honeyplayedarole with our glazed fish dinners. In the winter, on special days such asValentine’s Day, my mother would always make a dinner including honey-basted game hens, wild rice, green peas, and homemade biscuits paired withcloverhoney.DuringEaster, ahoney-bakedhamwas a tradition inourhome.Andinthesummer,ontheFourthofJuly,friedchickenandcornbreadslatheredwithhoneydidn’tgetignoredatneighborhoodblockparties.

Inthefall,birthdaysinOctoberwerecelebratedwithteaandhoneybecausethis was themonth that usually one ofmy siblings or I caught a cold or flu.Thanksgivingwas amain event and a honey-glazed turkeywas servedonourdiningroomtable.OnceChristmasvacationrolledaroundandthroughtheNewYear’sholiday,cookies—all types—werebakedandoften infusedwithhoney.Honeywaspartofourhouseholdandmadeeachholidayspecial.ButI’mhardlyalone in celebrating the golden nectar, and its ways differ from religion toreligion.

HOLYHONEYTake a look at otherways honey is used in households, be it as food or

decorationsforhonoringdifferentreligions.

ReligionUsesBuddhismHoneyisusedinthefestivalofMadhuPurnima,observed in India and Bangladesh. Buddhists give honey to the monks inmemoryofthelegendofamonkeybringingBuddhahoneywhilehewasmakingpeaceamonghisdisciples in thewilderness.Christianity/CatholicismHoney isused in beeswax candles. Religious candles are used for decoration and

observanceofholyholidays,includingbaptisms,confirmations,Christmas,andEaster, as well as altar candles. Christianity/Catholicism Honey is used ingrasshopperpietorememberJohntheBaptist,who,asalegendtellsit,survivedin thewildonadietof locustandwildhoney.HinduismHoneyisoneoffiveelixirsofimmortality.IntempleshoneyispouredoverdeitiesinaritualdubbedMadhu abhisheka. Judaism Honey is a symbol for the New Year, RoshHashanah.Thetraditionisappleslicesdippedinhoney.

HoneyTo-DoList:Theweekbeforeyourhoneyholidayinvitefriendsandfamily;familiarizeyourselfwiththetraditionalceremony;buyspecialfoodsanditemsatonlinesites,whichofferawidevariety;writeoutrecipesandamenu;andpurchase small honey-related gift items.The day of your holiday create abee-autifultablesettingandmakethefood.

BEESWAXWORKERSMaking your own all-natural beeswax polish seems easy enough, but I

gravitated toward a ready-made product. The Original Bee’sWax OldWorldFormula Furniture Polish snagged my interest. This is dubbed as “America’sPremier Furniture Polish since 1974” and has natural beeswax. I captured themagicofbeeswaxbecauseof thispolish’sconvenientto-useaerosol form(visittheirwebsite:www.beeswaxpolish.com).

It lives up to the promise that it’s the one furniture polish that “won’tfingerprint; leaves no wax buildup; makes granite and marble acid resistant;needsnobuffing;andenhancesthetruenaturalbeautyofallwood.”It’sgoodtouse on antiques, kitchen cabinets, wrought iron, porcelain, mirrors, marble,leather, glass, stainless steel, and more. In my Old Tahoe–style cabin with aMediterraneancharm,itmademyantiquediningroomtablewithwroughtironshine. I fell in love with this beeswax furniture polish. But there are otherchoicesifyouwantaDIYfurniturepolishorotherhouseholdcleaners....

BeeswaxPolishBeeswaxfurniturepolishwithitssoft,satinshineisconsideredtheultimate

inwoodcare.Note that there isverylittledifferencebetweenthisformulaandtheformulaforshoepolish.

4ounces(weight)beeswax

2tablespoonscarnaubawax

2½cupsodorlessturpentineormineralspirits

Meltthewaxesonhighinamicrowaveorinadoubleboiler.Removethewaxesfromtheheatandstirintheturpentineormineralspirits.Applythepolishwithacleanclothand rub in smallcircles.Turn theclothas itbecomesdirty.Allow thepolish todry, thenbuffwithacleancloth. Ifmore thanonecoat isdesired,waittwodaysbetweenapplications.

CopperCleaner42partssoapflakes

42partsvinegar,5percentto7percentaceticacid

2.4partsbeeswax

9.2partsmineraloil

42partscitricacid,USPcrystals

Combine the soap and vinegar to make a paste. Melt the beeswax andmineral oil together in amicrowave or double boiler. Stir in the soapmixtureandthecitricacid.Letthecleanersetovernightbeforeusingit.Applythepolishwithaclean,dampcloth.Rinsethecopperandwipeitdrywithacleancloth.

SpiceSachets1½oz.weightbeeswax

1cupapplesauce

1½cupsgroundcinnamonoramixtureofcinnamon,nutmeg,allspice,

andcloves

Upto1teaspoonofessentialoilfromanyofthespicesmayalsobeadded.

Heatthewaxandapplesauceinamicrowaveordoubleboileruntilthewaxismelted.Stirinthegroundspices.Kneadthemixtureuntilitisdough-like.Rollthe dough into sheets and cut out forms or handform the dough into balls orbeads. Place the forms on cardboard. They will harden in 3 or 4 days. Thefragrancewilllastforyears.

(Source:CourtesyofSoulShineBeeswaxCandles;[email protected].)

HONEYSPILLSONYOURSTUFF?Honey isahouseholdmust-have,butwhathappenswhenyouor thekids

spillhoneyonthatsofa,loveseat,orchair?First,scrapehoneyoffsoonerratherthanlaterratherinsteadoflettingitdry.Next,useyourfavoritemildliquidsoapdilutedinacupofcoldwater.Repeatasneeded.Also,youcantryamixtureoflemon,whitevinegar,andwater.Letdryandthehoneymarkshouldbehistory.The same treatment can work for garments. Again, act fast and chances aresweethoneywillnotsouryourfavoritethings.

HEALTHYHONEYFENGSHUITIPSWelcomeyoursweethometotheartofhoney-izedfengshui—theancient

Chineseartofplacement.Itsgoalistobringyoupeaceandharmony.Byputtingstuffintherightspotsinyourkitchenandotherroomsyoucanenhancetheflowof positive energy and zap negative vibrations. The end result: good health,happiness—and even fortune. Read on—you, too, can enjoy a well-balancedhivethatfeelsgoodfromheadtotoe,withatouchofhoney.

Usebeeswaxcleaners.It’stimetocleanyourkitchenfromtoptobottomtobecleanlikeacleanbeehive.Ifyoukeepiteco-friendlyitwillprovideyouwithbetterhealthandenergy.

Declutter your honeys. Getting rid of things you don’t use will up yourenergy.Youwillfeellighterwithlesskitchenbaggage.Icleanedoutmypantryand added a fresh box of baking soda to soak up odors. Then I tackled eachhoneyjarandwipedeachone,onebyone(yes, theydolast forever,butsomepackersrecommendatwo-yearshelflife).

Cleanthestovetopandoven.Thiswasachore,butitfeelsrighttohavethestovetop shine. Use vinegar and water. Trust me, this is a feel-goodmust-dobeforebakingandcookingwithhoney.

Brightenupwith lighting.You’llwant tohavesunny-type lighting,whichcan up your energy and is mood linked to good health. Go for full-spectrumlightbulbs.And,ofcourse,rememberhoneycanhelpboostyourmood,too.Thebrighterthelight,thebetteryoucanseewhichtypeofhoneyvarietalstouse.

Boostyourmoodwithplants.Tohelpwipeoutpollutantsinyourkitchen—like beekeepers do with their colonies—fill your space with healthy, hardy,happyplants.Yourbestbet:philodendrons.

Bringon thewater. Fish aquariumsprovidepositive energy in thedining

room,especiallywithagentlefilter.Fish,fish,fish.Ireadthatgoldfishcanbringyougoodluckandprosperity.

In fact, nine is the lucky number (and so is eight). The colors?Gold and oneblackone.Thefishareapleasant,calmingtreat.Also,thisisagoodstrategy,forwhenyoucookandbakehoneydishestheoddsarebetterthattheywillturnoutbetter.

Bringoutthefreshfruit.Keephealthfulseasonalfruitsondisplayandreadytocutandpairwithhoneys.Thefengshuigurusbelieveafullbowlmayleadtoafulllife.Emptybowlswithjustafewpiecesoffruitgonebadarenotsogood.Andoranges?Nineistheluckynumber.Puttheminawoodenbowlandonthekitchenordiningroomtable.ThebowlwillbeasweetremindertokeepitfilledandtokeepgettingyourvitaminCeachdayteamedwithantioxidant-richhoney.

Concealknivesandscissors.Myfathergavemeablackandwhitemarbleknifeblock, cuttingboard, and rollingpin. I love it.But theknives areout ofsight.Idousetheseforonionsandgarlicandtoopenasealedjarofhoneyorapackageofhoneycomb.(MyblackcatKerouaclikestochewontheblackknifetops.Yes,blackcatscananddobringgoodluck.)

Hangpotsandpans.Mycookingstuffishangingonthewall inaperfecthexagonarrangement—likeasix-sidedbeehive.I’mthinkingaboutgettingoneof thoseartsy-lookingoverheadpot-and-panhangers (itwould remindmeofahoneybeeintransit).Ifso,Iwillnot,norshouldyou,hangitoveraworkplace,theareawherehoneyrecipestoliveforarecreated.Notgoodenergy,orsothefengshuiwizardsclaim.

Hide the gadget honeys. Too many jars of honey can clutter up all thatpositivedeclutteringyoudid.Also,youwant tokeephoneys stored in adark,coolplace.

Hangwindchimeswithcrystals. Ifyoudon’thaveacolony (ormore) soyoucanhearbuzzingsounds,windchimesmaysuffice.Ibroughtoneofmineinfromthedeckandputitoverthekitchenwindows.TheoneIchoseisofahoneybee. Hanging chimes in the doorway to the kitchen or over the stove buzzesgoodenergy.

A bonus tip: Purchase a honey bee calendar. It will provide you withinspirationwhenyouusehoneyinyourmeals,and,ofcourse,thedatesoflunarcyclesandseasonswillremindyouofwhatthehoneybeeisdoinginyourstate.

FUNARTSTUFFFORADULTSANDKIDS

WaxCrayonsPartsbyweight:

2partsbeeswax

1parttalc

PigmentMeltthewaxinamicrowaveorsmallcanplacedinboilingwater(adouble

boiler).Stirinthetalcanddryartist’spigmentorfrescocolors.Pourthemixtureintoalubricatedaluminumfoilmold.Thecrayonmaybemeltedagainandmorepigmentaddeduntilitistheexactcolordesired.Caution:Thesecrayonsshouldnotbeusedbychildrenbecausesomepigmentsarenotfoodsafe.

WaxPastelsPartsbyweight:

1partbeeswax

1partgratedsoap

PigmentMelt the beeswax in a small can placed in boilingwater.Add the grated

soapandstiruntilthesoapmeltsandthemixtureissmooth.Colorthemixturewith dry artist’s pigment or fresco colors. Pour into lubricated aluminum foilmolds.Aftertestingthecrayon,itcanbemeltedagainandmorepigmentadded.Caution:Thesecrayonsshouldnotbeusedbychildrenbecausesomepigmentsarenotfoodsafe.

WaxPastelsforChildrenFollow the directions above for “Wax Pastels” using concentrated food

coloring as the pigment. The paste is soldwith cake decorating supplies. Thecrayonsarefoodsafeandtheyblendwell.Theircolorisalmostasconcentratedasthecrayonsmadewiththeartist’spigment.

(Source:CourtesyofSoulShineBeeswaxCandles;[email protected].)

ISHONEYAPET’SBESTFRIEND?Like apple cider vinegar and olive oil, honey is rich in antioxidants and

antibacterialproperties—andhas itsplace in thepetworld,both internallyandtopically.

Scientific research proves honey works to heal abscesses, burns, andsurgicalwounds.Manukahoney,availablefromDechraVeterinaryProducts,isnowbeingusedbyvetstotreatwounds.Ithasbeenshowntofightmorethan70strainsofbacteriafoundinwounds.Butthat’snotall....2

Notonlycanhoneybeusedtopicallyonanimals,buthoneyisalsousedinsomecommercialpettreatsanddo-it-yourselfrecipes,too.Hereisasweettreatforfour-leggedcompanions.

HomemadeTreatsforYourDogSpicyTreat-Balls

cupwhole-wheatflour

cupwhiteflour

½cupbran

½cupbrewer’syeast

¼cupwheatgerm

½teaspooncinnamon

3tablespoonshoney

2tablespoonscornoil

1egg

cupmilk

Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In aseparatebowl,beathoney,cornoil,eggandmilk.Graduallyaddmixturetodryingredients to form a dough. Form into 1-inch balls and bake at 350ºF on anungreasedcookiesheetfor15minutes.Makes18balls.[Forsafety’ssake,checkwith your veterinarian before you give Spicy Treat-Balls to your caninecompanion.]

(Source:CourtesyofPetPlaceVeterinarians.)

NowthatI’veputversatilehoneyinthelimelightandexplainedhowtouseittomakeahappyhomeandmaintainhealthykidsandpets,takealookathowthe ancient food of the gods—either solo or as an ingredient in ready-madebeautyproductsanddo-it-yourselfrecipes—canhelptobeautifyyoufromheadtotoewithoutcostingyouanarmandleg.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHWhilehoneyisknownforcommonhealthailments,itisalsohelpfulfor

pets,kids,andhouseholduses.... Candles, furniture polish, and more are some of versatile virtues of

beeswax.Beeswaxfurniturepolishcancleanyourentirehouse.Beeswaxproducts,fromcandlestofunart,canbeusedbybothkidsand

parents. Gardening tools, golf clubs, and leather goods are all things that can

benefitfrombeeswax,anall-purposecleanerandpreserverofgoods.

CHAPTER13HoneyBee-autifulIfyouwanttogatherhoney,don’tkickoverthebeehive.—AbrahamLincoln1

A few years after nesting in San Jose, like a forager bee I found a newhome in Boulder Creek in the Santa CruzMountains in California. It was anEmily Dickinson–type setting. On the San Lorenzo River, complete withredwoodsandoaktreesandwildflowers,honeybeesandIlivedinharmony.AtypicalTuesdayandThursdaywouldmean leavingmyyoungfurrychildren—like bee larvae to me—while I traveled to San Francisco State University.Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and weekends were heavenly—a queen bee’sexistence.

Onespringday,afteraswimintheriverwithmytwodogs(Ihadadoptedanother Labrador retriever), I combined a honey and vegetable oil hair

conditioner and massaged the mixture on my long, curly dry locks. Thirtyminutes later, I rinsed thegooandshampooed. Idriedmyhair in thesun.Mymanefeltsoftandsilky.Ifeltlikeanaturalwomanagainwithoutinsectfuzz.

THEBEE-AUTYOFHONEYPOWERI’mhardlyalone indiscoveringbeautybenefitsofhoneyand itsversatile

healingpowersfromheadtotoe.Asthestorygoes,TedDennard,founderoftheSavannahBeeCompany,hadexperiencedabeautybrainstorm.Onedayhewaswashinghishandsattheendofadayworkingwiththehivesandnoticedhowcleanandsofttheywere.Hepondered,HowcanIbringthebeautysecretsofthehivetothemarket?AfterTedexperimented,alineofall-naturalbeautyproductsmadefromhoneyandotherplantandnutextractscametofruition,thankstothebees,again.Today,SavannahBeeproducesbodybutter,handcreamandsalve,certifiedorganiclipbalms,andnaturalandorganicliptints.

Sincehoneyisanaturalpreservativeandantibacterialagent,itprotectsandpromotesmoisture in the skin—which I, too, have experienced.What’smore,it’sahumectant(aningredientthatholdsmoisture),somethingI’veusedinhairconditioners to help tamemy curlymane the sameway humidity does in theDeepSouthandHawaii.

Eating honey can help you get beautiful on the inside, but treating yourbodyon theoutsidewith thegoldennectar canmakeyou look and feel great,too.Andhoney—fromnaturalstuffinthejartoready-madehoneyproducts—ismakingabuzzinthepresentdayandhasrootsfromancienttimes.

CLEOPATRA’SFAMOUSMILK-AND-HONEYBATHSBackinthedayofCleopatra,thelegendaryqueenofEgyptsavoredhoney

anditsbeautypowers.Thequeenallegedlyturnedtothenectarofthegodsforafacialeachmorning.Milk-and-honeybathswerealsopartofherbeautyregime.Theideawasthathoneywasthegoldensecrettokeepingherskinsoftaswellasdefyingage.

Inthe21stcenturyroyalhoneybeautytreatmentshavecarriedovertospasthatcatertotherichandfamousandincludeanyonewhowantstobetreatedlikeroyaltyforaspadayorweek.It’sapamperinghoneyandmilkbeautytreatment,like the recipe below from Savannah Bee Company, that draws the healingpowerstobothwomenandmen,thankstoCleopatra.

Milk-and-HoneyFacialMaskPlasticwraporwarmfacecloth

2tablespoonsorganicmilk

1tablespoonSavannahBeeCompanyWildflowerHoneyTake the plasticwrap and cut the corners tomake an oval slightly larger

thanyourface.Cutopeningsfornostrilsandmouth.Afteryoumake themaskand apply it, you’ll be covering your facewith the plastic wrap for about 10minutes.

Add milk to a small bowl. Slowly stir in Savannah Bee CompanyWildflowerHoney.Mixwellandstiruntilmoistureissmooth.Itmaybeslightlyrunny.Applythemilkmixturetoyourfacewithyourfingertips.

Settimerfor10minutes.Putonsomesoothingmusic,liedownandcoverfacewithplasticwraporcloth.When the10minutesareup,wipe facewithawarm cloth and rinse with cool water. Gently pat skin dry. Finish with yourfavoritemoisturizer.

(Source:Courtesy:SavannahBeeCompany.)

SPABEE-AUTIFIYINGTREATMENTSIt’snobeautysecretthathoneycombinedwithothernaturalingredientscan

enhance your blood circulation, zaps stress and anxiety, andmakes your skinfeel silky. All-natural manuka honey, for one, teamed with other honeys andnaturalplantextractsandessentialoilscanhelpexfoliate,soften,andevenmakeyour skin look firmer andglow.And this iswhy some spas around thenationandworldincludehoneyintheirspatreatments.Here,takealookatsomeofthepopularones.

Milk-and-HoneyBathThe treatmentbeginswithahoney scrub, followedbyawarmbath filled

with milk and honey, and culminates with a light massage. This is a doubledelight—becauseitexfoliatesandmoisturizesthetotalbody.

ManukaHoneyDrizzleBodyMasqueThe spa technician will use bare hands or a spa brush to apply

approximately½to1fullcupofproducttoyourskin,fromtheshouldersdowntothefeet.Itwillremainonyourskinforabout10minutesbeforeyourinseitoffwithashower.

OrangeBlossomandBodyWrapEnjoy thehealinghydratingandconditioningpropertiesof ahoneywrap.

Treatment begins with an exfoliating full-body dry brushing, includes an

invigoratingorangeblossomandsugarcanesugarfootscrub,andconcludeswithayummyapplicationofhoney–orangeblossombodybutter.Fiftyminutes.

ManukaHoneyDrizzlePedicureSavorthepamperingofaprofessionalpedicure.Treatmentbeginswithyou

soaking your feet for 5 to 10minutes in a basin ofwarmwater andManukaHoneyDrizzle(fromBellaLuccè®—www.bellalucce.com).

THESWEETESTDIYBEAUTYRECIPESDo-it-yourselfproductsmakeitpossibleandeasytoenjoythespabenefits

in the comfort of your home. Andmore people—both men and women—arediscoveringthebeautybenefitsofhoney,whetherit’sstraightfromthehiveorcomesinaglassjar.Here,takealookatsomeoftheat-hometreatmentsItriedfromheadtotoeandyou’llbethankinghoneybeesforever.

EyesCucumberHoneyEyeNourisher:OneofthebestthingsIdidonemorning

was whip up an anti–puffy eye cream with 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, 2teaspoonscucumber,peeledwithseedsremoved,½teaspoonchamomiletea,and1teaspoonhoney.Aftersteepingchamomileteainboilingwater,Isetitasidetocool.Inmyblender,ona lowsetting,Icombinedthecucumber,aloeveragel,andhoney,addedchamomiletea,andwhizzedittillsmooth.Iputthehoneygoounder my eyes using my fingers. Ten minutes later, I looked like I wasn’t aworkerbee.

SkinLemonDropBodyWash:Thenextmorning,Iwenttothebathroomlikea

beegoestoahoneycombandpreparedahoneysoapof2cupsunscentedcastilesoap, 2 cups honey, and½ up lemon juice—and put it in a plastic bottle andshook it. In the shower, rather than using ready-made honey soap, I used aloofahandwashedmybodyandrinsed.Extrabenefit:IgottofeelmyskinsoftandcouldwatchCNNrightafterwithoutfleeingtoaspa.

FeetStimulatingCamphorandEucalyptusHoneyFootSoak:Thatnight, Idid

the favorite thing I did that day: blend8 cupshotwater, 1 cuphoney, 2 cupsEpsomsalt,2 tablespoonsalmondoil,and6dropseucalyptusoil—andsoakedmyfeetwithit.Fifteenminuteslater,myfeetlookedhumanagain.


Both spa treatments anddo-it-yourself actionwork forme.But it doesn’tstop there, especially for bold and beautiful people. Prince Charles’s wife,Camilla,forone,isnotedashavingusedbeevenom—anaturalfaceliftremedy.It’s been tagged as “the botox alternative”—combining bee venom, manukahoneyandsheabutter—andpromisestominimizewrinkles.2

QUEENBEEFORADAY

ADayintheLifeofaWorkerBee8:00A.M.Riseand shine.Mydaystartswithgettingupand feedingmy

Brittanyduo.Thenit’stimetomakeacupofbrewedItaliancoffee.I takeonecupwith a splash of 2 percent low-fatmilk (and a homemade honeymuffin)backwithmeandcrawlintothewarmwaterbed.Iturnonthetubeandlogontothecomputertofetchmymorninge-mail.

9:30A.M.Eatanutritiousbreakfast.It’stimeforalightbreakfast,suchasabowlofoatmealorplainyogurt (Ino longer eat thekindwithhigh-fructosecornsyrup)withfreshfruitandhoneyontop.(Gotochapter18:“Ciao,Honey!”forrecipeideas.)

11:00A.M.Honey shower time.Takeahot shower.First, light ahoney-lavender-scented candle. I spray the bathroomwithCuccioNaturalé’sMilk&HoneyScentualSpaElixir.Itcreatesanaromatherapyenvironmentinmycabin-typebathroom. I spray itonadry toweland in theair.Turnon rockmusic—somethingwithabeat.ThistimearoundI’musingCuccio’sMilk&HoneySeaSaltsandwanttoenjoythehydratingandexfoliatingbenefitsofmilkandhoney.Iused itonmyfeetandbody. Ialsouse theMilk&HoneyBodyWash—it’smorefunthanabarofsoap.AfterIdryoff,it’saMilk&HoneyButterBlendformyhands, feet, andbody. I read that itwas “great to use after exfoliatingwiththeCuccioNaturaléMilk&HoneySeaSalts.”Itis.Imuste-mailathankyounote toCuccio for takingmeback in time to aCleopatramilk-and-honeyexperience.

12:50 P.M. Get a move on. It’s time for a half-hour swim. In the fall/winterIusethesparesortpoolandteamitwithahottub.Inthesummer,it’saParksandRecreationpooland thesun is therapeutic. I take1 teaspoonof rawhoneyforenergybeforeIgo.Athome,Iuseabeeswaxhandandnailsalvetocounteractthedrynessfromthechlorineinthepool.

1:30P.M. Eat lunch. Iwhip up an Italian-style grilled cheese onwhole-grain sourdough bread with tomatoes. Afterward, it’s time to try a newwildflowerhoneyinacupofgreentea.

2:00P.M.Walkthedogs.Onceback,drinkaglassofspringwater(ortwo)andsqueezefreshlemonintheglassforatastierbeverage.

3:00 P.M. It’s time for work. I prefer going to the laptop for articles,desktopforbooks.Timespent:threehours.

6:00P.M. It’s time toeat.Nowthatmybodyandmindhavebeen taxed,it’s time to feed my mind, like spa guests who are provided with prepareddinners todiefor.TonightIhadaMediterraneanWrap.(Checkout theendofchapter6fortherecipe.)Andthatisgoodforworkerbeesheadedbacktowork.

7:00P.M.Haveacupofhomemadelemonade.Ipairchamomileteawithanexoticteaspoonofhoneyand¼cupoffreshlemonjuiceandicecubes.

9:30P.M.Takeiteasy.Thisagoodtimetode-plugfromthecomputerandphone.Iturnonafilmandchill.Itreatmyselftoahoneytruffle.

11:00p.m.Prepareforbedtime.Iwashmyfacewithhoney-oatmealsoap,usehoneylotiononmyhands.Iuseacuticleconditioningbutterstickmadewithmilkandhoney.Ilightscentedbeeswaxcandlesinthebedroom.

12:30 P.M. Sweet dreams. I fix a cup of 2 percent low-fat organicmilkwithateaspoonofhoneyand½teaspooncinnamon.Mythoughtsareonautumn,whenbeesproducetheirhoneyharvest(andtheirbeekeepersextractthenectar).It’satimewhenIcleanmycabin(pilingwoodtostockingthepantry)andcleanmy hive for wintertime, when I bundle up like honey bees and dream aboutspringtime,anotherseasonofthehoneyharvest.

(Sources:CuccioNaturaléandSavannahBeeCompany.)

Whatever season or wherever you live, a honey exfoliating mask willrejuvenateyourfacialskinandyou’llfeelgoodbothinsideandoutside.TrythisDeepSouthrecipeandenjoythetotalqueenbeepamperingtreatmentwithacupofteaandhoney.

HarvestPumpkin&HoneyExfoliatingMask

1teaspoongreentea,brewed

2teaspoonspineapple,diced

4tablespoonspumpkinpuree

1tablespoonSavannah

BeeCompanyHoney

2teaspoonsaloeveragel

½easpoonsunfloweroil

4teaspoonscornmeal

6dropsFrankincenseEssentialoil(optional)

4dropscinnamonextract(optional)

Steepgreenteainboilingwater.Setasidetocool.In blender or food processor puree pineapple and place inmedium-sized

mixingbowl.Addpumpkin,SavannahBeeCompanyHoneyandaloe.Mixwell.Stir in sunfloweroil,green teaandcornmeal.Reserve remaininggreen tea foranotheruse.Addfrankincenseandcinnamon.Stir.

Applysmallamountofpumpkinmasktocheeks,forehead,chinandneck.Massageincircularmotionsgentlybuffingskin.Repeat.Applymoreproductasneeded. Leave a thin layer of pumpkin mask on face and neck for 15–20minutes.

Rinse with tepid or cool water and pat drywith soft towel. Followwithappropriatemoisturizer.Storeremainingmaskcoveredinrefrigeratorforupto2weeks.

Makes4treatments.(Source:SavannahBeeCompany.)

Nowthatyou’vegothoneybeautysecrets,inchapter14it’stimetobringout thepeoplebehind thehoneybee, frombeekeepers topackers.These folkswho love honey are connected to nature—a connectedness like that of a beecolony. I’ve contacted some unforgettable people who respect sacred honeybees,aswellasfolkswhoputitalltogethersoyouandIcanenjoyhoneysinallforms,types,andregionsthat’llwowyou.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH Honey can help exfoliate, soften, and make your skin and hair look

softer.Honeyboastsantibacterialproperties,anditsabilitytoholdinmoisture

cankeepyourskin,fromfacetofeet,healthyandsmoother. Honey treatments include honey with natural plant extracts, essential

oils,andotheringredients.Thisgoldenliquidcanhelptoexfoliate,soften,andfirmskinfromhead

totoetohelpbothwomenandmenlookbetter,feelgreat.Honeymasks,wraps,manicures, pedicures, baths, andmuchmore are

offeredathealthspasinAmericaandaroundtheworld.Youdon’thavetogotoaspatoenjoythehoneyspabeautytreatments,

becausetheycanbedoneinthecomfortofyourhome.

CHAPTER14TheBusyBeeWorkersWe’reallbusylittlebees,fullofstings,makinghoneydayandnight,aren’t

we,honey?—BetteDavis1

As a graduate student commuting from my mountain hideaway to thehustle-bustleof thecity, Iwason thego,alwaysworking,much likeaworkerbee.Iattendedback-to-backclassesfrom10:00A.M.to9:00P.M.OneovercastmorningarrivingoncampusIcravedahealthybreakfast.OnashoestringbudgetI splurged like aqueenbeeand treatedmyself to anoff-the-beaten-pathbistroacrossthestreetfromcampus.

Theambiancewithlushgreenplants,incense,andmusicinthisbistrofilledwith liberalarts studentsmademefeelathome—partofacolony. Iorderedabowlofplainyogurt—nottheprocessedkindwithaddedsugar—andfreshfruit.Thecaféworkersmixedhoneyontopofthesweetbreakfasttreat.Ipairedthisdeliciousbowlofgoodnesswithacupofherbalteaandhoneyandwasinhoneyheaven.TodayIstillfavorplainyogurtwithpurehoneyandprefertoeatitamidmyownhouseplantsoroutdoorsonthedecksurroundedbytoweringpinetreesand birds.And I dish out thanks to hardworking honey bees and their humankeepersforthegoodnessofhoney.

MEETTHEBEESANDTHEIRKEEPERSThere are three players in the honey world of human honey producers:

hobbyists, part-time beekeepers, and commercial beekeepers. The U.S.

Department of Agriculture has estimated that there are between 139,000 and212,000beekeepersintheUnitedStates.

Hobbyists/Part-Time Beekeepers: Themajority, 95 percent, are hobbyistswithfewerthan25hives,andabout4percentarepart-timerswhokeepfrom25to299hives.Together,hobbyistsandpart-timersaccountforabout50percentofbeecoloniesandabout40percentofhoneyproduced.ThenumberofU.S.beecolonies producing honey in 2008was 2.3million (based on beekeeperswhomanagefiveormorecolonies).

Commercial Beekeepers: Meet the dedicated keepers with 300 or morecolonies.Thereareabout1,600commercialbeekeepingoperationsintheUnitedStates, which produce about 60 percent of the nation’s honey. These folksmigratetheircoloniesduringtheyeartoprovidepollinationservicestofarmersandtoreaprewardsofnectar.


THEWORKERSThe top five honey-producing states are North Dakota, South Dakota,

Florida,Minnesota,andCalifornia—myhomestate,whichmakesmefeelevenmoreconnectedtothehoneybeesandtheirpeople.Iwanttosharetheiruniquetales.Tome,eachofthecompaniesIcontactedisexceptional,whetheritbefortheiroriginality,presentation,reputation,quality,service,orallfivetraits.

BeePureHoneyHoneyHistory:TheBeePureHoneytaleisnotunusual.Simplyput,itwas

the loveofbeekeeping inWisconsin,whichbeganasahobby, thatblossomedintoathrivingbusiness.

HealingPowers:Thequalityproductsstraightfromthehiveareminimallyprocessedtopreservetherealhoneyflavor.“Weaddnosugar,water,fructose,or any other junk to our honey,” says Thomas Gandia, owner and chief beewrangler.

MyFaveHoneys:Iadoreaspicedhoneyinanattractivehexjar.Itcontainswholespicessuchascinnamonandclove.Iputitinacupofhotlow-fatorganicmilk.Andinmystudysitsafilecabinetofsomehoneytreats,suchasBeePurehoneycomb.AsIsithereinmyworkerbeemode,nibblingonapieceoftheU.S.Grade A honeycomb is a strange experience. The sweetness is sublime. I’mgetting flashback imagesofSeth, and I feel like Imust look likehedidwhileeatingsweetsduringhismorphingphaseinthefilmTheFly.

Dutchman’sGoldHoneyHistory:LikeBeePureHoney,thiscompanybeganwithbees.Asthe

storyistold,Dutchman’sGoldbeganwithaswarmedhivebackin1981.OvertimetheVanAltenfamilyandcompanygrewtoestablish1,500hivesspreadonnearby farms in southernOntario—aprovince I visitedduringmyhoneybee–liketravelingadventures.

HealingPowers:NaturalhoneyproductsarewhatDutchman’sGoldisallabout.We’re talking raw, fresh, and unpasteurized honey varietals and honeyblends. Also, Dutchman is privy to using beehive products for therapeutichealing and disease prevention. This honey company offers royal jelly, beepropolis,andbeepollenaswellasbuckwheathoney.FromfieldsofManitobabuckwheatthebeesbringDutchmanGold—andyou—auniquehoney.It’sdark,rich,andfullofantioxidants.

MyFaveHoneys: Stocked inmypantry sitsDutchman’sproducts. I loveSummerBlossomHoney—it has amild flavor. It’s thewildflower honey thatcharmedmewithitsambercolorandtasteofautumn.ThesignaturecinnamonhoneyisonehoneyblendthatwillbegonebeforeTheHealingPowersofHoneyiscompleted.

HoneyRidgeFarmsHoneyHistory: This is another story about a family business.Located in

BrushPrairie,Washington,back in2004HoneyRidgeFarmswasfounded. Itsmission included providing high-quality specialty gourmet honeys and honey-basedspecialtyfoods.“We’repartofalonglineofbeekeepers;infact,oursonis a fifth-generation beekeeper who works alongside his grandfather tendinghives,”saysLeeaneGoetz,president.

HealingPowers:It’sthequalityofHoneyRidgeFarm’shoneys,beingallnatural and offering a variety of single–floral source artisan honeys from thewesternUnitedStates, aswell asotherall-naturalhoney-basedgourmet foods.The artisan honeys are USA Grade A honey and minimally processed andunfiltered.

Becauseoftheirdedicationtotheapicultureindustryandtheirpartnershipwith local beekeepers, Honey Ridge Farms donates a portion of their profitsfromtheirBalsamicHoneyVinegartohelpfundresearchtopromotebeecolonyhealth.

MyFaveHoneys: HoneyRidge Farms’ first artisan honey producedwaswild blackberry from Washington and Oregon. As a short-time resident ofEugeneandPortlandandaloverofblackberries,ImadethisthefirsthoneyofthemultiplejarsIopened.Ilaceditoverastore-boughtcheesecakeandtoppeditwith sliced almonds. Another favorite food of mine is pumpkin, so theirpumpkin blossom honey had me at first sight. I used it baking custard andmuffins.It’sakeeper.

LaneyHoneyHoneyHistory:MovingeasttoAmerica’sHeartland,meetDaveLaney,the

founder of Laney Honey, a premium honey company. Back in the seventies,honeywasahobbyforDave,muchlikeotherhoneyentrepreneurs.Twelveyearslater,hispassion turned intoabusiness.Rather thanmix inallof theirhoneystogetherunderonelabel,theyseparatetheirhoneysbyfloralsource.Thatway,LaneyHoneyisabletooffermanyvarietiesofhoney.Hivesofbeesareplacedin choice fields of a particular flower in bloom, such as blueberry or cloverblossoms.

HealingPowers:Laneyhoney isunpasteurized,unfiltered,andminimallyprocessed. This is the way to preserve the distinctive flavors, trace minerals,vitamins,andpollengrainsfoundinhoney.

My Fave Honeys:Most of their honeys are from themidwestern UnitedStates. I did open the jar of orange blossom (from Florida) and used it in acoconutcustardpie that Ibaked.Theblueberry ispleasing, sweet, and light. Iput a teaspoon on a few scoops of plain Greek yogurt. It was a taste thattranscendedmefromLakeTahoetoahoneyfield.

SavannahBeeCompanyHoney History: Traveling from the Midwest to the South, I found this

uniquecompany,establishedsince2002.SavannahBeeCompany isa thrivingcompanylocatedinSavannah,Georgia.Theirmissionistogobeyondthecallofduty,likeabeecolony,toproducethefinest,mostnaturalhoneyproducts.TheSavannah Bee Company has become internationally known for its artisanalvarietals,blendedrawhoneys,anduniquebodyproducts.

The operation today looks different than when Ted made honey in thekitchenorgarageandspenthis timelugginghivesallovertheSouthinanoldpickup.Butthepassionforbeesandcommitmenttocreatingthehighest-qualityproductshaven’tchangedabit.“Ijustloveit,”hesays.“Ican’timaginedoing

anythingelse.”These days, the Savannah Bee Company’s wide array of extraordinary

honeyproductsare soldaround theglobe, includingAustralia,Canada,Dubai,andJapan.TheyalsoselltheirhoneyproductsthroughfinestoressuchasDean&Deluca,WholeFoods,NeimanMarcus,CrateandBarrel,andothers.

HealingPowers:Tedwilltellit likeit is.“Wespinsinglevarietalsoutofthecombandintothebottlewithoutblendingorprocessingthem.”Headdsthatall of their honeys are hand harvested at the peak of the blooming season toensurepurity,KSAcertified,and100percenthoney.

My Fave Honeys: Here I found a unique company with a gold mine ofgolden nectar from the honey bee. The gourmet honeys, much like gourmetchocolates,areedgyinpresentation,originality,andtaste.

SavingtheBeesofTasmaniaEntertheworldoftheTasmanianHoneyCompany,whichbeganin1978,

created by Julian Wolfhagen, a native-born Taswegian. Son of a fine woolgrazierfromtheCentralMidlandstownRoss,Juliangrewupclosetonatureanddeveloped a passion for the environment and the naturalworld.As a child hewouldgointothebushwithmenfromthefarmtohuntforwildhivesand,onceautumn arrived, assist them with harvesting the wild honey. He became abeekeeper as a result of saving the bees made homeless by the harvestingoperations.

The second, more serious phase of Julian’s interest in bees came later.Tasmaniawasinthegripofahydroindustrialistmentality,wheretheloggersoftheTasmanianrainforestswererunby thegovernmentandwreakedhavoconenvironmentalism.JulianfeltthattherehadtobeabetterwayforthefutureofTasmaniaanditspeopleandhoneybees.

A reacquaintance with bees and honey via a good bottle of mead on asnowywinter’snightspentwith familyandfriends inamountainhutchangedthe lives of Julian and honey bees. It planted an inspirational seed in the beeman’s mind. His idea was to save the bees. And he did just that with theTasmanianHoneyCompany,whichprovideshealinghoneysaroundtheworld.

ACALIFORNIABEEKEEPER’SBITTERSWEETMEMORIESNot only did I have the pleasure of speakingwith Julian (and tasting his

honeys),butanotherbeegurualsomovedmewithhisexpertise.JoeTraynorisa

formerbeekeeperwhokeptaround400coloniesinthe1970s.Hiswordsofhardwork,likethehoneybeeworkers,producevividimagesofwhatit’sliketobeabeekeeperandworkhardtopaytherent....

Icomebacktoorangehoneyoccasionally,anditneverfailstoremindme,notof idyllichoursspentwithagentlebreezewafting throughfragrantorangeblossoms and the musical hum of millions of happy bees accompanied by aMozartconcertoplayingon the truckstereo,butof lifting100poundboxesofhoney in 100 degree weather in coveralls soaked with sweat while scores ofangry bees registered their objection to my intrusion by inflicting numerousstingsonanyexposedbitofskinorpinningwetcoverallstoflesh,oflongnightsdrivinga truckloadofbees, then sleeping,or trying to sleep, in thecabof thetruckuntilthebeescouldbeunloadedatdaylight,theangrybuzzofunseenbeesechoinginmyearsastheycrawleduppantlegsanddowncollars.

OUTINTHEHONEYBEEFIELDONESWEETDAYIdidn’tgettovisitTasmaniaorevengotoBakersfield.Ipassedonvisiting

honeyshopsstatebystate,acrossAmerica,asoneindividualsuggestedIdo.NordidIfly,frombeefarmtobeefarm,aroundtheworldtomeetbeekeepersandtheir honey bees. Still, I did go out into the field like a forager bee andwastreatedtoadecadentandsoothinghoneyJacuzzibath,andthenitwasmydaytomeetItalianandRussianhoneybeesface-to-face....

By10:00A.M.,bothSethandSimon,myBrittanys,aredroppedoffatmyvet’skennelforthedaywhileIandmysiblingBrucesetoutonourwaytoRenoforadayofhoneydelights.MybrotherBruceandIaredrivingfromSouthLakeTahoe.Therearen’tanybeekeepersaroundthelake,probablyduetothesnow.Idon’tthinkthehighaltitudebothershoneybees.

Firststop:SienaHotel.IrecallthatinmythirtiesthiswaswhereIstayed,when it was just a modest but quaint two-story motel. These days, theMediterranean-style hotel is a high-rise, where I stayed next to the TruckeeRiver.MorememoriesarebuzzinginmymindasIrecallthedecadentchocolatebathwhenIwaswritingTheHealingPowersofChocolate.Isensethiswillbeanothersweetexperience.

SienaHotelSpaOnehourlater:SpadirectorJamieBelliswaitingforus—andwewaitina

comfortable relaxation room. Sipping hot herbal tea with Knott’s Berry FarmhoneywhileJamiedrawsahoneybathisnice.Onceagain,Iamgreetedbyan

oversizedbearclawJacuzzi-stylebathtubfullofbubblingwater(140jets!).Thistime,however,BellaLuccèManukaHoneyismytreat.Thelightsare

dim.Thewaterwaits.Ienjoyfor20minutes.ImagesofCleopatracametomind.TheQueenof theNile isclaimed tohavesavoredhermilk-and-honeybaths—andthisexperiencemadeitcleartomewhythisisatreatforroyalty.Thistimearounditwasspecialbutlikeasequel,fromChocolateHeaventoHoneyland.

Thirtyminuteslater:Istepoutofthetub,getdressed,andamsurprised.It’samazing.Myskinfeelssoft.We’re talkings-o-f-t.AsIwait formybrother toenjoyhishoneybath,Iamthinking,Ihaveanew,improvedskin—arms,tummy,andlegs.Iamawestruckhowmanukaandorangeblossomhoneyscanaffecttheskinasmuchastheydo.Nextstoptothehoneybeesisminutesaway....

HiddenValleyHoneyLiketwodisorientedhoneybees,wegetlostinruralReno.Itiswindy.My

sinusesarepesky, completewithaheadacheand sniffles.At last,wearriveatbeekeeperChrisFoster’shome,awayfromthefeelofthecity,andIfeelacalmofcountry.TheatmospheretakesmebacktoSanJosewhenIwasakidandfruittrees andpruneorchardswere still plentiful, not concrete, like in today’s fast-pacedSiliconValley.

I am greeted by one nature-friendly man who is a former director ofmolecularbiologyatasmallfirm,wherehesatbehindadesklookingatDNAsequencesonacomputerscreen.Nowadays,thescientistgonebeekeeperandhiswife,Karen, arebusy living andworkingwith their prizedpossessions: honeybees.Inthehouse,IamgreetedbyaGermanwirehair,asportingdogthatputsmeatease.EverywhereIlookthereareremindersthatI’mvisitingabeekeeper.Bee books, fresh fruit, and jars of honey are all over. Chris tells me that hisalfalfa from theNevadanhighdesert areaproduces a thickhoney that doesn’tspoil.

The beekeeper on amission to expand his 60 colonies tomore than 200explainstomethatheusuallyextractshoneytwiceayear:“TheearlyhoneythatisextractedtowardtheendofJuneislighterincolorandoftentastesdistinctlydifferentfromthedarkerfallcropthatisharvestedbeforeSeptember.”Headdsthatduringtheextractionprocessabeekeeperhastheoptionofseparatinglightframes of honey from darker honey and then extracting them separately.Fascinatedby thebee-to-honeyprocess, I cannothelpbutbedistractedby thelivingroomwindow.OutdoorsIseealargebackyardwithbeesswarmingfreelyaroundsupers(thewhiteboxesbeeslivein).Aconstantmovementandbuzzingoutsideintheone-acrebackyardhasgrabbedmyattention.

Iseebeesflyinghitherandthither.Ithoughtthey’dbealltuckedawayina

hive. Funny, though, the dog isn’t bothered by the insects—and neither am I.Chris insists honey bees are gentle creatures. I believe him. I’m beginning tosense that thisday isnotgoing tobeachillingKillerBees!orSwarmed sci-fifilm sequel. Instead, I’m feeling a sense of calm likeLilyOwens, a characterwhofindssolaceintheworldofbeekeepinginthefilmTheSecretLifeofBees.

Thenightbefore,IwatchedthemovieOutbreak(KevinSpacey’sprotectivegear tearsandhe’s infectedwithadeadlyvirus).So,I figure,Whywearabeeveil?Abeecouldcrawlupmyjeansandstingmeifitwantedtodoit.Ithink,Ididn’twear floweryperfumeorbright colors likea flower.They’ll ignoreme.My brother passes on going outside. (He doesn’t like scary movies or honeybees.)

I followChris outside. Iwalk amid the bees. I have enteredBeeworld. IsecretlywishthatI,too,couldnurtureworkersanddrones—andqueens.That’swhenheaskedmetocomeface-to-facewithhis25newqueens. . .buthey,Ithink, I am doing fine. No stings yet. Why push the envelope? I do not peekinsidethecontainersofbuzzinghoneybees.

Back inside the house,we chat about local beekeepers, somewho rescueswarms and others who sell their bee products as Chris does at the farmer’smarket.Iamgiventapercandles,lipbalm,andajaroffreshlocalhoney—withpromise for helpingmy sinuses and allergies. Chris tells me that a lot of thehoneyhesellsatthefarmer’smarketistopeoplewhobuythealfalfahoneytostaveoffsymptomsofallergies.Iamhopefulthathislocalhoneymaygivemesinus relief. Iwant to believe the honey bees that didn’t stingmewill bemysaviors.

BruceandIpickuptheBrittanys,andbysixoclockwearebackhomeinSouthLakeTahoe.When Iwalkup to thedoorstep I seeabigcardboardboxwith the label “Magnolia Honey.” I feel like a bee that is entering her hive.Outsidemy kitchenwindow I admire the splash of yellowwildflowers and itmakesme thinkof Italyandwildflowerhoney.And likeaperseveringworkerbeeIfoundtheperfectwildflowerhoneyrecipetotakemeabroad.

WildflowerHoney-LaceTiramisu

3cupsseasonalberries(reserve½cupforgarnishatend)

¼cupofsugarintheraw(browndemerarasugar)

cuphighbutterfatwhippingcream

¾cupsuperfinesugar

3ouncesItalianmascar-ponecheese

¾cupsugarintherawforformascarponecheesemixture

2cupsextrastrongespresso,cooled

½cupcoffeeliquorlikeTiaMaria

2Madagascarvanillabeans

½cupwildflowerhoney

1packageofladyfingersorspongecake

Afewsprigsoffreshspearmint

¾cupsugarintheraworbrowncanesugarfortheberries

Inalargebowlstirseasonalberriesinthebrowndemerarasugar.Reserve½ cup berries for the end. Let the berries mixed with sugar sit at roomtemperature. Meanwhile, in a mixer whip the whipping cream and ¾ cup ofsuperfinesugaruntilstiffpeaksstart toform,tasteforsweetness,setasideandkeepcool.Takeanotherbowl, combinemascarponecheese, superfine sugar,1cup espresso, ¼ cup coffee liquor and the vanilla beans (scraped well, thenchopped).Fold thecheesemixture intoseasonalberries.Mix themwellbutbecareful not to break up the berries, using a wooden spoon. Then, fold in thewhippedcream to thebowlcontaining theberries, cheese, espressoandcoffeeliquormixture.

Warm the wildflower honey in a double broiler until it reaches a thinconsistency.Make layers in theEnglish trifledish (madeofheavyglass)withwetingredientsfollowedbythedryingredients;alayerofladyfingerorspongecakecoveringthetopofeachlayerofwetingredients,honey,thenalayerofdry.Repeat. Each layer should look wet. Pour remaining 1 cup of espresso overTrifle bowlwith remaining¼ cup coffee liquor.Drizzlewildflower honey ontop.Garnishwith spearmint springs. Topwith the reserved½ cup of sugaredseasonalfruits.Putinfridgeforafewhourstoenhanceflavors.Serves6–8.

(Source:WarrenM.Bobrow,FoodJournalist.)

Nowthatyouknowhowbusythehoneybeesandtheirpeopleare,it’stimeto understand that nothing is 100 percent perfect—not even honey.There is adownsidetobeesandyoushouldknowaboutit.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHThereareaninfinitenumberofstandouthoneycompaniesintheUnited

States and around the world; I selected a handful who offered samples andinformationthattaughtmemoreaboutthehealthbenefitsofhoney.

Visiting a local beekeeper or going to a farmer’s market to purchaselocalhoneyisaworthwhileexperience...

...andfindingdifferenthoneysfromdifferentregionscanbedoneviathe Internet with the click of your mouse. Go to www.honeylocator.com andenjoy.

CHAPTER15HoneyIsNotaBuzzforEveryone:TheStingWhen you go in search of honey youmust expect to be stung by bees.—

JosephJoubert1

—JosephJoubert1

Duringmyoff-school days, one spring afternoon in themountains, IwassittingoutdoorsenjoyingMotherNature.AgirlfriendandIweresurroundedbybooks,wildflowers,lemonade,andbuzzinghoneybees.ItwasaplaceofsweetcomforttomelikewhenIwasakid.Likehappybees,wewereateasewhileourtwosportingdogswereactively rompingaround.Hergolden retrieverandmyyellowLabradorwerefullofenergyandquicksprintstocatchaballwe’dtoss—itappearedlikeeveryonewasgettingalong.Thenithappened.

My gal pal’s carefree canine dog collapsed. We both shouted, “Whathappened?”Thecanine’sswollensnoutwasasignthataprotectivehoneybee—man’s other best friend—was the guilty culprit. One vet visit later: It wasconfirmed.Abeestingwasthediagnosis.Four-leggersandtwo-leggerscanget

stungandcanhaveanallergic reaction tobeestings.Mostpeopleandpetsdosurvive,asdidourdogfriend.

The thing is, if provoked, the gentle honey bee—an insect like stingingwasps and bitingmosquitoes—can wreak havoc on our furry friends. Once aworker bee uses its stinger in defense its life is over as it once knew it—itexpires andgoes to bee heaven.Aqueenbee, however, has a better outcome.Shehaslimitlessuseofherstinger.So,isthehoneybeeafriendorfoe?

APESTFORTWO-ANDFOUR-LEGGERSSwarminginyourhome?Ifthehoneybeeissettinguphouseinyourhouse

it may seem like you’re living with the enemy—not man’s best friend.Beekeeperswilltellyouthatthehoneybee’sinstinctistonest—toliveandworkinarefugelikeIdidanddo.Honeybeeswillseekasafehaven,too,suchasaholeinsideoroutsideahouseorbuilding—oftencreatinganuisance.

StingingPetsandPeopleAlthoughhoneybeesaregentle,iftheyareprovokedtheirsurvivalinstinct

to protect their queenwill kick in and theymight strike. Some pets can havemildtoseveresymptomstoasting,justasahumancan.Ifanaphylaxis(asevereallergicresponse)occurs,thiscanbelifethreatening.ContactyourdoctororvetASAP.

Usually,ittakesseveralexposuresbeforeareactionhappens,anditcanbemildorsevere,likewhathappenedtomyfriend’scanine.Thereisnodiagnostictest for types of reactions, but your veterinarian can make the call during aphysical exam.Mostdogs allergic to insect stingswill developa swollen faceandhives—nottheend.Also,thegoodnewsis,animalsthatsurvivethefirstfewminutesusuallyreturntonormalhealth.

COMMON ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO BEE STINGS IN DOGSType of Reaction Symptoms Treatment Mild Fever, sluggishness, loss ofappetite. Your vet may recommend Benadryl®; and take your dog in for anexam.ModerateUrticariaisamoderatevascularreactionoftheskinmarkedbyAvetvisit andexam.hives, swelling, rednessof the lip, around the eyes, andneck.Usuallyitchy;mayprogresstoanaphylaxis.SevereAnaphylaxis,asudden,severeallergicresponsethatproducesbreathingdifficulties,collapse,andotherlife-threateningsymptoms,suchasadropinbloodpressure.AvetvisitASAP.Your vet will begin ER life support, including administering oxygen andintravenousfluidstoincreasebloodpressure.

Thereisnowaytopredictifyourpetwillhaveanallergicreactiontoabeesting. If ithashappened in thepast,makesureyourvetknowsabout it.Sinceeach reaction can becomemore severe, you should keep epinephrine on handandknowhowtouseitincaseareactionhappens.Askyourvetaboutan“epi-pen” (a syringe and needle filledwith a dose of epinephrine) to keep in yourpet’sfirst-aidkit.

(Source:CourtesyofPetPlaceVeterinarians.)

THUMBS-DOWNONHONEYFORINFANTSFromstinginghoneybees to infantbotulismcausedbyhoneymay sound

like ideas for an anti-bee sci-film in theworks.But in the realworld, feedinghoneytoahumanbabyisreallydangerousandshouldbeavoided.

Sweethoneymaycontainnot-so-sweetClostridiumbotulinumspores.Thisscientifictermmeanshoneycancauseinfantbotulism,becausebabieslessthanoneyearofagedonothavethedevelopedgastrointestinaltractofolderhumans.Honeyissafetoeatduringpregnancyandlactation.Whileinfantsareatriskforinfantbotulism,adults,includingpregnantwomen,arenot.

AStingingBeeTalewithaTwistDr. Tom Potisk, aka the down-to-earth chiropractor, is an advocate of

holistic health care. Based in Wisconsin, a beefriendly state, he recalls anunforgettablepastencounterwithhissiblingandabee....

IwassixyearsoldanditwasahotJulydayasmysisterJulieandIwalkedhand-in-hand.We were both barefoot after swimming at the neighbors’ pool.Takingashort-cutacrossawhiteclovercoveredlawn,hurryingtotastethefreshsandwichesmymomhadwaitingforus,myyouthfulcontentmentwasabouttobedisturbed.

Hearingmysisterscreamandfalltotheground,Ipanickedandranafewsteps ahead. Looking back, I saw her swiping frantically at her foot as theculprit,ahoneybee,buzzedoff.Mymotherusedmudtotreatthebeesting.

For years, probably decades after thatwhenever I heard a buzzing soundmyheartwouldraceandmymuscleswouldclenchasIlookedaroundinterror.Mosttimesitwasafalsealarmlikeamosquitoorharmlessfly,embarrassingmeif someonenoticedmy frenzy.As Imatured and realizedmy irrational fear, Icontrolled it. I enrolled in a beekeeping class. Now I’m chuckling as I writeaboutthisandsipcoffeewithhoneyfrommyveryowntwohives.

GETTINGRIDOFBEESOkay,soyougetthatbeesdon’tliketobeprovokedandhoneyisano-go

forbabieslessthanoneyearofage.Butwhatabouthoneybeesbuzzinginyourhome?

To two-leggers (thosewhoarenotbeekeepers)honeybeescansymbolizeflyingpestsforhumansandpets.Ontheupside,it’stimetorealizethattheMyGirl film’s unforgettable scenario when the character Thomas dies from anallergicreactiontobeestingswhilelookingforVada’smoodringinthewoodsissomethingthathappensonthebigscreen—notsomuchinreallife.It’stimetoletgoofourfearorphobiaandfacethehoneybee—man’sbestfriend.

So, why is it so important to have unwanted bees removed safely ratherthan just terminate them ourselves? “Honey bees provide a very importantservice and should not be exterminated unless it is a last resort,” saysHiddenValleyHoney’s beekeeperChris Foster ofReno.Do not attempt to get rid ofbeesbyyourself.Callabeekeepertohelpyousafelyremoveswarms(10,000to15,000bees)orcolonies.

FiveEco-FriendlyTipstoPreventBeeSwarmsLocal beekeeper Dan Bailey of Sparks, Nevada, dishes out pesticidefree

strategiestokeephoneybeesawayfromyouandyourpets.• Close gaps (i.e., gas line, electrical conduit) on exterior parts of your

house.•Checkforimproperlyinstalledvents(suchasadryerorhotwaterheater)

onthesideofthehouse,especiallyonatwo-storybuilding.• Stay on top of maintenance for your chimney. Deterioration (such as

failingmortar)providesanopportunehomeforbees.•Beawareofoutdoorflowersandplantsthatattractbees.•Outdoorwaterdishesforpetsareanotherbeeattraction.

CANBEESCUREACHESANDPAINS?Whilehoneybeescancauseyourhometobeheldhostage,honeycuresare

welcomed guests that may move in upon your request. Honey bee guru JoeTraynorrecallsthathehadresortedtobeevenomtherapyforhisarthriticknee.He received little benefit from the painful therapy. Still, he notes that otherpeople,notexcludingbeekeepers,believethatbeestingscananddorelievetheiraches and pains. “The different types of arthritis and the different chemicalmakeup of individuals could explain why some people react differently thanothers,”hesays.It’ssimilartothefactthatthereisawidevariationinallergic

reactionstostingsamongbothpeopleandpets.Butnote,honeybeevenomispowerfulstuff,whichincludesanalleged40

active substances—including anti-inflammatory substances like melittin andadolapin,whichmayormaynothelplessenpain.2

IdonothavearthritisbutIdoknowwhatit’sliketohaveachesandpainsafter straining amuscle or overdoing it atwork or play.Whenmy aches andpainsvisitme,Idoturntoswimmingandahottub,whichcanworkwonderstorelaxthemusclesandalleviatethehurt.I’llmakeanoteofbeevenomanddownthelinemayconsider it inmygoldenyears(buthydrotherapyataroyalresorthoteldoesseemmoresuitedtomyqueenbeetaste).

ROYALJELLYMAYNOTBEROYALFORALLHUMANSFrombeevenom to royal jelly is quite a leapbut still isn’t for everyone.

Whilehoneylarvaeandtheroyalqueenbeecandineonroyaljelly,itmaynotbetheultimatebeeproductforyou.Asmallnumberofpeoplemayhaveallergicreactionstoroyaljelly.“Asthmaandanaphylaxishasbeennotedinsomepeopleafterconsumingthehoneybee’scrèmeofthecrop,”accordingtoRaySahelian,M.D. He adds that royal jelly has a “blood thinning potential” and so thosepeople taking coumadin (prescribed for a variety of health problems) shouldconsultwiththeirdoctorbeforeindulginginthehoneybee’s“caviar.”

Dr. Sahelian adds that bee products—not just royal jelly—may cause anallergicreactioninsomepeople.So,stopuseifthishappens.Ifyouarepregnantor breast-feeding, consult your health-care professional before using any beeproducts.3

FUNNYHONEYTainted honey is no laughingmatter. In the news you can find past and

presentinformationaboutforeignfirmscaughtinhoneystings.Consumersmaybe buying honey that is chock-full of chemicals and a mixed bag ofcontaminants. The bad buzz is, countless honey companies from a variety ofcountrieshavebeenaccusedofadulteratingtheirhoneywithcheapadditives—notunlikewhathashappenedwithchocolate.

Adulteratedhoney—honeypollutedwithadditivesofa foreignor inferiorsubstance, not excluding antibiotics and antibacterial drugs—can cause healthproblems for people, especially those with chemical sensitivities. Both publichealthofficialsandconsumersarebecomingmoreawareofthisriskybusiness—a honey-laundering game—andmeasures are in action to put a stop to funnyhoneylandinginyourjar.4

HONEYASMEDICINEISSTICKYDespite the threatoffunnyhoney, there isenoughof thegoodstuff togo

aroundhelpingyou live a long andhealthful life.People living at 80, 90, and100areproof.Healthyelderlyfolksaroundtheworlddishoutcredittothepurestuff, thegoodgoldennectar, for theirgoodhealth.Still, theschoolof thoughtonhoneyasmedicineintheUnitedStatesisiffy—atbest.AndthereputationofhoneyathomeintheU.S.asamedicineforpeskyailmentsandlife-threateningdiseasesdoesn’tgettheattentionitdeserves.

While anecdotal evidence and stacks of studies in countries around theworldshowhoneyhashealingpowers,medicaldoctorsintheUnitedStates,beit theWest Coast, the East Coast, the Midwest or the South are wary abouthoneyasmedicine—andaren’tquick toprescribe theancient remedyforheartdisease,cancer,orevenseasonalallergies.

“MostU.S.doctorsarenotawareof thebenefitsof treatmentwithhoneyandarenotwilling to risk theuseof thisnatural substance for legal reasons,”explainsDr.Sahelian.Hepointsoutthatthereisthechancealawsuitcouldbefiled by a patient claiming that the doctor did not use approved antibioticmedications.

“Honeyisnotavailableinhospitalsandadoctordoesnothavetheoptiontorequest the use,” addsDr. Sahelian, who knows thatmanuka honey has beenstudiedbutalsoknowsthathoneyisrarelyusedbyAmericandoctors.“Theroleofhoneyappearstobefortheuseofdiabeticfootulcersandwoundhealing,”heconcludes.Andthisdoesn’tsurpriseme,onewhohaspennedbooksonsubjectsfrom vinegar to earthquake prediction. Nobody wants to rock the world withstudiesaboutunconventionaltheoriesthatdon’tpanout.5

Duringmy visit toHoneyland I discovered that there is a lack ofmega-fundedstudiesbecausepharmaceuticalcompanieshaven’tjumpedonthehoneyhealsbandwagon.Honey:TheGourmetMedicine’sauthorsays,“Honeyisnotaproprietaryproduct—anyonecanbottleandsellhoney.”Hebelievescreatingamedicinalhoneycouldbeprofitableforadrugcompany.

Meanwhile,peoplearoundtheglobeareusinghoneyasafolkremedy.In1998, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approved honey asmedicine.AcompanyinAustraliastartedmarketingmedicalhoneyasawounddressing in pharmacies. Also, in the 21st century European countries sellmedicinalhoneyand someSouthAmericancountries sell honey formedicinaluses.AndintheUnitedStateswearemovingintherightdirection.ManukaisavailabletousviatheInternet.6

KEEPINGITREALANDSWEETSkepticaldoctorsaren’tgoingtostophoneylovers,likemyself,fromusing

theancientsuperfoodforitshealingpowers,especiallyifitworksforthem.Idobelievethathoneyisoneofthemostnatural,accessible,anddeliciousfoodsintheworld,butthefactremainsit’snotalwaysamiracleworkerworkingsolo.

Soyes,Idotoutkeepingitrealandsweetcanhelpyoutostayhealthy—butIdonotclaimhoneycanhealeveryailmentanddisease.Incorporatingversatilehoneyintoahealthfuldietandlifestyle(bothinsideandoutsideyourbody)—inconjunction with conventional medicine if needed—may help you to live alonger,healthier,andsweeterlife,justlikehoneybeesbeingfedahealthydietandlivinginahealthyenvironment.

Healthful recipes, like this real and sweet salad, make a beeline towardgood health.But caution:Keep this salad and other food and beverages awayfromhoneybeesandtheirhivesforsafety’ssakeofyouandyours!

Honey,Mint,andCucumberSalad

Approximately6ounce-tubthickGreekyogurt

4tablespoonsblendedclearhoney

2wholecucumbers,chopped

4tablespoonsmint,freshlychopped

2tablespoonslimejuice

Mintleavesfordecoration

Inalargebowlmixtogetheralltheingredientsuntilcombined.Transfertoservingdish,sprinklewithtornmintleaves,andserveimmediately.Servewiththickcutvegetables,suchaspepper,celeryandcarrot,tortillachips,orwhynottry broken pieces of spicy popadoms for a healthy midday snack or as arefreshingstarttoanymeal....Serves4.

(Source:CourtesyTheHoneyAssociation.)

Ifyouhaveasensitivitytohoneyinternally,itmayworkforyoutopically—forbeauty,candles,cleaners,andotheruses.Inthefuture,Isensethathoney

—thedarkertypes—willbeusedmoreinkitchensandhouseholdsandmedicalclinicsandhospitalsaroundtheglobe.Inchapter16:“AndtheBees’BuzzGoesOn...”you’llberemindedofhowimportantthehoneybee—ourfriend,notfoe—istoourfoodchainandmaybeevensurvival.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH The honey bee is a gentle insect, but if provoked it can sting both

humansandpets. Do not startle or attract bees if you are in a region where there is a

colonyoraswarm—moreaggressive.Honeyshouldneverbegiventoinfantsoneyearoldoryoungerdueto

itspotentialbotulismeffects.Beevenomandroyaljellymayworkforsomepeopleandmaynotwork

wellforothers.Further scientific research is needed in theUnitedStates to prove that

honeycanhelphealavarietyofhealthailmentsanddiseases.Honeyisnotacure-allforeveryailmentanddisease,andhypeaboutits

healingpowersneedstobebroughtdowntoearth.Buthoneyisagift.... Honey used solo and paired with a nutrient-rich diet can often be a

godsendtopeopleinavarietyofways.

CHAPTER16AndtheBees’BuzzGoesOn...Thewildbeereelsfromboughtobough

Withhisfurrycoatandhisgauzywing,

Nowinalily-cup,andnow

Settingajacinthbella-swing,

Inhiswandering;...—OscarWilde1

In my thirties, I relocated to San Carlos on the peninsula in the SanFrancisco Bay Area. The building I ended up finding comfort and producingarticles informore thanadecadewasahoneybee’sdreamhive. Itwas likeaminicolonyofartsy,Europeanpeoplelivingin14unitsofaSpanish-stylerusticbuilding.GardenHaciendaboastedMonet-likemorning-glorybushes,plumandlemontrees,andalargefishpondfullofkoiandfreshwellwater.Itwasmynewhome.

Butthenithappened.Theownerofthepropertywassellingtheland.Bitbybit, like the fish inHemingway’sOldManand theSea tale, thegardensweretornapart.Thecaretakertookasawtothemorning-glorybushes—ahoneybees’hangout.Thevacantareawastomakewayforhistrailer—apreludetowhatwascomingnext.Thebackhousewasdemolishedanda temporary library took itsplace. The groundswere being attacked by predators:mankind.Gentrificationwashappening.Asterilehigh-risecomplexwas in theworks.Anditwas timeforme,onceagain, tofindanewhome, likeabeeswarmseekingsolaceforasafehaventowork.

THEHONEYBEEANDOURFOODCHAINAs I noted in chapter 1, beesmake honey andwork double shifts as key

pollinatorsformankind.Didyouknowthatourcropsdependonthebeekeepersand small honey bee in a bigway?Millions of acres ofU.S. fruit, vegetable,oilseed, and legume crops depend on insect pollination—and that includes thesacredhoneybees.This little insectgiveshumansgifts from thehivebut alsohelpspollinateourcrops,homegardens,andwildlifehabitat.

It’sbeenestimatedbytheUSDAthat80percentofinsectcroppollinationisdonebythehardworkinghoneybees.Ifyoudothemath,thatmeansone-thirdof the total human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, including fruits,legumes,andvegetables—allthegood,healthfulstuffthatyouandIloveandeateachday.Andthat’snotwherethehoneybees’workstops,either.

The almond crop—prevalent in California—also relies on honey beepollination.Anddon’tforgetmostbeefanddairyproductsenjoyedintheUnitedStates count on insect-pollinated legumes, such as alfalfa and clover. FiftypercentofallalfalfaseedcomesfromtheGoldenState.

“Pollination is not a tangible product of bees, but the rental of bees topollinate a variety of crops is amajor sourceof income forU.S. beekeepers,”saysHoney:TheGourmetMedicineauthorJoeTraynor,whorunsapollination(bee rental) and agricultural consulting service in California’s San JoaquinValley. In other words, the value of bees to U.S. crops runs into billions of

dollars,muchmorethanthevalueofthehoneyproducedbythehoneybees.But despite the need for the honey bee—whoworks a double shift with

makinghoneyandpollinatingcrops—there is amegaglitch that isbecomingagrowingproblem:Thehoneybeepopulationisdeclining.

ISTHEHONEYMOONOVER?It’s no secret. Beekeepers across America are witnessing the mysterious

die-offs of bee colonies. Back in 2006, an apiary owner in Lewisburg,Pennsylvania,madetheproblemknown.PennStateresearcherstooknoteofthebeecolonynumbers’decline,duetoaconditionnowknownasColonyCollapseDisorder(CCD).Thisconditioncauseshoneybeecolonies tovanishwithoutatrace—lendingtoTheHappeningandIAmLegendimagesofthrillersci-fifilmsofhumanandanimalextinction.

So, what are busy researchers doing during the honey bee crisis? A lot.PennStateUniversityfoundedanewCenterforPollinatorResearch,andPennStateexperts’concernregardingthethreatsagainstpollinatorsurvivalledtothefirstInternationalConferenceonPollinatorBiology,HealthandPolicy,heldinthesummerof2010atPennState.While theEastCoast scientistsarebusyasbees working out the CCD dilemma, on theWest Coast at the University ofCalifornia,Davis,researchersarealsoatthedrawingboard.

UCDavis, just 100miles south ofme in Lake Tahoe, is home to honeybees.HoneyBeeHavenispartofpollinatorresearch.Itishometomorethan6million bees, thanks toHäagen-Dazs,which is behind the project.A half-acrehoneybeeheavenhasbeencreatedtoeducatestudentsandthepublicaboutourfoodchain’sworkhorses.

Bee expert Dr. Eric Mussen gets the importance of the honey bee’scontributiontoourhealth,whichisthroughfruits,vegetables,andnutsthatareconsideredhealthfoods.Healsoknowsthatpeoplelikeyouandmeusehoneybee–collectedpollens,beevenom,andpropolisfortheirhealingpowers.

TheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture isalso trying tohelpgetahandleonColony Collapse Disorder. In 2010 it dished out $6 million in emergencyassistancetobeekeeperswhohadlosttheirbees.Andscientistsarebusyatworktryingtodiscoverwhatexactlyiscausingthevanishingofhoneybees.2

Theoriesincludeclimatechange,diet,mites,pesticides,andviruses.Also,the stress of traveling for pollination of crops and the usage of cell phones(perhapsdue to theradiation)are in themixedbagofpossibilitiesforwhythebeesareMIA.

Mussenadds,“Noneofusknowwhythebeesarenotasvitalastheyusedtobe.Inmanycasesthismaybeduetolimitedaccesstoagood,variedsupply

ofpollens.”Hehopesinourlifetimescientistswilldiscoverwhatiskillingthehoney bees. “But,” he notes, “even if we find the cause, will we be able toovercomeit?”

Bee Culture magazine editor Kim Flottum is also aware that the globalplagueofCCDstill lingers, buthe remainspositive: “Researchers, beekeepersand concerned citizens all over the world have come together to resolve thehealthissuesourhoneybeesface.”

Adds Flottum: “Researchers have uncovered many of the causescontributing to this problem, and in the process have made significantdiscoveries regarding honey bee nutrition, safety, genetics and habitatrequirements.”Butthereach-outeffortsdon’tstopthere.“Beekeepers,too,havehelped by providing more diverse areas to raise and keep their bees, whileshieldingthemfromtheharsheraspectsofmodernagriculture,mostnotablythelimiteddietsmonoculturecropsprovide.”Inotherwords,stayingclearfromthechemical-laden, artificial world of modern agriculture is paying off whilehardworking farmers are also trying to help the honey bee crisis in how theyprotect their crops from the pests and disease with agrichemicals, reducingeventswherehoneybeesanddeadlypesticidescollide.

SavetheHoneyBeeWhat do ice creamand candyhave in common?Both sweets have sweet

companiesthatusehoneyintheirproductsandarebehindsavingthehoneybee.And two rescuers—who produce sweet products using real honey that I’veenjoyed likeahoneybee splurgingonahoney—are supporting thehoneybeeresearchatUCDavis.

Häagen-Dazs offers Vanilla Honey Bee ice creammade with real honeyandallnaturalingredients.Theyknowthatthehoneybeespollinateone-thirdofournaturalfoods, includingmanyof theingredients theyusetocraft their100percent all-natural ice cream.They are funding research anddriving efforts tosavethesepetitepollinators.

Gimbal’sFineCandies inSanFrancisco(www.gimbalscandy.com)isalsoaware that we need to act to save our hardworking friends. In 2010, theylaunched a candy dubbed Honey Lovers. These are heart-shaped fruit chewsmade with real honey and are rich in antioxidant vitamin C. Each serving ofHoney Lovers contains 25 percent of your daily vitaminC needs.During thecreationof thishoneybook, I snackedon16buzz-worthy flavors toppedwithhoney, including Pomegranate Honey, Honey Dipped Strawberry, HoneyVanilla,andOrchardPear’nHoney.

Herearewayswecanhelpkeepthehoneybeealiveandwell,straightfrom

Mussen: Devote a portion of your property to growing annual and perennialplants that bloom consecutively over the whole season that honey bees arecollectingnectarandpollensforfood.Reducetheuseofpesticidesofallkindstoaminimum.Inareaswithextendeddryperiods,supplyfreshwaterinawayso thatvisitingbeesdon’t becomeanuisance.Considerdonating funds tobeeresearchersaroundthecountrywhoare tryingtodeterminethecausesofCCDandwhatcanbedonetobolsterthebeepopulations.

AWOLHONEYBEESFROMABEEKEEPER’SPERSPECTIVEMeet James,acaringbeekeeperwith17colonies,whoadmitshe isnota

formally educated guy but is an apt pupil of nature and human nature. Hemaintains bees and teaches sustainable beekeeping workshops on his 35-acrehomestead in the Ozarks, which he likes to call Bee Landing(www.beelanding.com).

Hecaresaboutbeesand it shows inhiswords:“Mybreederqueen ismyfirstlove.SheismostlyRussian,sosheisquitedark,almostblack.Sheisagreatqueenandverygentle.Shehasproducedninedaughterqueens just thisyear. Iwhisper sweetnothings inher ear andcallhermybeautyqueen.”Here isonedevotedbackyardbeekeeper’s-eye-viewofthealarmingdie-offofhoneybees....

Inmyopinion,itisourmonoculturesocietyandmentality.Wehavealteredthe honey bee and the bee hive to a degree thatwe haveweakened them andmade them more susceptible to diseases that they could normally fend offthemselves. We have sent them out to gather pollen and nectar in a toxicenvironment—likeorchardswith insect disorders that need tobe sprayedwithpesticides, fungicides, and other cides.Howhavewe altered the bee and hivefromwhatnatureintended?Herearemytopthreeconcerns:

Super Size Me Disorder: In commercial beekeeping the bees aresubstantially larger than they are in nature.Larger cell size has allowedmites(anotherdisorder) to run rampant through thehivesof theworld. Incidentally,you can guesswhat is used to combat this problem—not common sense or astudyingofthebeesbutamiteicide.

Thinking Inside the Box Disorder: The hive is designed more for theconvenienceofthebeekeeperthanforthebees.Wehavetakenthemoutoftheirhollowlog,rockcrevices,andotherfoundhabitatsandconfinedthemtosquare,squatboxes.Whichmeanstheycannolongerbuildtheirlongandelegantcomb,which can be measured in feet, not inches. I’m still trying to learn howconfinementaffectsthebees.

GeographicallyChallengedDisorder:Thebeesaremassbred (artificiallyinseminated) in the southern states and dispersed around the country. Thisreduces genetic diversity and creates a situation ripe for disaster. Weakenedgenetics,Ifeel,arealargepartofourcurrentbeecrisis.

So...What am I doing andwhat do I recommend you do about it? Stopdoing things for the bees! Just stand back and watch nature. Stop all thechemicaltreatments,andletthebeesliveordieontheirown.Thebeesthatliveareyourbreedingstock, thebees thatdieareno longer inyourgenepool.Golocal.Ifyouarenotintokeepingbees,thengettoknowandsupportyourlocalbeekeeper, and if you are a beekeeper buy your bees from an existing naturalbeekeeperasclosetoyouaspossible.

UH-OH!CANCCDHARMTHEHONEYYOUEAT?IfColonyCollapseDisordercanwipeoutacolonyofbees,canitaffectthe

honeyyoueat?OnebeekeepertoldmethegruelingstoryofhowCCDwipedout50 of his colonies.Naturally, empathy set in, since I’ve penned articles aboutdogpacksdyingonebyonetoamysterydiseaseandlosingacatfornoknowncause.NottoforgetthefishI’vefoundbellyupinmyaquariumsformonths—andmynotknowingthecauseofdemise.Butthen,fearhitme.WhenIopenedajar of a company’s honey, I pondered, Is this honey safe for humans to eat?Remember, I’m a health author with a vivid imagination and a closethypochondriac,too.

I contacted bee expert Flottum and posed the unforgettable classicMarathonMan’s chilling question: “Is it safe?” This honey bee book author,whokeeps6to10coloniesinthebackyard,calmedmyfear(somewhat)withhiswords.FlottumdoesnotbelievehoneyitselfcanbeaffectedbyCCD.

“PartoftheCCDissueiscombcontaminationfrombeekeeper-andfarmer-appliedpesticidesand,thoughnotthesolecauseofCCD,issuspectedofbeingacontributortothestresslevelinthehive,”hesays.“Todate,honeyhasn’tbeenfound to have these chemicals involved because the chemicals are soluble inwax,notwater(honey),sothat’sgood.”AndsoitseemsCCDisamixedbagofhoneybeeailments,notaffectingthesafetyofeatingnectarofthegods.

Buttheglitchis,notesFlottum,theamountofhoneyproducedisaffectedbyCCDbecauseof thedie-off in thehoneybeepopulation.And if thehoneybeesdon’tgethelpfromman,bothbeekeepersandmankindwillfeelthepain,becauseextinctionofthiskeypollinatorwillaffectourfoodchainandhealthasweknowit.

ANEWCROPOFBEEKEEPERSCurrently, honeybees andbeekeepers are being challenged, but that isn’t

stoppingtheskyrocketingnumberofbeginningbeekeepersfromenteringthebeeculture. Flottum’s classes are fuller than they have been in a decade, sales ofbeekeepingequipmentareontherise,andthesalesofbeesarenotdisappearing.Ifyou think theup-and-comingbeekeepersarecountry folk, thinkagain.Meetthe new urban beekeepers who live in Denver, New York, and Minneapolis,thankstotherelaxationoflawsrestrictingbeekeeping.Andmanyofthepeopleare women. “The greatest drive,” says Flottum, “is that people want morecontrolintheirlives...especiallycontroloverwheretheirfoodcomesfrom.”

Astheyearspass,by2050Isensethatthehoney—notunlikeolivegrovesand cocoa plants and other foods, such as produce—will continue to bechallenged by bothMother Nature andmankind. The demandmay be higherthan thesupply,and thiscouldbeagoodandbad thing.And,ofcourse, I seemore of a self-reliance trend happening, where people will make their ownhoneyandgrowtheirownfood.It’sself-preservation.

Meanwhile,researchersarebusyasbeesatworktofindoutwhythebusyhoneybeeisMIA,affectingbeekeepers’livelihoods,thehoneyindustry,andourcrops thatareatgreat riskdue to lackofpollination if thehoneybeebecomesextinct.Idopredictthatdespitetoday’splightofthehoneybee,wewillfindaway to preserve the insect that is linked to the Earth. And geologist JimBerkland, a dear friend and octogenarian, penned this poem for me and thesacredhoneybee.

ToBeeorNottoBeeAbeeintheBibleanditshoneyfillsaneedFulfilledwhenwilledbybeekeeperswhileagingupsomemead.ThegrapeisfinetomakesomewinebuthoneyisthewayTogiveabuzzsosweetlythatyoumaybemovedtopray.

The“HoneyWine,”historically,datesbackfivethousandyears.WhenEnglishchosetohitthe“sack”theydidn’tpicksomebears;Whatwouldsucceedwasknightlymead,fermentedandwellaged.ButwhoknewthattheNewWorldraisednosinglehoneybee;Theycamewhentouriststiredoffightingskeetersandtheflea;Weblesssomebugs,especiallywhentheyhelpplantspollinate;Whenhoneybeesarrived,theythrivedinhivesandUtahState.

Acaciaortupelohoneysoonfoundcloverwastherage;

Thenheatherortheleatherwoodwouldsooncompletewithsage.Butnowthe“emptyhivesyndrome”leavesbeekeeperslittleplan;Wehopeourhoneybeessurvive,andsurvivebeyondthetimeofman.

—JimBerkland,Geologist

GlenEllen,California

Inchapter17:“TheJoyofCookingwithHoney”Iamasexcitedasavirginqueenbeeinflighttosharecookingtipswithyou.Youmaynotknowthatthereisawholenewworldoutthere,whichyouwilldiscoverwhenyourealizethatyes,youcancookandbakewiththegoldennectar.

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCH There are three groups of beekeepers: hobbyists, part-timers, and

commercialbeekeepers.Acommercialbeekeepermaintains300ormorebeecolonies. The top five honey-producing states areNorthDakota, SouthDakota,

Florida,Minnesota,andCalifornia.One-thirdofourdietcomesfrominsect-pollinatedplants.Research isongoingon theWestCoastandEastCoastandaround the

worldtofindoutwhatiscausingthebeecolonynumberstodeclineandhowtosolvetheproblem.

Anewcropofbeekeepersincitiesiscroppingupaspeoplearetakinganinterestingrowingtheirownvegetablesandproducingtheirownhoneys.

CHAPTER17TheJoyofCookingwithHoneyIfyouhavenohoneyinyourPot,havesomeinyourMouth.—BenjaminFranklin1

Inthespringof1999,aftertwotripstoLakeTahoe,Ifoundanewbee-likerefugeamidtall treesandwater.Onthesouthshore,anOldTahoe–stylecabin

nestledinpinetreescaughtmyeye.Itscharmwaswoodpaneling,highbeamedceilings, and a rock fireplacewith a quaint kitchen for a queen bee or humanwithbee-liketraits.Onceagain,andmaybeforthelasttime,Imigrated,seekingahomeandaplacetoproduceandhousekeeplikeaqueenbee.

It was a treacherous trek: about 200 miles in midsummer without air-conditioningtravelingthroughSacramento(105degrees).Mycat,Alex,13,andBrittany,Dylan, 9, copedwith the challenge of the heat; I lostmy 5-year-oldbeta, Shakespeare, to fish heaven. Still, like a strong and steadfast colonywesurvivedtheharshelementsofnatureandarrivedatourdesignateddestination.

During my past travels and present journey through Honeyland, I’velearnedthatthehardworkinglittlehoneybeeisabigdealtoourhealthandwell-being.Honeyisagrowingtrendincookingandbaking—andpeopleneedtogetthisfact.What’smore,honeyhastheabilitytoabsorbmoisture.Simplyput,thisfoodofthegodscanmakeyourbreads,cakes,candies,andcookieskeepfreshandmoistlonger.That’sasgoodasitgets.

MEDITERRANEANDIETSHOPPINGLISTDid you know that honey can be used in breakfast, appetizers, sauces,

vegetables,andentreesaswellasdesserts?Thebestpart is,byteaminghoneywith common Mediterranean foods you can enjoy a way of eating for lifewithoutdieting.(Inchapter6:“TheMediterraneanSweetener”IprovideachartofspecificcommonfoodsandflavorsoftheMediterraneandietpyramid.)

The first step toMediterraneancooking ishaving the right foods rightonhand. Below you’ll find common staples found in Mediterranean kitchens—straightfromtheMediterraneanFoodsAlliance,anOldwaysProgram.

OntheShelvesBeansandlegumes:chickpeas,cannellinibeans,favabeans,kidneybeans,

lentils,peanutsBreads:driedbreadcrumbs,foccacia,lavash,pitaCannedfruitCannedseafood:anchovies,clams,salmon,sardines,tunaCannedvegetablesCapersDriedfruitGarlicGrains:bulgur,couscous,cornmeal,farro,millet,oats,polenta,rice,quinoa,

semolinaHoney

Nuts:almonds,hazelnuts,pinenuts,pistachios,walnutsOils:canolaoil,extra-virginoliveoil,hazelnutoil,walnutoilOlivesOnionsPastas(alltypes)PotatoesRaisinsSalt:kosher,sea,andiodizedSpices: basil, bay leaves, black pepper, celery seed, cinnamon, cloves,

coriander, crushed red pepper, cumin, curry powder, dill, fennel seeds, garlicpowder,ginger,oregano,paprika,rosemary,saffron,sage,sesameseeds,thyme,turmeric

TahiniTapenadesTomatoProducts:canned tomatoes, tomatosauce, tomatopaste, sun-dried

tomatoesVinegars:balsamic,champagne,cider,redwine,sherry,whitewine

IntheFridgeCheeses

Eggs

Freshfruit

Freshmeatandpoultry

Freshseafood

Freshvegetables

Fruitjuice:grape,orange,pomegranate

Hummus

Lemonjuice

Milk

Yogurt

IntheFreezerFrozenfruit

Frozenseafood

Frozenvegetables

Sorbet

HONEYWITHMEDITERRANEANHEARTANDSOULHerearesomeofthebestbakingandcookinghoneysataglancethatyou

shouldknowaboutbeforeyouflyintoyourkitchen.(Formoreinformation,gobacktochapter7:“HealingHoneyVarieties.”)

Honey Flavor Uses Alfalfa Mild Desserts such as cookies and tartsBasswood Fruity Mixed with butter for a spread Blackberry Sweet, fruityCobblers, pies, smoothiesBlueberryFruityMuffins, sconesBuckwheatStrongSauces,molassescookies,gingerbreadCloveSweetSalads,breadsCloverSweetGlazes for hamCranberry Fruity and tartBreads, fruitcake, glazes for poultryEucalyptusStrong,earthyGlazesforpoultry,saladdressingsGoldenrodFloral,spicyBreads, cakes, cookiesLavenderStrong, richGlazes forpoultry, breads,muffinsLemonCitrusy, tartCakes, cookies,muffinsOrangeBlossomCitrusy,sweet Glazes for fish, poultry, muffins, pies Raspberry Floral, fruity Cakes,muffins,vinaigrettesSageHerbalGlazesformeatandpoultrySourwoodSweet,spicy Breads, cakes, cookies, cream soups, glazes formeat or poultry TupeloFruity Biscuits, muffins Wildflower Floral, sweet Breads, cakes, cookies,shortbread

THEHONEYBAKINGRULESYOU’LLKNEADFindingrecipesthatusehoneywasnotatask—butittookmeawhiletoget

down the tricks of the tradewhen switching to honey and/or lightening up orlosingthesugarforgood.You’lldiscoverthatfoodswillstayfresherlonger,butalso,honeylessensthatcrumblytextureincookiesandscones.Andbecauseofitshighfructosecontent,honeyhasmoresweeteningpowerthansugar,soyou’lluselessandreaphealthierfoods.

Here, take a look at five savvy tips, gleaned from Honey Ridge Farms,that’llsticklikebeeglueonceyoustartcookingwiththesupersweetener:

1.Substitutehoneyforuptohalfthesugar.Withtrialanderror,honeycanbeswitchedforallsugarinsomerecipes.

2.Reducetheamountofliquidintherecipeby¼cupforeachcupofhoneyused.

3.Add¼to½teaspoonbakingsodaforeachcupofhoneyused.4.Reduceoventemperatureby25degreestopreventoverbrowning.5.One12-ouncejarofhoneyequalsastandard8-ouncemeasuringcup.During my adventures in Honeyland, I got stuck on the Ancient Roman

Cheesecake recipe in chapter 2, since it calls for grams in its ingredients. Ineededahumanconverter.Then,Istumbleduponsomehoneyconversionchartsthatarebuzz-worthy.

BEEHONEYHONEYVOLUMEVS.WEIGHTCONVERSIONS

CONVERT CUP OF HONEY INTO GRAMS, OUNCES, ORTABLESPOONS

HONEYEQUIVALENTMEASUREMENTS

(Source:Courtesywww.traditionaloven.com.)So,nowthatIcookandbakedisheswithavarietyofhoneyvarietals,it’sa

sweetleapI’dlikeyoutotry.Here,thistantalizingrecipefromaspachefwillnudgeyou to joinus andenjoy theadventurecookingandbakingon the longandwindinghoneybrickroad.

GrilledChickenwithTangerineHoneyandChipotleGlaze,OliveOilCrushedPotatoes,andGreenBeans

FORTHEGLAZE2cupsfreshtangerinejuice

5tablespoonshoney

2tablespoonsfinelygratedtangerinepeelorMandarinorangepeel

2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce (Chipotlechilies are dried, smoked jalapeños canned in a spicy tomato sauce,which iscalledadobo.

Theyareavailableatsomesupermarkets,specialty foodstores,andLatinmarkets.)

Boiljuiceandhoneyinheavy,medium-sizesaucepanuntilreduced cup,about20minutes.Mixingratedpeelandchipotlechilies.

FORTHECHICKEN1cupfreshtangerinejuiceororangejuice

cupchoppedfreshparsley

cupchoppedfreshcilantro

1tablespoonmincedgarlic

3tablespoonschoppedfreshthyme

2tablespoonsEVOO

2tablespoonsfinelygratedtangerinepeelor

Mandarinorangepeel

4bonelesschickenbreasts

1teaspooncoarsekoshersalt

Combinethejuices,herbs,garlic,oil,andorangepeelinabowlandblend.Addchickenandcoatwithmarinade.Cover;chillat least4hoursandup to1day,turningoccasionallyasnecessary.

Preparethebarbequegrilltomediumheat.Removechickenfrommarinade;discardmarinade.Sprinklechickenlightlywithsalt.Grillchickenuntilcookedthrough,turningandrepositioningoccasionallyforevencooking,about15to18minutes.Brushchickenalloverwithglaze;grill2minuteslongeroneachside.

FORTHEPOTATOES2cupsoffingerlingpotatoes,washed

Watertocookpotatoes

¼cupEVOO

1tablespoonkoshersalt

Blackpeppertotaste

2tablespoonschoppedfreshchives

Placethecleanpotatoesina3-quartsaucepan;coverwithcoldwater.Placeonthestoveovermedium-highheat.Whenwaterboils,reducetoahighsimmer.Cookuntil thepotatoesaresoft.Thisshould takeabout20minutes.Drainanddiscardthewater.

Placepotatoes inabowlandcrushwitha fork.Once theyareprettywellcrushedandchunky,add theEVOO,salt,pepper,andchives.Continue tomixuntilallcombined.Checkseasoningasdesired.

FORTHEGREENBEANS

1cupgreenbeanssuchasbluelakebeans

Watertocookbeans

2tablespoonsEVOO

1tablespoonshallots

Koshersalt

Blackpeppertotaste

Placea2-quartsaucepanonthestove,bringtoaboil,andaddthecleanedgreenbeans.Cookfor1to2minutestosoftenandblanchthebeans.Removethebeans from thewater andplace them in abowlof icewater to shock themorstopthecooking.

Whenreadytoserve,inalargeskillet:Heattheoil,addtheshallotsandthebeans,andsautéovermediumheat,turningoften.Oncetheyarehot,addthesaltandpeppertotaste.Removefromthepanandserveimmediately.

TOSERVEServethegrilledchickenbreastwitholiveoil,mashedpotatoes,andgreen

beans.Youmaywanttocoatthechickenwiththeglazebeforeserving.Makes4

servings.(Source:JamieWest,ExecutiveChef,

OjaiValleyInn&Spa.)

Nowthatyou’velearnedeverythingyouwanttoknowabouthealinghoneybutwereafraid to ask, it’s time tobring in the sweet recipes foryour sweeterlife,inpart8:“HoneyRecipes.”

UN-BEE-LIEVABLEHEALINGHINTSTOCATCHIfyouusetherightingredients,thetreatsyoucookandbakewithhoney

willturnouttastier,lastlonger,andbemorehealthfulthanifyouusedsugar.Learnthedifferenttypesofhoneysandtheirusesfordifferenttypesof

dishes. Do use dark honey for a more healthful recipe and reap the health

benefitsofitsantioxidantsteamedwithMediterraneanfoods.Discoverthroughtrialanderror(don’tgiveup,andthechangesmaybe

differentforyou)howtomaketheswitchfromsugartohoneyinyourdishes.

PART8HONEYRECIPES

CHAPTER18Ciao,Honey!Fortherest,whateverwehavegothasbeenbyinfinitelabor,andsearch,

andrangingthrougheverycornerofnature;thedifferenceisthatinsteadofdirtand poison,we have rather chosen to fill our hiveswith honey andwax, thusfurnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness andlight.

—JonathanSwift1

I recall a fewwintertime beeR&R days of house-and dog-sitting for aneighbor at Lake Tahoe.One chilly afternoon, completewith snow flurries, I

wasrelaxingbythewarmfireplace,cuddleduponthesofawithmyindependentBrittanyandaclingyrat terrier.Iwatchedback-to-backsci-fifilmsandsippedteawithhoney. I treatedmyself to theoutdoorhot tuband indoorbubblebathwhilemunchingonwarmhomemadesconesspreadwithcreamedhoney.

That cozy Tahoe setting, complete with sweet treats, brought backmemories of my childhood. Companion animals, movies, and special sweetgoodiesarethegoodtreasuresinlifethatgiveusthosewarmandfuzzyfeelingsoncolddays.Soduringtheweekdaysorweekends,youcanoftenfindmeinthekitchenwhippingupaneworoldrecipe—ofteninfusedwithhoney—tofeedmybodyandspirit.

You,likeme,haveenteredyourkitchen—aplacewhereyoucannowsavorhoney for breakfast, appetizers, main entrees, and desserts.While I sprinkleddozens of tried-and-true recipes throughout The Healing Powers of Honey, Isaved50honeydeliciousnessdishes(includingbreakfast,appetizersandbreads,entrees and desserts), from seasoned chefs at Canyon Ranch; Golden Door’sformerchefMichelStroot,fromBelgium;andothers.

These good-for-you healing recipes are chock-full of nutritious fruits,vegetables, fish, andpoultry.Also, the chefs did not ignore using a variety ofvinegars, olive oil, and chocolate. Common Mediterranean foods, includinggarlic, onions, milk, yogurt, as well as healing spices, are often part of therecipes. For best results, use the honey flavor and brands mentioned in eachrecipe.

HONEYSANDCUISINESFROMDIFFERENTCOUNTRIES

While there are at least 300 honey varietals in the United States, it’sbelievedbyhoneyproponentsthattheremaybe3,000typesaroundtheglobe.Ifyou’re craving a trip or foods from a faraway foreign country, you canexperienceexcitingtastesandtextureswithoutgettingonanairplane.Just turntoahoneyoftheregionandpairitwithethniccuisine.2;3

On the home front in Northern California, the honey people around theglobehavespoiledmethroughouttheresearchofTheHealingPowersofHoney.At least twice a week I would find a box of honeys—creamed, honeycomb,jellies, sauces—onmy doorstep.My pantry is overflowingwith containers ofhoney—andthankstooneonlineshopIgottotasteexotichoneysnotfoundatmylocalhealth-foodstore,farmer’smarket,orfriendlySafeway.ManyofthesehoneyscamefromseasonedbeekeeperswhohadAustralianandEuropeanroots.Anditwasadreamcometruetobeabletotastethesedelights.Herearetwoof

my favorite honeys from other countries, which are available atwww.ChefShop.com:

Italy (ItalianSolmielato organic lemonblossomhoney). Italy is toutedforitspasta,pizzaandeggplantparmigiana,andcheesecake.Italianfoodscanbegoodforyouifyoupracticeportioncontrol—andpairfoodswithhoneysuchasItalian Solmielato organic lemon blossom honey. Described as “sunshine in ajar,”thispurelemonblossomhoneywillturnrainydaysintosunnyones.Inthelemon groves on the Tyrrhenian coast ofCalabria inMay, FilippoLeonardi’sbees turn the sweet lemon nectar into a refreshingly zesty yet delicate honey,withacreamytexture.Ienjoyeditwithmyfavoritedarkchocolatepastry.Italsoworkswellwithricottacheese,anherbaldressingforasalad,premiumFrenchvanillaicecream,andcheesecake.

Tasmania (French lavender honey). Few people know that northwestTasmania has the largest planting of French lavender in the SouthernHemisphere. French lavender honey is an unforgettable treat. Delicate andfragrant, it is perfect to pairwith a scone or French vanilla ice cream. It’s anacquiredtaste—likequalitydarkchocolatefromabroad.

BEFOREYOUUSEHONEY•Honeystoredinsealedcontainerscanremainstablefordecadesandeven

centuries.•Forpracticalpurposes,ashelf lifeof twoyears isoftenstated.When in

doubt,throwitoutandpurchaseanewjarofhoney.•Ifyourhoneycrystallizes,simplyplacethehoneyjarinwarmwaterand

stiruntilthecrystalsdissolve.Orplacethehoneyinamicrowave-safecontainerwith the lid off andmicrowave, stirring every thirty seconds until the crystalsdissolve.Becarefulnottoboilorscorchthehoney.


THEFOURSEASONS

HONEYHEALTH-BOOSTINGMENUPLAN

Thisfour-dayhoneydietplanisbasedontheseasonsandanutritiousandnatural diet plan that uses honey. Yes, like a honey bee, you can have your

honey and eat it, too! Recipes can be found in previous chapters or in thischapter.Youcanmixandmatchtosuityourpersonaltaste.

Winter:Day1

Breakfast:

1pieceoffreshfruit

1CinnamonHoneyBuna

2scrambledeggswithcheddarcheese

1glassoffreshgrapefruitjuice

1cupoffresh-brewedcoffeeorteaandhoney

Lunch:

2ouncesfetacheeseand½cupleafyspinachtoppedonawhole-

wheatpitapocketwith½slicedtomato;microwavetillcrispy

andhot

1cupGreekplainyogurtwithslicesoffreshseasonalfruit

Snack:

Nuts

Fruit

Dinner:

Honey-GlazedGameHena

½cupgreenpeas

1sweetpotato

Snack:

Acupoforganicmilkwith1teaspoonhoneyandcinnamon

Spring:Day2

Breakfast:

2slicesHoneyCustardFrenchToastwithslicedberriesontopa

Cafémochawithskimmilk

1banana

Lunch:

Tunafishsandwichwithtomatoslices

1cuphomemadevegetablesoup

1cupfreshfruitsalad

Snack:

OnionandHoneyBruschetta*

1cupfreshlemonadewith1teaspoonhoney

Dinner:

HoneyRoastLambwithCouscous*

Tossedgreensaladwithvinegarandoliveoildressing

Frenchbreadandoliveoil

Snack:

Freshfruitovervanillaall-naturalicecreamorcheesedrizzledwithhoney

Summer:Day3

Breakfast:

HoneyBiscotti*

1bowlofoatmealandfreshfruit

1cupcoffeeorherbalteawith1teaspoonhoney

1glassfreshorangejuice

Lunch:

SpringRolls*

½cuprice

1cupGreekhoneyyogurt

Snack:

Freshfruit

Dinner:

Cobbsalad

Mixedvegetables

1glassredwine

Snack:

1servingofStrawberryChocolateTart*

Fall:Day4

Breakfast:

Whole-WheatCinnamonApplePancakes*

1cupskimorlow-fatmilk

6ouncesfreshfruitjuice

1cupcafémocha

Lunch:

1sliceorganicvegetarianpizzawithwhole-wheatcrust

1cupleafyspinachsaladwithtomatoes,carrots,redwinevinegar,

andoliveoildressing

1cupyogurtwith1teaspoonhoney

Snack:

1cupofcruciferousvegetables,raw

1cupherbaltea

Dinner:

HoneyMustardChickenTenders*

Cornbreadspreadwithhoney

½cupgreenvegetable

Snack:

1sliceAppleHoneyPie*

1cupcinnamontea

A Bee’s Buzz on How Much to Eat: Like Europeans, I do not countcalories. However, I do rely on portion control—I eat small meals on smallplates—tokeepmycalories incheck. (AndIdonoteatafter7:00P.M.)Readfood labels and you’ll see how easy it is to decode one serving size and itsingredients(i.e.,cholesterol,fat,sodium,etcetera)andifit’snaturalorincludesartificialstuff.Butnote,servingsizesalsodependonactivitylevel,size,gender,and age. Don’t forget, most health organizations recommend five to nineservingsoffruitsandvegetablesperday.

BreakfastImagine:You’reinaposhMediterranean-stylehotelroom.It’squiet.Your

eyesfeastontheperfectlinenwhitesheetsandcozycomforter,withachocolatemintonyourpillow.Yousmell the fresh,white, fluffy towelsanda sparklingcleanroom—allyours.You’retunedintocablemovies,withoutworktodoandwithnohumanorfurrychildrendemands.Thebestpartis:roomservice.Inthemorning,youknowyoucanreachforthetelephoneandplaceyourorder:Frenchtoast with sliced fruit; tea and honey on the side. That was the scenario Iexperienced—more than once—when I was on the road like a bee used forpollinationservicesduringbooktourswithoutmyhigh-maintenanceBrittanys.

Mylifeintherealworldisabitdifferent.OnSundaymorningwhenIcravethat room-service instant gratification thing, I have to put a little effort intogettingmybreakfast.Sure,Iwouldlovetohaveroomservice,butDIYbreakfasttreats like I provide below, such asHoney Custard French Toast andWholeWheatCinnamonApplePancakes,havetheirperks.Notetoself:Callourlocaldog trainer and see how many sessions it would take to train my caninecompanions tomake and servemebreakfast inbed. I’d settle formy sportingpoochestoretrievemeacupofjava.Candogsdothat?

AppleSpiceMuffins

Bomboloni(ItalianDoughnuts)

CaliforniaBreakfastBread

CrepesMyrtilles

HoneyBiscotti

HoneyCustardFrenchToast

SavannahBeeBreakfastSmoothie

WholeWheatCinnamonApplePancakes

AppleSpiceMuffins

Vegetableoilinaspraybottle,or1teaspoonvegetableoil

1½cupsold-fashionedrolledoats

1teaspoonbakingsoda

2teaspoonsbakingpowder

1teaspoongroundcinnamon

¼teaspoongratednutmeg

1¼cupswhole-wheatflour

1cupapplesauce

1FujiorGalaapple,peeled,coredanddiced

4eggwhites,lightlybeaten

¾cuphoney

¾cupraisins

½cupnonfatplainyogurt

Preheatovento375ºF.Sprayorgreasea12-cupmuffintinwithvegetableoil. In a wide-based blender or a food processor fitted with a metal blade,process the rolled oats until they become a fine flour. Sift the baking soda,baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large mixing bowl. Stir in thewhole-wheatflourandoats.Usingaspatula,makeadepressionor“well”inthecenter of the dry ingredients and add the applesauce, diced apple, beaten eggwhites, honey, raisins and yogurt. Stir gently but thoroughly, just until all theflour is incorporated into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared muffincups,fillingthemabout full.

Bake for25minutes, oruntil the topsof themuffins are lightlybrownedandatoothpickinsertedintothecenterofamuffincomesoutclean.Turnontoawirerack;servewarmorletcool.Makes12muffins.

(Source: Reprinted with permission from The Golden Door Spa CooksLight&EasybyChefMichelStroot,publishedbyGibbsSmith,2003.)

Bomboloni(ItalianDoughnuts)

½cupmilk,lukewarm

1packagedryyeast

2½cupsflour

½teaspoonsalt

¼cupsugar

1teaspoonvanilla

2eggs(or4eggwhites)

¼cupMarsalaOliveOil

Oliveoilforcooking

½to1cuphoneyfordrizzling

In small mixing bowl add milk; sprinkle with yeast. Let stand about 5minutesuntildissolved.Inanothermixingbowl,combineflour,saltandsugar,makewellincenter.Pourinyeastmixture,vanilla,eggsandoliveoil.Stiruntildoughholdstogether.

Onlightlyflouredboard,kneaddoughuntilsmoothandelastic.Placebackinbowl,coverand let rinse inawarmplaceuntildoubled.Turndoughoutonlightly floured board, cut dough intowalnut size pieces, and shape into balls.Flatten slightly, cover, let stand 10 minutes. In small saucepan, add 2 inchesolive oil, heat to 350ºF. Cook dough pieces until golden brown on all sides.Remove with slotted spoon. Place on clean paper towel lined baking sheet.Arrangeonservingplate.

Bombolinimaybefilledwithsmallamountofcustardorjam.Sprinklewithcinnamon. Drizzle with honey. [Good choices are wildflower and clovervarietals.]Doughmaybecutwithdoughnutcookiecutter.Serves40to50.

(Source: CourtesyGemma Sanita Sciabica,Baking with CaliforniaOliveOil:DolciandBiscottiRecipes.)

CaliforniaBreakfastBread

½cupSueBeeHoney®

2cupslow-fatbuttermilk

¼cupraisins

1cupall-purposeflour

½cupwheatgerm

1½cupswholewheatflour

1teaspoonsalt

2teaspoonsbakingsoda

¼cupmolasses

¼cupchoppednuts

Preheatovento400ºF.Preparenonstickloafpanbysprayingwithcookingspray.Mixtogetherallingredientsandpourintopreparedpan.Placepaninovenandloweroventemperatureto350ºF.Bakefor1hour.Turnloafoutonrackandcool.Allowbreadtocoolatleast8hoursbeforeslicingandtoastingthisbread.

(Source:Courtesy:SueBeeHoney®)

CrepesMyrtilles

FORTHEPANCAKES2ouncesflour

Pinchofsalt

1egg,beaten

¼pintmilk

1ouncebutter

FORTHEFILLING2ouncesbutter

2ouncescastersugar

4teaspoonscloverhoney

7ouncesblueberries

Splashofcassisorcognac

Firstmake the pancakes. Place flour and salt in a bowl and beat in egg.Graduallyaddmilkandbeatmoretogiveasmooth,thinbatter—itshouldbetheconsistencyofsinglecream.Meltalittlebutterinapanandaddascantladleful

ofbatter.Swirlaroundtocoatthebottomofthepanthinly.Cookovermediumheat until the underside is beginning to brown. Flip over and cook other side.Repeatwithremainingbutterandbatter.Coolpancakes.

Foldpancakesinhalf,theninhalfagaintogiveatriangularpocket.Heat1ouncebutterinapancakepanandadd1ouncesugar.Bubbletodissolvesugarandmakeasyrup.Spoonbutterymixoverandheatthrough.Addhalfhoneyandjustmelt—dothisatthelastminuteashoneycanscorch.Repeatwithremainingingredients,pancakesandblueberries.Serveimmediatelyfinishedwithasplashofcassisorcognac.Serves4.

(Courtesy:TheHoneyAssociation.)

HoneyBiscotti

½cupsugar

3½cupsflour


1teaspoonsalt

2teaspoonscinnamon

½teaspooncloves

1¼teaspoonsnutmeg

3eggs(or6eggwhites)

cupMarsalaOliveOil

1cuphoney

½teaspoonalmondextract

½cupalmondsslicedorchopped

¾cupmacadamiaorwalnutschopped

½cuphazelnutschoppedcoarsely

½cupmaraschinocherrieschoppedsmall

2tablespoonsmaraschinocherrysyrupifneeded

4ouncessemisweetbakingchocolatemelted,cooled

Gratedpeelof1or2oranges

Siftdryingredients,includingorangepeel[exceptcherriesandhazelnuts],intoamixingbowl.Makewell incenter. Inanotherbowladdeggs,oil,honeyandalmondextract;stir.Poureggmixtureintodryingredients.Stiruntildoughholds together. Add nuts and cherries/ syrup. Place dough on floured board,knead,andcutinto6pieces.Rolleachpieceintoa2-by-12-inchlog.Placelogsonfoillinedgreasedbakingsheet,4inchesapart.Bakeina350ºFovenforabout20minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and cool about 15minutes.Withserratedknifecutlogsdiagonallyinto½inchthicksliceswithagentlesawingmotion.Placebiscottibackonbakingsheet,cutsidedown.Bake8to10minutestocrisp.Makes70–80.


HoneyCustardFrenchToast

½cuphoney

1cupmilk

6eggs

1½teaspoonscinnamon

teaspoonsalt

12slices(¾-inchthick)Frenchbread

Butter

Honeyandtoastedpecanpieces

In large bowl, beat together honey, milk, eggs, cinnamon and salt. Dipbreadslicesineggmixture,turningtocoat.Brownsoakedslicesinbutterovermedium heat, turning once. Serve with honey and sprinkle with pecans, ifdesired.


SavannahBeeBreakfastSmoothie

2cupsmilk

¼cupSavannahBeeCompanyOrangeBlossomHoney

1banana

½cuporangejuice

¼cuppowderedmilk

¼cupwheatgerm

Ice

Combineingredientsinablenderandmixwell.

(Source:CourtesySavannahBeeCompany.)

WholeWheatCinnamonApplePancakes

2cupswholewheatflour



½teaspoonsalt

2tablespoonsSueBeeHoney®

2eggs

2cupsskimmilk

1tablespoonoliveoil

1mediumapple,chopped

Combinefirstfouringredientsinlargebowl.Combine next four ingredients in separate bowl, and stir into dry

ingredientsjustuntilmoistened.Stirinchoppedapple.Pourbatterby cupfulsontoahotnonstickskilletcoatedwithnonstick

cooking spray; turn when bubbles form on top and cook until second side isgoldenbrown.

(Source:CourtesySueBeeHoney®)

AppetizersandBreadsMore than 20 years ago, my life was unstable. My new landlord didn’t

allowpets,soIdecidedtogiveupmyfour-year-oldgrayandwhitecat,Gandalf.Ifoundagoodhomeforhim75milesaway.TwodaysafterIdroppedhimoff,ithitme like a bolt of lightning. I hadmade a hugemistake! I traveled back toGandalf’shomeandbroughtagiftoffreshlybakedbanananutbread(madewithhoney)andbeggedhis“new”ownerstoletmehavemypreciouscatback.Onehundredandfiftymilesandanotherhousemovelater,IknewinmyheartImadetherightdecision.Gandalfthewizard-likecatbecamemyRockofGibraltarfor18years.

Thesecrettoincorporatingthegiftofappetizersandbreadsintoyourlifeistoincludehoney.Forinstance,drizzlinghoneyonapieceofOnionandHoney

Bruschetta or spreading rare white honey on a slice of warm, fresh tropicalBananaNutBreadwouldmakeabeekeeperorbeessmile.

ApricotHoneyBread

BananaNutBread

Cinnamon–ChocolateChipScones

DatesandHoneyBread

FigBread

ItalianCroissantswithHoneyPecanFilling

OnionandHoneyBruschetta

ApricotHoneyBread

3cupswholewheatflour



½teaspoonsalt

¼teaspoongroundnutmeg

1¼cups2percentlow-fatmilk

1cuphoney

1egg,slightlybeaten

2tablespoonsvegetableoil

1cupchoppeddriedapricots

½cupsunflowerseeds,chopped

walnuts,orchoppedalmonds

½cupraisins

Combinedryingredients[exceptforapricots,sunflowerseeds,andraisins]in largebowl.Combinemilk,honey,egg,andoil in separate largebowl.Pourmilkmixture over dry ingredients and stir until justmoistened.Gently fold inapricots,sunflowerseeds,andraisins.Pourintogreased9-by-5-by-13–inchloafpan.Bake at 350ºF for 55 to 60minutes or untilwooden pick inserted in thecentercomesoutclean.Makes12servings.


BananaNutBread

cupsugar

½cupbutter

2eggs

cuphoney

3tablespoonsmilk

1teaspoonvanilla

½–1cupnuts

2cupsflour

¼teaspoonsalt

4crushedbananas

1teaspoonbakingsoda

Cream sugar andbutter, add eggs, andbeat.Combine rest of ingredients.Pour into well-greased loaf pans. Bake 45–50 minutes in 350ºF oven. Afterbaking, let cool for 5 minutes and remove from pans.Makes 2 regular-sizedloafs.

(Source:CourtesyHoneyRidgeFarms.)

Cinnamon–ChocolateChipScones

2½cupswhole-wheatflour

¼cupwhitesugar

1teaspoonbakingpowder



¼cupEuropean-stylebutter(coldcubes)

¾cup2percentlow-fatbuttermilk

¾cuplow-fatplainyogurt

1brownegg

¼cupcloverhoney

1 cup 70 percent cocoa content chocolate chips or premium bakingsemisweetchocolatechips

Organicrawsugar

¾cupalmonds,sliced

Preheat oven to 400ºF. In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder andsoda, and cinnamon.Addchunksofbutter, sliced in small squares. In anotherbowl, combine buttermilk, yogurt, egg, and honey and stir. Combine wetingredientswithdry.Stiruntiladough-likemixtureforms.Foldinchips.Droplargespoonfulsofdoughontoparchment-linedcookiesheet.Sprinklewithrawsugar. Bake for 12–15 minutes. Cool. Slice in half and spread with creamedhoneyorcreamcheese.Serves12mediumscones.

DatesandHoneyBread

2½cupsall-purposeflour


1teaspoonbakingsoda

¾teaspoonsalt


¼teaspoongroundallspice

1teaspoongroundnutmeg

¼teaspoongroundginger

¾cuppittedandchoppeddatesor

raisins

½cuppecans,chopped

¾cupbuttermilk

¾cuphoney

¼cupvegetableoil

2tablespoonsmolasses

1egg

In largemixing bowl, blend flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt andspices. Stir in dates or raisins and nuts; set aside. Beat together buttermilk,honey,oil,molassesandegg.Addliquidingredientstodryingredients,stiruntiljustmixed.Spraya9-by-5-inch loafpanwithnonstickcooking spray.Pour inbatter.Bakeat325ºFfor55 to60minutesoruntil toothpick inserted incentercomesoutclean.Coolfor20minutes.Removefrompanandcoolonwirerack.Makes1loaf.


FigBread

½cupwater,lukewarm

½cuporangejuice,roomroomtemperature

1packagedryyeast

2½cupsflour

1teaspoonsugar

3tablespoonsMarsalaOliveOil

4tablespoonshoney

¼teaspoonfioridiSicilia(or1teaspoonorangeextract)

1eggwhite

½teaspoonsalt(ortotaste)

¾cupdriedfigs,chopped

½cuppinenuts(ornutsofyourchoice,chopped)

Gratedpeelofoneorange

Inamixingbowladdwater,orangejuice,yeast,½cupflourandsugar,stir.Let stand about 15 minutes. Stir in remaining flour, olive oil, honey, fiori diSicilia,eggwhiteandsalt.Turnontoflouredboard,kneaduntilsmooth.Returnto bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled. Place dough onflouredboard,patdown,coverwithfigs,pinenutsandgratedorangepeel.Workfigsintodough.Atthispointthedoughmaybemadeintoaroundloaforintoabraid. Place on oiled baking pan. Let rise covered, until doubled. Drizzle topwith oil.Maybe baked in the pan or on a baking stone placed in oven. Sliderisendoughontostone.Bakein375ºFovenfor25to35minutesoruntilgoldenbrown.Coverwithfoillooselyifbrowningtooquickly.Removefromovenandcoolonwirerack.Servewithmealsorforasnack.Topsliceswithadrizzleofoliveoilorspreadwithricottaandhoney.Makesoneloaf.

VARIATIONSubstitutepittedprunes,raisins,driedpineapplechopped,ordriedfruitof

your choice for figs.Note:For braid, cut dough into 3 evenpieces.Roll eachpiecetoabout14incheslong.Placerollssidebysideongreasedbakingsheet.Braidrolls,pincheachendtogether;tuckunderbraid.Toformawreath,bringendstogetherandsealbothends.

(Source:CourtesyGemmaSanitaSciabica,CookingwithCaliforniaOliveOil:TreasuredFamilyRecipes.)

ItalianCroissantswithHoneyPecanFilling

DOUGH1packagedryyeast

1½cupsmilk,lukewarm

2½to3cupsflour

1teaspoonsalt

1eggwhite

cupcornstarch


HONEYPECANFILLING¼cuphoney

1cuppecans,finelychopped

½teaspooncinnamon

½cupcurrants

Inlargemixingbowl,dissolveyeast inmilk.Stir inflour,salt,eggwhite,cornstarch and olive oil until doughholds together.On floured surface, kneaddoughuntil smooth.Coverand let rise inawarmplaceuntildoubled,about1hour.Onlightlyflouredsurfacepatdoughdowntoabouta12-inchround.Cutinto12pie-shapedpieces.Placeabout1tablespoonfillingonwideendofeachpiece. Starting from wide end, roll into a crescent placing point underneath.Placeongreasedbakingsheets,brushwitheggwhite,andsprinklewithseeds.Letrestcoveredabout20minutes.Bakeina375ºFovenfor20minutesoruntilgoldenbrown.Makes12.

(Source:Courtesy:GemmaSanitaSciabica,CookingwithCaliforniaOliveOil:PopularRecipes.)

OnionandHoneyBruschetta

½cupSciabica’sorMarsalaExtraVirginOliveOil

1onion,slicedthin

6slices(½inchthick)ciabattabread

1cuppesto

6tablespoonshoney

6slicesturkey,lean,lowsalt

6slicesCamembertorGruyèrecheese

6slicesbeefsteaktomatoes

Inmediumskilletaddoliveoilandonion;cookuntilgolden.Removefromheat; cool. Grill or toast bread until golden. Spread with pesto; drizzle withhoney on each slice. Add onion evenly between slices, top with turkey andcheeseslices.Placetomatoesovercheese;drizzlewitholiveoil.Yum!Makes6.

(Source:CourtesyGemmaSanitaSciabica,CookingwithCaliforniaOliveOil:RecipesfromtheHeartfortheHeart.)

SaladsAsateenagerIenteredVegetarianland.OneThanksgivingIprotestedand

resistedtastingthebigbird.Isaid,“Idon’teatanythingwitheyes.”Mymotherwas shocked. Ididn’tmean tohurther feelings,but Iwasonamission toeatvegetables,fruits,breads,andanythingbutmeatorpoultry.OneeveninginthekitchentherestofmyfamilyenjoyedaSwisssteakdinnerwhileImunchedonatossedgreensaladandpotatoes.ThatisafeastthatIstillenjoytothisday.I’mnot talking about a saladwith iceberg lettuce and sliced tomatoes. It’s serioussaladtime,withavarietyofveggies,darkleafygreens,nuts,andavinegarandoliveoildressing.Thiswasano-nonsensesaladtolivefor—apileofgreensthatanyrabbitwouldbepleasedtosee.Sure,itwasarebellioninthesuburbswherefamilies ate meat and potatoes, but for me it was the road that led to myMediterraneandietandlifestyle.

InFranceandItaly,saladsareenjoyedforlunchandbeforedinnerorasamain entree dish. Not only are salads healthy and they contain less fat andcalories(especiallyifyoudon’tdrowntheminahigh-fatdressing),buttheycanfillyouup, too.Also,adding freshseasonalvegetablesandherbskicksup thetastemorethannotch.GrilledVegetableSaladandArugulaSaladwithHoney-HerbDressingaretworecipesinthissectionthat’llgetyourethinkingthepowerofsalads.

Almond-CrustedShrimpSaladwithCitrusDressing

AppleandToastedPecanSaladwith

HoneyPoppySeedDressing

ArugulaSaladwithHoney-HerbDressing

BangBangChickenSalad

GrilledVegetableSalad

LentilSalad

RoastedSalmonSaladwithHoneyMustardVinaigrette

Almond-CrustedShrimpSaladwithCitrusDressing

Juiceof2limes,divided

2tablespoonssoysauce

2clovesgarlic,smashed

1poundmediumrawshrimp,deveined,tails-on

½cuprawalmonds

3tablespoonsflour

¼teaspoonsalt

2eggwhites,lightlybeaten

4tablespoonsDelicateExtraVirginOliveOil,suchasArbequina

2tablespoonsClementineOliveOil

2teaspoonshoney

8cupsmixedgreens

2cupscherrytomatoes,halved

1ripeavocado,diced

Combinehalfofthelimejuice,soysauceandgarlicinabowl.Addshrimpandtosswithhands tocoatwell.Setaside.Usingablenderorfoodprocessor,crushalmonds(intheabsenceofablenderorfoodprocessor, thiscanbedoneby placing the almonds in a plastic bag and crushingwith amallet or rollingpin). Combine almonds in a bowl with flour and salt. Set aside. Set up anassemblylineofseasonedshrimp,theeggwhites,andthealmond-flourmixture.Dipeachshrimpintheeggwhiteandthendredgeinthealmond-flourmixture.Set on cleanplate.Heat theExtraVirginOliveOil in a large fryingpanovermedium-high heat. Cook shrimp for 2–3 minutes on each side, or until theoutsideof theshrimpbecomesbrownandcrisp.Drainonpaper towels.Whisktogethertheremaininglimejuice,ClementineOliveOilandthehoney.Drizzleovermixedgreens,tomatoesandavocado.Tosswell.Arrangethedressedsaladonplates.Topeachsaladwiththewarmshrimpandhotsauceorredchiliflakesifdesired.Serves4.

(Source:CourtesyTheOlivePress.)

AppleandToastedPecanSaladwithHoneyPoppySeedDressing

½cupSueBeeHoney®

2tablespoonspoppyseeds

½cupcidervinegar

1Fujiapple

16-ouncepackagefetacheese

¼teaspoonpepper

1headromainelettuce

¾cupvegetableoil

1cuppecans

½cupdriedcranberries

1smallredonion

Proportionsaladingredientstopersonaltaste.

Combinedressingingredientsandmixthoroughly.

Tossdressingwithsaladjustbeforeserving.Serves6.


ArugulaSaladwithHoney-HerbDressing

4cupsarugulaleaves

1cupcherrytomatoes

1cupmushrooms,sliced

1cupParmesancheese,slicedCroutons,ortoastedbreadslices

¼cuplemonjuice

1tablespoonhoney

2tablespoonshoney

2tablespoonsoliveoil

½teaspoondriedbasil

½teaspoondriedcoriander

Salttotaste

Inalargebowl,combinesaladingredients,cover,andrefrigerate.Combinealltheingredientsofthedressinginajar,closejar,andshakeuntilwellblended.SprinklewithParmesan,pourdressingover,andtosslightly.


BangBangChickenSalad

FORTHEDRESSING


Juiceof2limes

2tablespoonsfreshlygratedrootginger

2greenchilies,finelychopped

3tablespoonsclearhoney

4tablespoonsnutoil

FORTHESALAD1cucumber

1–2largecarrots

4springonions,finelychopped

Chineseleafcabbage,shredded

2tablespoonssesameoil

1clovegarlic,crushed

Pinchofdriedchiliflakes

2bonelessskinlesschickenbreasts,sliced

Placethedressingingredientsinascrew-toppedjarandshakewelltomixtogether. To prepare salad, slice the cucumber, carrots and spring onions intofine matchsticks, mix with shredded Chinese leaf cabbage, and transfer to aserving plate or bowl.Heat the oil and add the garlic, chili flakes, and slicedchicken.Stir-fryuntil brownedandcooked through.Add to the saladand tossthroughtheprepareddressing.Serveimmediately.Servesfour.


GrilledVegetableSalad


2tablespoonsbalsamicvinegar

3tablespoonsoliveoil

2tablespoonstornbasilleaves(optional)

4ouncesMozzarellacheese,cubed

1poundplumtomatoes,chopped

2smallaubergines(eggplants)

Rocksaltandblackpepper

Oliveoilfordrizzling

1redpepper

1yellowpepper

8ouncesbabyorsmallcourgettes[zucchini]

Mix together thedressing ingredients ina largebowlandaddMozzarellaand tomatoes.Leave tomarinate.Meanwhile, thinly sliceaubergines,placeonbaking sheet, season, and drizzle with olive oil. Place under a preheated grilluntil crisp. Repeat, cut the peppers into chunks, and slice the courgetteslengthways. Add grilled vegetables to Mozzarella and tomatoes and serveimmediately.Serves4–6.


LentilSalad

2cupslentils,cooked

2tomatoes,chopped

2cupsbroccoliflowerets,cookedcrisptender

1cuporzopasta,cooked,cooled

2greenonions(whitepart)slicedthin

½cupraisinsordates,chopped

1teaspoonfreshginger,grated

2garliccloves,minced

1½cupschicken,turkey,cooked,cubed

1cupfreshmushrooms,cooked,quartered

1cupcarrots,shredded

1cuppeas,greenbeansorcorn,cookedcrisptender

1cupfetacheese,crumbled

DRESSINGcupMarsalaOliveFruitOil

cuporangejuice

¼cuplimeorlemonjuice

2tablespoonsfreshtarragonorcilantro,chopped

1cupfreshbasilormint,chopped

¼cuphoney

1tablespoonpeanutbutter

Combinedressingingredientsandblend.Addallsaladingredientsinlarge,shallowservingbowl.Pourondressingandtossgently.Serves4–6.

(Source:CourtesyGemmaSanitaSciabica,CookingwithCaliforniaOliveOil:TreasuredFamilyRecipes.)

RoastedSalmonSaladwithHoneyMustardVinaigrette

DRESSING½cupbalsamicvinegar

2tablespoonsdriedcranberries

8driedapricots,thinlysliced

2teaspoonsDijonmustard

2teaspoonshoney

1tablespoonextravirginoliveoil

SALAD1poundsalmonfillet,cutinto4equalportions

½teaspoonseasalt

¼teaspoonfreshlygroundblackpepper

8cupsspinach,washed

2cupsthinlyslicedyellowsquash

2cupsthinlyslicedredbellpepper

3tablespoonstoastedchoppedpecans

Preheatovento425ºF.Lightlycoatasheetpanwithcanolaoil.In a small saucepan, combinebalsamicvinegar, cranberries, and apricots.

Bringtoaboilandsimmerfor5minutes.Strainandreserveliquidandfruit.Seasonsalmonfilletswithsaltandpepper.Placeonsheetpanandbakefor

5minutesoruntiljustcookedthrough.Place2cupsspinachoneachplate.Topwith½cupeachsquashandbell

pepper.Placesalmonfilletoneachsaladandsprinklewith2teaspoonspecans.Topwith2tablespoonsdressingand1tablespoonofreservedfruit.Serves4.

(Source:CanyonRanch.)

EntreesYearsago, Ihadmyheartsetonapicture-perfecthoney-roasted turkey. I

purchasedapriceybird—abigone.Oncehome,Ieagerlywashedit.Igroomeditforbaking.Then,withoutreadinginstructionsorhavingtheprochef’sknow-how, I simplyspreadcloverhoneywithoutanyother ingredientson topof thepoultry. Iwas in lovewith an after picture inmymind: a roasted turkeywithstuffingandvegetablesonaplatter.Ididn’thaveaclueabouthowhoneywouldaffectanuncooked16-poundbirdandassumedthebeforepicturewasgood to

gointotheoven.Within a half hour, I smelled smoke.When I ran into the kitchen itwas

smokefilled.AccidentallyIhadturnedtheovenontoBroil.Iwasafraidtoopentheovendoortoseethedamage.Ihadaburnedbirdonmyhands.InbetweentearsandfeelinglikeIlostmybestfriend,Ibegandamagecontrol.Icansalvagemyturkeyandtryagain—withoutahoneyglaze,Ithought.Theendresult:Myturkeyplatterwasdoable,but itwasn’t thepicturesquedinnerofmydreams.Iblamedmymistakeonthehoneyandmyignoranceofhowtouseit.

Today,Iknowthathoneycooksfasterthanotherbastingingredientsandifyou use this all-natural sweetener it’s a good thing to combine it with otheringredients, too, for more flavor. There are recipes such asAsian Honey-TeaGrilledPrawnsandHoneyRoastLambwithCouscousthatshowhowtoprepareandbakemeatwith special honeys that havegivenmeanew leaseonbakingentree masterpieces from start to finish—without having to call the firedepartmentordryanytears.

AcaciaDuck

AsianHoney-TeaGrilledPrawns

BuckwheatHoneyRoastedChickenBreastswith

BlackTruffleOil,Yukon

GoldHash,andGrilledAsparagus

GrilledHoney-GlazedPorkTenderloinwithOnions

Honey-GlazedGameHen

HoneyMustardChickenTenders

HoneyRoastLambwithCouscous

MarinatedMackerel

PomegranateGlazedChicken

SpicyHoney-PepperGlazedSnapper

SpringRolls

AcaciaDuck

4mediumduckbreasts,trimmed

4tablespoonssunfloweroil

1tablespoonChineseFiveSpice

1tablespoonAcaciahoney

2-inchpieceofginger,peeledandinmatchsticks

2fatclovesgarlic,trimmedandslicedinstrips

2springonions,trimmedandslicedinstrips

8ouncespakchoy,trimmedstrips

Coriandersprigsfordecoration

Paintduckbreastswith1tablespoonoil,thenrubwithChineseFive-Spice.Heat1tablespoonoilinanonstickpanandcookduckskinsidedownfirstuntilcrispandgolden—about4minutes.Turnoverandcooktheothersidethesame.Turnbacktoskinup.Placeinapreheatedovenat400ºFfor10minutesoruntilcookedtopreference,drizzlinghoneyforthelast5minutes.Heatremainingoilin theduckpan; fryginger,garlic, andspringonions.Add toduck in roastingpan.Meanwhile,cookpakchoyinsaltedboilingwateruntil justtender.Drain.Spoonginger and garlicmix onto fourwarmed serving plates and perch duckbreastsontop.Servewithpakchoyanddecoratewithcoriandersprings.Serves4.


AsianHoney-TeaGrilledPrawns

1cupbreweddoublestrengthorangespicetea,cooled

¼cuphoney

¼cupricevinegar

¼cupsoysauce

1tablespoonfreshginger,peeledandfinelychopped

½teaspoongroundblackpepper

1½poundsmediumshrimp,

peeledanddeveined

Salt

2greenonions,thinlysliced

In plastic bag, combinemarinade ingredients (everything but the shrimp,salt, and onions). Remove ½ cup marinade; set aside for dipping sauce. Addshrimptomarinadeinbag, turningtocoat.Closebagsecurelyandmarinateinrefrigerator 30 minutes or up to 12 hours. Remove shrimp from marinade;discard marinade. Thread shrimp onto 8 skewers, dividing evenly. Grill overmediumcoals 4 to6minutesor until shrimp turnpink and are jut firm to thetouch, turning once. Seasonwith salt, as desired.Meanwhile, prepare dippingsaucebyplacingreserved½cupmarinadeinsmallsaucepan.Bringtoboilovermedium-high heat.Boil 3 to 5minutes or until slightly reduced. Stir in greenonions.Serves4.


Buckwheat Honey Roasted Chicken Breasts with Black Truffle Oil,YukonGoldHash,andGrilledAsparagus

½cupoliveoil

4(6to8ounces)airlinechickenbreasts

Koshersalt

Groundblackpepper

½cupbuckwheathoney

4teaspoonsblacktruffleoil

1½cupschickenstock

1tablespooncold,unsaltedbutter

½poundyellowonion,dicedsmall

8ouncesredbellpepper,dicedsmall

2poundsYukongoldpotatoes,skinon,mediumdiced

2tablespoonsbuckwheathoney

8ouncesgreenasparagus,peeled

Preheatovento300ºF,andpreheatyourgrill. Inaheavy-bottomed,oven-proof sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season the chicken breastswellwithsaltandpepper.Placethechickeninpan,skinsidedown.Searthechickenbreasts until the skin is brown and crispy. Turn the chicken breasts over socrispy skin is up. Drain excess oil out of pan. Drizzle approximately ¼ cupbuckwheathoneyovereachchickenbreast.Placeinpreheatedovenuntilcookedthrough, when a thermometer inserted into the center reaches 165ºF,approximately 10minutes. Drizzle each chicken breast with approximately ½teaspoonblacktruffleoil.Removechickenfrompanandsetaside.Addchickenstockandstir.Removecooked-onbits frombottomofpan.Placeonstovetop.Bringtoaboil,andthenreducetoasimmer.Simmeruntilliquidisreducedbyhalf. Season with salt and pepper.Monte au buerre with 1 tablespoon cold,unsalted butter. In a separate, heavy-bottomed sauté pan, heat 4 tablespoons

olive oil. Add the onion, peppers, and potatoes. Season well, with salt andpepper. Sauté until all sides of the potatoes are brown and the potatoes aretender, stirring when needed. Prepare asparagus by breaking the stalks whentheybreaknaturally.Usingavegetablepeeler,peelthebottomonetotwoinchesoftheasparagus.Tosswellwith2tablespoonsoliveoilandseasonwellwithsaltandpepper.Searonahotgrilluntiltender.Slicechickenonabias,leavingoneboneinonepiece.Servewith4ouncesofpotatohash,4to6sprigsofasparagus,and1to2ouncesofsauce.Drizzleeachpieceofthechickenwithapproximately½teaspoontruffleoiland1tablespoonbuckwheathoney.Makes4servings.

(Source:NationalHoneyBoard,OrlandoCulinaryContestWinner.)

GrilledHoney-GlazedPorkTenderloinwithOnions

½cupbuckwheathoney

¼cupextravirginoliveoil

¼cupcidervinegar

1tablespoonmincedgarlic

2teaspoonsHerbesDeProvenceseasoningmixture

1teaspoonsalt

½teaspoonpepper

2poundsporktenderloin

2mediumonions

Combine honey, oil, vinegar, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a shallowpan.Addpork and turn to coatwell.Cover and refrigerate2 to4hours.Turnpork occasionally. Remove pan from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling.Prepare grill for medium-hot fire with an indirect heat area. Slice onions inrounds½-to¾-inchthick.Removeporkfrommarinade; turnevery10minutesto evenly cook. Put onions over direct heat and brush with marinade. Turn

frequentlybrushingwithmarinadeuntilwellmarkedandsoft,8to12minutes.Move onions off direct heat to finish cooking. Let pork rest 5minutes beforeslicinginto¾-inchslices.Servewithgrilledonions.


Honey-GlazedGameHen

¼cuphoney


2tablespoonslemonjuice

½teaspoondrymustard

½teaspoongroundginger

1(1½to1¾lb.)gamehen,thawed

¼teaspoonsalt

teaspoonpepper

½onion,peeledandquartered

Combinehoney,soysauce, lemonjuice,drymustard,andgingerin1-cupmicrowave-safe measure or bowl; mix well. Microwave at high for 1 to 1½minutes or until heated; stir to dissolve honey. Rinse game hen and pat dry.Sprinkle cavitywith salt and pepper.Dip onion in honeymixture and place 2quartersingamehen.Tielegstogetherwithheavystring.Placegamehen,breastside down, in microwave-safe roasting dish. Brush generously with honeymixture.Microwaveathigh for16 to20minutesoruntil juices runcleanandmeatnearboneisnolongerpink;rotaterackone-quarterturnevery5minutes.Turnhenbreastsideuphalfwaythroughcookingtimeandglazewithremainingsauce. Remove onion from cavity and cut game hen in half. If desired, heatdrippings and onion 1½ to 2 minutes in microwave-safe measure; strain andservewithgamehen.


HoneyMustardChickenTenders

¼cupSciabica’sorMarsalaOliveOilorLavenderOliveOil

16chickentenders

1egg,slightlybeaten

cuphoney

1tablespoonDijonmustard

Gratedpeelof1orangeorlemon

½cupfreshbasil,chopped

Salt,pepper,andcayennetotaste


2to3tablespoonsfarinaorbreadcrumbs

In large skillet add olive oil. In mixing bowl add chicken tenders andremainingingredientsexceptfarina.Coattenderswell.Placefarinainpieplate.Coat tendersonbothsideswithfarina.Cookonmediumheat inoliveoiluntilgoldenbrown, to170ºF.Servewithpasta,potatoes, saladorwhateverdesired.Serves4.

(Source:CourtesyGemmaSanitaSciabica,CookingwithCaliforniaOliveOil:RecipesfromtheHeartfortheHeart.)

HoneyRoastLambwithCouscous

2neckfilletsoflamb

1teaspoonturmeric

1teaspooncinnamon


9ouncescouscous

2onions,sliced

1garlicclove,crushed

Juiceandrindofalemon

2ouncespistachionuts

Smallbunchcoriander,freshlychopped

Saltandfreshlygroundblackpepper

Preheattheovento425ºF.Removeanyfatfromtheneckfillets,placeinaroasting tin, brush with a little oil, then sprinkle the turmeric and cinnamon.Roastfor10minutes,thenbrushwithhoneyandcontinuetocookforafurther5–10minutes,dependinguponhow“welldone”youlikeyourmeat.

Meanwhile,place thecouscous inabowlandpourover12ounceswater.Leavetosoakfor15minutes,thensteamoveralargepanofwaterinafinesievefor35minutes.Whenthelambiscooked,removefromthepanandcoverwithfoiltokeepwarm.Transferthecookingjuicestoasaucepanandaddtheonionsandgarlic.Cookoverahighheatuntiltheonionsarebrownedandsoftened.

Stirintheremainingingredientsandthenthecouscous.Mixthrough,thentransfertoaservingdish.Slicethewarmlambandplaceoverthecouscous.Pourover any meat juice, then serve immediately with plenty of freshly choppedcoriander.Thisrecipeisalsodeliciouswithporkfilletorchickenbreast.


MarinatedMackerel


2tablespoonswinevinegar

2tablespoonsmilmustard

Saltandfreshlygroundblackpepper

4largemackerel,cleaned,bonesremoved

4bayleaves

Mixthehoneywiththevinegar,mustard,andplentyofseasoning.Laythefish in a shallowdish and topwithbay leaves.Pourover themarinade, coverwithclingfilm,andrefrigerate.Leavethefish tomarinateforseveralhoursorovernight.Cookthefishopenedoutunderahotgrill,bastingfrequentlywiththemarinade until it is cooked through.Turn the fish once during cooking. Serveimmediately.


PomegranateGlazedChicken

1cup100percentpomegranatejuice

cupSherryBalsamicVinegar

¼cuphoney

3tablespoonsbrownsugar

4sprigsfreshthyme

Saltandpeppertotaste

1wholechicken,skinon,cutintopieces(innardsremoved)

Toastedsesameseeds

Preheat oven to 375ºF. In a mixing bowl, combine pomegranate juice,balsamicvinegar,honey,brownsugar,thyme,salt,andpepper.Stiruntilhoneyandsugardissolves.Placechickenpiecesina largeZiplocbag.Carefullypourmarinadeoverthem,pressairoutofbag,andseal.Movebagaroundtoensuremarinadedisperses.

Refrigeratebag for30minutes.Removechicken frombagandplace inalargeglassbakingdish,spacingchickenevenly.Bakefor25to30minutes,untilchicken is tender but fully cooked. While chicken cooks, carefully pourremainingmarinadefrombag intoasmallsaucepanoverhighheat.Bring toaboil (tokillbacteria), thenlowerheat tomediumlowandsimmerfor12to15minutesuntilmarinadeisthickandsyrupy.Removefromheatandcarefullyfishoutthymestems.Oncechickenhasfinishedbaking,brushglazeovereachpiece.Sprinklegenerouslywithtoastedsesameseedsandserve.Serves4.

(Source:CourtesyTheOlivePress.)

SpicyHoney-PepperGlazedSnapper

1ScotchBonnetpepper;minced

½tablespoonoliveoil

½cupfreshorangejuice

¼cupplus1tablespoonSavan-nahBeeCompanyGrillHoney

1pinchsalt

2 fresh fish:medium/large fillets of firmwhite fish like snapper, bass,orgrouper

Freshcilantroorbasil

FORTHEFISHGLAZEInasmall saucepansauté thehotpepper ina littleoliveoilovermedium

heat.Addtheorangejuiceandbringuptosimmer.Simmerfor3 to4minutes

andthenaddthehoney,stirringquicklytoincorporate.Simmeranotherminuteortwountiltheglazehasalightsyrupconsistency.Addapinchofsalt.

FORTHEFISHPrepare your grill and preheat to 375ºF. Using tongs, wipe the grill bars

withaclothdousedwithvegetableoiltoclean,andallow2minutestoreturntofullheat.Thiswill scoreyour filletsbeautifully.Cook for5 to15minutesperside, depending on fillet thickness, and check doneness as needed. Pour thepreparedglazeover thecookedfishbeforeserving.Garnishwithfreshcilantroorbasil.Servewithsteamedbokchoyandgrilledsweetpotatoplanks.

(Source:Courtesy:SavannahBeeCompany.)

SpringRolls

3tablespoonsoystersauce

3tablespoonslightsoysauce


2clovesgarlic,crushed

8ouncescookedprawns

2tablespoonsoil

Largebunchspringonions,chopped

2tablespoonssmoothpeanutbutter

8ouncesfreshbeansprouts

8ten-inchsquaresheetsfrozenspringrollpastry,thawed

Oilfordeepfrying

Mixoystersauce,soysauce,honey,andgarlictogether.Stirinprawnsandmarinateforabout30minutes.Liftoutprawnsandreservejuices.Heatoilina

wokorlargefryingpanandcookprawnsandspringonionsfor2minutes.Stirinreserved juices and peanut butter and cook until sauce begins to thicken.Removefromheatandstirinbeansprouts.Allowtocool.Dividefillingbetweenspringrollpastrysquares.Foldoveronecornerandshapethefillingintoaroll.Fold in the two sides, then roll up lightly.Brush the endwithwater and slickdown.Heat oil and fry two or three at a time, for about threeminutes. Keepwarmwhilecookingremainder.Makes8.Foracompletelyvegetariandish,omitprawnsandreplacewithacanofdrainedbeanshoots.Makes8.


DessertsInmyyoungerworkerbeedays,anoldermancookeddinnerforme.The

salmonwasameltdownbecauseofarichcommercialsauce.Heartburnhit.Thesaladwasn’t fit for a honey bee. Iceberg lettuce is not fit for an iguana. Thelight-coloredgreensdon’thavenutrientslikebabyspinachwithitsantioxidants.Butthedessertwascreatedforaqueenbee.Iwasservedahugesliceofstore-bought pound cake, not enough strawberries, gigantic scoops of vanilla icecream,andwhippedcream.Itranscendedtoold-fashionedstrawberryshortcakeheaven.

Thesedays,Imakeshortcakewithamoresophisticatedspinforhealthnutswho are watching calories, fat, sodium, and cholesterol. First I use a heart-healthy baking mix for the shortcake. Instead of sugar I turn to wildflowerhoney. I use organic 2 percent low-fatmilk and earthy spices: cinnamon andnutmeg.IzaptheartificialwhippedcreamandturntocalciumandvitaminA–richHäagen-DazsVanillaHoneyBeeicecreamanddrizzlehoneyontopofthemasterpiece.I’vegotanewcrushonmystrawberryshortcakefitforaqueenbeeorherbeekeeperwithasweettooth.

Inthissectionyou’llnoticethatI’veincludedplentyofdesserts,becauseIamadessert lover. Ichoserecipes that includecommonfoodsof theOldwaysMediterraneanDietandPyramid.Naturally,AppleHoneyPie(anall-Americanfavorite with a taste of honey) is part of the lineup, but other gems includeBaklava, Filo Pear andHoney Tarts,Honey Bee Brownies, andWalnut CakeandHoneyLemonSyrup.Onceyoubeginbakingwithhoney, there’snogoingback.

AppleHoneyPie

ApricotHoneyCrèmeBars

Baklava

ButternutSquashandOrangeCrème

Carrot,Honey,andRaisinCake

ChocolateHoneyBrûlées

CoconutCustardPie

CoconutMacaroons

CranberryHoneyAlmondTart

FiloPearandHoneyTarts

HoneyBeeBrownies

HoneyBerrieswithLimePoundCake

HoneyOatmealCookies

HoneySesameandDateBiscotti

StruffoliallaNapoletana

SweetPotatoPie

WalnutCakeandHoneyLemonSyrup

AppleHoneyPie

2cupspeeledslicedapples

1nine-inchpieshell

4eggs

1cupplainyogurt


¼teaspoonsalt

¾cupSueBeeHoney®

Choppedwalnuts

Spreadappleslicesoverpieshell.Combine eggs, yogurt, cinnamon, salt, and honey to make a custard

mixture.Pourthecustardmixtureovertheapples.Sprinklewithwalnuts.Bake45minutesat375ºF.Cooltoroomtemperaturebeforecutting.Serves8.


ApricotHoneyCrèmeBars

CRUST1cupall-purposeflour

¼cupsugar

¼teaspoonsalt

½cupunsaltedbutter,chilledandcutintosmallbits

FILLING8ouncescreamcheese,softened

¼cupsugar

1largeegg,beaten


½teaspoonpurevanillaextract

½cupHoneyRidgeFarmsApricot

HoneyCrème

¾cupchoppeddriedapricots

TOPPING½cupall-purposeflour

½teaspoonbakingpowder

¼teaspoonsalt

¼teaspoongroundcinnamon

½cupdarkbrownsugar

6tablespoonsunsaltedbutter,chilledandcutintosmallbits

½cupold-fashionedrolledoats

TOPREPARETHECRUSTPreheattheovento350ºF.Greasea9x9x2-inchbakingpan.Inthebowlof

afoodprocessor,combinetheflour,sugar,andsaltandpulsetocombine.Addcold butter and pulse until themixture is crumbly. Pat into the bottom of thepreparedpan.Bakeabout20minutes,oruntillightlybrowned.

TOPREPARETHEFILLINGInthebowlofanelectricmixer,beatthecreamcheesewiththesugar.Add

theeggandbeatuntilincorporated.Addlemonjuice,vanilla,andApricotHoneyCrèmeandmixwell.Stirintheapricots.Pourfillingoverthecrustandspreadevenly.

TOPREPARETHETOPPINGIn the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, baking powder, salt,

cinnamon,andbrownsugar.Pulsetomixwell.Addthechilledbutterandpulseuntilmixture is crumbly.Add the rolled oats and pulse to incorporate.Gentlyspoonthetoppingoverthefillingandpatdowngently.Bakeabout25minutes,untilbarsaregolden.Cool,thenrefrigeratebeforecuttingandserving.Makes20servings.

(Source:CourtesyHoneyRidgeFarms.)

Baklava

2sticksbutter

4cupswalnuts(finelychopped)

1cupsugar


1poundpackageofphyllo

SYRUP¼cuphoney

1¼cupssugar

1¼cupswater

1lemonrind(cutinchunks)(ora

fewsqueezesofReaLemonjuice)

1cinnamonstick

4or5wholecloves

Meltbutter.Mixchoppednuts,sugar,andcinnamon.Brusha13”x9”x2”glassbakingdishwithmeltedbutter;sprinklebottomwithcinnamon.Place3–4sheetsofphylloonbottomofpan(trimorfoldcornersasnecessary),brushwithmelted butter, and sprinkle nut mixture on top. Repeat process using only 2sheets of phyllo per layer, finishwith a layer of phyllo only, and brush oncemorewithbutter.

Cut halfway through the dessert at a diagonal in either direction to formdiamonds. Bake at 300ºF for 15 minutes, then 325º for 60 minutes, or untilgoldenbrown.

WhileBaklavaisbaking,combineallingredientsforthesyrupinaheavy-bottomedsaucepan(topreventburning),keepacarefuleyeonmixture,andstirfrequently. Boil for 10 minutes; remove rinds and cloves and let cool for 10minutes.

(Source:CourtesyBeePureHoney®)

ButternutSquashandOrangeCrème

1smallbutternutsquash(about2½pounds)

1tablespooncanolaoil

1cupdicedsilkentofu

¼cuphoney

½cupfreshorangejuice

½cupcommercialvanilla-flavoredsoymilk

2tablespoonsgratedorangezest

½cupblueberries,raspberriesorseasonalfruit

tablespoongratednutmeg

Preheattheovento350ºF.Brushthesquashwiththecanolaoil;bakefor1hourand20minutes,oruntilfork-tender.Letcool.

Cut the squash inhalf.Remove the seedsanddiscardor save foranotheruse.Scoopout1cupof thefleshandtransfer it toablenderorfoodprocessorfittedwithametalblade.Addthesilkentofu,honey,orangejuice,soymilk,andorangezest;processuntilsmooth.

Spoon equal portions of berries or other fruit into chilledwineglasses ordessertcups.Pourthecrèmeoverthefruitandgratealittlenutmegoverthetop.Chillfor30minutes.Servechilled.Makes6servings.

(Source: Reprinted with permission from The Golden Door Spa CooksLight&EasybyChefMichelStroot,publishedbyGibbsSmith,2003.)

Carrot,Honey,andRaisinCake

3carrots

4ounceswholemealself-raisingflour

4ouncesself-raisingflour


1teaspooncinnamon

1ouncebrownsugar

5ounceshoney

3eggs

1teaspoonvanillaextract

4fluidouncessunfloweroil

3ouncesraisins

2to3tablespoonsmilk

Preheattheovento325ºF.Linean8-inch-roundcaketinwithgrease-proof

paperandbrushwithalittleoil.Peelandgratethecarrotsonachoppingboard.Place the flours, baking powder, cinnamon, and sugar in a bowl and mixtogether. Put the honey, eggs, vanilla, and oil in a separate bowl and mixtogetherwithawhiskorfork.Addtotheflourmixtureandmixwell.Stirinthegratedcarrotsandraisinswithametalspoon.Adda littlemilk togiveafairlysoft consistency. Spoon the cakemixture into the lined tin. Bake for about 1hour.Checkthatthecakeisdonebyinsertingaskewerorknifeintoit.Leavethecaketocoolinthetinfor10minutes,thenloosenthesidesandturnoutontoawirerack.Removetheliningpaperandleavetocool.


ChocolateHoneyBrûlées

1can(12oz.)evaporatedmilk

1cupwholemilk

2eggs

½cuphoney

1tablespooncocoapowder

2teaspoonsgratedorangepeel

1teaspoonvanilla

3tablespoonssugar

In amedium bowl,whisk together evaporatedmilk,milk, and eggs untilwell-blended. Mix in honey, cocoa powder, orange peel, and vanilla. Dividemixture evenly between 4 (¾ to 1 cup capacity) oven-proof custard cups orramekins. Place custard cups in a baking pan. Fill pan with boiling water toreachhalfwayup cups.Bake at 325ºF1hour, or until knife inserted in centercomesout clean.Removecups frombakingpanandallow tocool.Coverandrefrigerate custard cups until chilled, 4 hours or overnight. Before serving,sprinklesugarevenlyovertopsofcustards.Placecupsunderbroiler;cookuntil

sugarmeltsandcaramelizes.Make4servings.


CoconutCustardPie

Sure, this type of pie contains sugar and saturated fat, but it’s also gotprotein,calcium,andotherminerals,aswellasbeinglowerincaloriesthanotherpies, such as creamedvarieties. If savored inmoderation, a small slice isn’t abad thing.Sweetseatensparinglyare included in the traditionalMediterraneandiet (it includes eggs) and are not off-limits to the French. Coconut boasts adelightfultasteandchewytextureandabitofdietaryfiberandzerocholesterol.

1store-boughtpiecrust

cupgranulatedsugar

–½cuporganicwholemilk(or2percentorganiclow-fatmilk)

2tablespoonswhole-wheatflour

2tablespoonsEuropean-stylebutter,cubed

2largebrowneggs,beaten

2teaspoonsorangeblossomhoney

1teaspoonorangeblossomhoney

1teaspoonpurevanillaextract

Nutmeg

1cup(plus to¼cupfortopping)shreddedcoconut,premiumbrand

Whippedcream

Freshfruit,suchasbananas,peaches,orberries

Preheatovento400ºF.Takeoutfrozenpieshellandbakefor10minutes.(This keeps the crust from being soggy when you bake it with the wetingredients.)Remove fromoven and pour inmixture of all ingredients exceptnutmegandcoconutfortopping,thewhippedcream,andthefruit.Sprinkletopwith nutmeg and coconut ( to¼ cup, extra). Bake for about 40minutes at350º till filling is firm and piecrust is golden. Cool. Slice and garnishwith asmalldollopofwhippedcreamandfreshfruit.Serves8to10.

CoconutMacaroons

cupwater

1cupevaporatedcanejuice

2tablespoonshoney

¼teaspoonseasalt

¾teaspoonpurevanillaextract

1largeeggwhite

4cupsunsweetenedcoconutflakes

Preheatovento350ºF.Lightlycoatanonstickbakingsheetwithcanolaoil.In a small saucepan, combine water, evaporated cane juice, honey, salt, andvanilla.Bringtoaboil.Stiruntilsyrupforms,about30seconds.Removefromheat. Combine egg white and coconut flakes in a large bowl.Mix well. Addsyrup and mix to form dough. Place 1 tablespoon dough (or use a½-ouncescoop) about 1 inch apart on baking sheet.Bake for 8minutes. Turn pan andbakeforanother4to5minutes,oruntillightbrown.Makes38macaroons.


CranberryHoneyAlmondTart

1cupall-purposeflour

¼cupgranulatedwhitesugar

¼teaspoongroundcinnamon

teaspoonsalt

½cupcoldunsaltedbutter,cutinto½-ichcubes

1largeeggyolk,chilled

2tablespoonsheavycream,chilled

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Using apastryblenderortwoknives,cutinbutteruntilmixtureresemblescoarsemeal.(Orpulseinafoodprocessorfittedwithsteelblade.)

Mixtheyolkwiththecream.Addthemixtureintheflourmixture,stirringbrisklywithforkjustuntilmoistcrumbsforms.Transferthedoughintoa9-inchround tartpanwith removablebottom;with floured fingersanddry-measuringcup,pressevenly intobottomandupsideofpan.Shapeandpress theedgeofdoughfirmlyagainstsideofpan,pushingdownwithoppositethumbtoleveltopofcrustflushwithrim.Refrigerateuntilfirm,foratleast30minutes.

Preheat oven to 425°F. Prick bottom of dough all overwith a fork. Linewith parchment paper or foil leaving at least a 1-inch overhang. Fill with pieweightsordriedbeans.Bakefor10minutes.Turntheheatdownto350°F,bakefor10minutes.Removethepieweightsandparchmentpaper.Continuebakinguntiltheedgesofthecrustarejustbeginningtoturngoldenandthecenterlooksdry, about 25 to 30minutes; press with the back of the spoon if it puffs up.Transferpieshelltoawirerack;letitcoolslightly.

FILLING3tablespoonsunsaltedbutter

1cupHoneyRidgeFarmsCranberryHoneyCrème

4largeeggs

1teaspoonpurevanillaextract

½cuptoastedslicedalmonds

Powderedsugar,fordusting

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.Removefromheatandaddthehoney;mixwellwithawhisk.Addtheeggsoneat a time, whisking well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix until wellcombined.Spreadhalfof thealmondsonthecrust.Pour into the tartshellandbakeuntilcenterisset,forabout40to45minutes.Removefrompan.Letitcoolcompletely.Sprinklewiththeremainingalmondsanddustwithpowderedsugar.Makesone9-inchtartoreight3½-inchtarts.

(Source:CourtesyHoneyRidgeFarms,Dessertsmagazine.)

FiloPearandHoneyTarts

4conferencepears,peeled,cored,andcutintoslices


1striporangepeel

1stripoflemonpeel

Juiceofonelemon

3tablespoonswater

4sheetsoffilopastry(approximately30cmx30cm)

2tablespoonsmeltedbutter

Icingsugarfordusting

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Place the pears, honey, the orange and lemonpeel,lemonjuice,andwaterinalargepanandbringtoaboil.Lowertheheat,coverwithalid,andcookgentlyfor5to7minutes,stirringoccasionally,untilthepearsaresoft.Allowtocool.

Lay the sheets of filo pastry on the work surface and brush lightly withbutter.Cutinto16x15cmsquaresandplaceanothersquareoverthetopatanangletomakeastarshape.Repeatwith2moresquaresofpastry.Gentlypressintoamuffintin.Repeatwiththeremainingpastryuntilyouhave4pastrycases.Fill each case with the pear mixture, then brush the trimmings with butter,scrunchthemup,andplaceontopofthetarts.Bakefor20to25minutes,untilgoldenbrown.Serveeachtartdustedwithicingsugar.


HoneyBeeBrownies

10ouncesunsweetenedchocolate

6eggs

3cups(2pounds4ounces)honey

¼cupvanillaextract

3cups(14ounces)biscuitmix

2¾cups(12ounces)pecans,chopped

Melt chocolate; cool slightly. Beat eggs; beat in chocolate, honey, andvanilla. Thoroughly beat in biscuit mix. Stir in pecans. Pour into greased12”x20”x2”bakingpan;bakeat350ºFuntil toothpickinsertedincentercomesout clean, about 20 minutes. Cool completely. Spread with Honey ChocolateFrosting,ifdesired;letsetup.Cutinto48(2”x2½”)pieces.

HONEYCHOCOLATEFROSTING½cupboilingwater

1½poundspoweredsugar

5ouncesunsweetenedchocolate,melted

¼cup(3ounces)honey

½tablespoonvanillaextract

Gradually beat boiling water into powdered sugar. Beat in meltedchocolate, honey and vanilla. Thin frosting with 1–2 tablespoons of boilingwater,ifnecessary.Makes48servings.


HoneyBerrieswithLimePoundCake

LIMEPOUNDCAKECanolaoil,tocoatpan

½cupunsaltedbutter

¼cuplow-fatcreamcheese

1½cupsevaporatedcanejuice

3eggyolks

2¼cupsall-purposeflour

2½teaspoonsbakingpowder


½teaspoonseasalt

1cupbuttermilk

¼teaspoonlimeoil

2tablespoonsgratedlimepeel

3tablespoonsfreshlimejuice

HONEYBERRIES1cuphoney

2½cupsfreshraspberries

2½cupsfreshblackberries

2½cupsfreshblueberries

cupchoppedfreshtarragon

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly coat a 9-inch Bundt pan with canola oil.Dustwithall-purposeflour.

In a largemixingbowl, creambutter, creamcheese, and evaporated canejuicewithanelectricmixeronlowspeeduntilevaporatedcanejuiceisdissolvedandmixtureisfluffy.Addeggyolksandmixuntilcombined.

Inamediumbowl,sifttogetherflour,bakingpowder,bakingsoda,andsalt.Inanotherbowl,combinebuttermilk,limeoil,limepeel,andlimejuice.

Add half of the flour mixture and mix for 30 seconds. Add remainingbuttermilk mixture and mix briefly until smooth. Pour batter into Bundt pan.Bakefor40to45minutes,oruntiltoothpickinsertedincentercomesoutclean.Removefromovenandletsitfor15minutesonawireracktocool.Invertcakeontoalargeplateandletcoolcompletely.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, bring honey to a boil. Addberries and toss until well combined. Remove from heat and stir in tarragon.Serve each slice of Lime Pound Cake topped with 3 tablespoons of HoneyBerries.Sliceinto20servings.


HoneyOatmealCookies

3tablespoonsbutter

½cupbrownsugar

¼cupSavannahBeeOrangeBlossomHoney

1egg

1tablespoonwater

½cupflour

½teaspoonsalt

¼teaspoonbakingsoda

1cuprolledoats

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, mixtogetherthoroughlythebutter,brownsugar,honey,egg,andwater.Sifttogetherthedryingredients[exceptforoats],thenstirintheoats.Addthedryingredientstothewet;mix.Addanyadditionalingredientslikechoppeddates,figs,raisins,currents, chocolate chips, chopped nuts—in any amount you like. Drop byheapingteaspoonsontoagreasedcookiesheet.Bake12to15minutes.Coolonawirerack.


HoneySesameandDateBiscotti

1½cupsflour

1½cupswholewheatpastryflour

1teaspoonbakingsoda


1½teaspoonsfivespicepowder

cupMarsalaOliveOil

cuphoney

Gratedpeelandjuiceof1smallorange

3eggs

¾cupdates,driedfigs,apricots,orfruitofchoice

½cuppecansornutsofyourchoice,chopped

1teaspoonvanillaorflavoringofyourchoice

¼cupsesameseeds

Heatovento350°F.Lightlygreasefoil-linedlargebakingsheet.Inmixingbowl combine dry ingredients; make well in center. Pour in olive oil, honey,juice and eggs. Stir until dough holds together; add remaining ingredients(exceptsesameseeds).Shapedoughonlightlyflouredsurfaceinto4or5logs,2by10incheslong.Placeonpreparedbakingpan,2inchesapart.Brushtopswithmilkorwater,sprinkleevenlywithsesameseeds.Bake15to20minutesoruntilfirmwhenlightlytouchedontopandgolden.Removetocuttingboard;cool.Cutlogs intoabout½ inch slices,diagonally.Placebackonbaking sheet, cut sidedown.Bake4to5minutestotoastuntilgoldenbrown.Makes60to70.


StruffoliallaNapoletana

1¾cupsflour

½teaspoonsalt


¼cupsugar

Gratedpeelof1orangeor1lemon

3smalleggs

1teaspoonvanilla


forcookingstruffoli(2or3inches

insmallsaucepan)

SYRUPcuphoney

cupwater

¼cupsugar

DECORATIONS¼cupcandiedredandgreencherries,choppedsmall

¼cupcandiedorangeorpumpkin,diced

½cuppinenutsorwalnuts,chopped

cupdarkchocolate,choppedsmall

Inmixing bowl combine dry ingredients;makewell in center.Add eggs,vanilla, and olive oil; stir until dough holds together. Knead very little, onflouredboard;cover;letrestabout30minutes.Onlightlyflouredboard,pinchoffsmallpiecesofdough.Rolltothicknessofapencil(about¼inch).Cuteachroll into½-inchpieces;roll toformlittleballs.Cookafewata timeinheatedoliveoiluntilgoldenbrown.Removewithaslottedspoonontopanlinedwithcleanpaper towels. Ina small saucepanbring toboilhoney,water, and sugar.Stir to dissolve; simmer 1minute. Remove from heat; cool.Dip struffoli intosyrup with candied ingredients, pine nuts, and chocolate. Place in a pile orpyramidonaplate.Serves6.

NOTEStruffolimaybebakedonlightlygreasedcookiesheets.Placelittleballson

sheetswithalittlespaceinbetweeneachone.Bakeina350-degreeovenfor15to20minutesoruntilgoldenbrown.


SweetPotatoPie

7cupscookedandmashedsweetpotatoes

¼teaspoongroundnutmeg


2tablespoonsvanillaextract

2teaspoonslemonjuice

2¼cupssugar

1cupSavannahBeeCompanyOrangeBlossomHoney

4jumboeggs

2deep-dishpieshells

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place sweet potatoes, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla,lemonjuice,sugar,SavannahBeeCompanyOrangeBlossomHoney,andeggsin a large bowl. Blend ingredients together until they are thoroughly mixed.Equallydistributethesweetpotatomixintothepieshells.Placesomealuminumfoilonandaroundtheedgesofthepieshellssothecrustwillnotburnwhenthepiesarebaked.Placepiesintheovenandbakefor45minutes.Removefromtheovenandletcoolcompletelybeforeserving.Servewithwhippedcream.Makes2pies/16to20servings.


WalnutCakeandHoneyLemonSyrup

6eggs,separated

1½cupswalnuts,ground

1¾cupflour

½teaspoonsoda

1teaspooncinnamon

¼teaspoongingerorcloves

1cupsugar

1½teaspoonsbakingpowder

½teaspoonsalt

¼teaspoonnutmeg

Gratedpeelof1lemonortangerine

¾cupyogurt,plain

¼cupMarsalaOliveOil

1teaspoonorangeextract

HONEYLEMONSYRUP½cupsugar

cuphoney

Juiceof2lemons

Peelof1lemon,grated

cupwater

Preheatoven to350ºF.Greasea13x9 inchbakingpan. Inmixingbowl,addeggwhites.Beatuntilstiffpeakshold.Inanotherbowl,adddryingredients.Makewellincenter.Addyogurt,oliveoil,orangeextract,andeggyolks;stirtoblendwell.Gentlyfoldineggwhites;pourintopreparedpan.Bakefor30to40minutes,oruntilcenterspringsbackwhentouchedlightlyontopincenter.Coolonwirerack. Insaucepancombinesugar,honey, lemonjuice, lemonpeel,andwater. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, simmer twominutes, cool. Poke holes allover top of cakewith tines of fork. Spoon syrup over top of cake, if desired.Makes16pieces.

(Source:CourtesyGemmaSanitaSciabica,BakingSensationalSweetswithCaliforniaOliveOil.)

AFinalBuzzThesweetesthoney

Isloathsomeinhisowndeliciousness

Andinthetasteconfoundstheappetite.—WilliamShakespeare1

Thesedays,asacitifiedmountainwoman—anaturegirlatheart—Isithereamidtoweringpinetreesandinsideahumanhivefullofhoneysfromthehoneybee and its people.Mypantry is stuffed fullwith honey varietals that I knowintimatelyandcontinuetouseincooking,baking,andofcoursetea,aswellasstraightfromthespoon.Candles,all types,taperstopillars,areineveryroom;thekitchen,diningroom,livingroom,bedroom,study,andbathroom.

I am inspired by the honey varietals around theworld and the variety of

healingpowers thatare linked toeachone. I confess that Ido like themilder,lighter varieties, such aswildflower and orange blossom, but leatherwood andbuckwheat intrigue me and my palate. The benefits of beeswax, from theincredible beauty products to soaps, have pamperedmybody and spirit in thecomfortofmycabin.

SELF-RELIANCEANDTHEQUEENBEEMENTALITYStill,todayinthe21stcenturytherearedoctors,nutritionists,andeveryday

people,maybeevenyou,whobelievehoneyis justasweetener that’sgoodontoastorintea.Honeyissomuchmorethanthat.Take1teaspoonofhoneyforenergyandpleasegobacktochapter1.Rereadmywords,chapterbychapter,toget themessage that honey has amazing healing powers, thanks to the giftedhoneybee.HerearefourtipsIfollowdaytoday.

QueenBeeTip1:Listentoyourbody’scues.I’vetunedintomyvitalsigns,whetheritbemonitoringmybloodpressureorachesandpainsthatzapenergy.Thisway,you’llbeontopofanyproblemandcannipitinthebud—andhoneycanhelp.

QueenBeeTip2:Eatpremium,wholenaturalfoods(thinkroyaljellyandthe queen) to help you treat your body like royalty. It’s about taking care ofyourself,firstandforemost,soyoucanbeproductiveinyourhive—andhoneycanhelp.

Queen Bee Tip 3: Stay busy. Being productive and knowing what yourpurposeinlifeiswillhelpyoufeelfocusedandkeepyouheart-healthyandyourweightincheck—andhoneycanhelp.

QueenBeeTip 4: Stay in touchwith your health-care practitioner:Makesureyouhaveacaringdoctor,muchlikeanattentivebeekeeper,whocanhelpyou keep tabs on your overall health with preventative care. It will give youpeaceofmindsoyoucandowhatyouwanttodoinlife—andhoneycanhelp.

So,asIcometoanendofsharingHoneylandwithyou,it’snosurprisethatIfeelconnectedtothehoneybee.ThroughhumanyearsIhavetransformedfromatravelinghumanlikeavirginqueentoaqueenbeecomfortableinherhivetoproduce products, like The Healing Powers of Honey, to help mankind beehealthy.Andit’shoney(andbeefoodsstraightfromthehive)thathasandwillcontinuetomakemylifesweeter(andyours,too)throughmiddleageandintothegoldenyears.LikeaqueenIamhappytosay,“Honey,I’mhome.”

PART9

HONEY

RESOURCES

WhereCanYouBuyHoney?Ashoneycontinuestobetoutedforitspowerfulhealthbenefits,peopleare

becomingmore aware of this ancient superfood and its comeback around theglobe. Currently, a wide world of honeys can be bought in supermarkets,specialtystores,andhealth-foodstores,aswellasthroughmailorderandontheInternet.And yes, the decision regardingwhich one is best can be subjective,justlikewhenchoosingyourfavoriteoliveoilandchocolate.

Hereisalistofhoneysandhoneyproducts,fromorganicandall-naturaltogourmetbrands. If you’re interested in buying anyof thesepopular honeysorhoney-relateditems,justcontactthehoneycompanydirectlyforthelocationsofstoresnearestyou.

HONEYBEAUTYPRODUCTSBellaLuccèBellaLuccèLtd.Co.

401WesternLane

SuiteG

Columbia,S.C.29063

800-485-3079

Outsidethelower48states:

803-749-0809

www.bellalucce.com

ManukaHoneyDrizzle,oneof thecompany’smostpopularproducts,canbeusedasapedicuresoak,asahydrotherapybathtreatment,andasarichbodymasque.

CuccioNaturalé

29120AvenuePaine

Valencia,CA91355

661-257-7827;800-762-6245

www.cuccio.com

In1999,theinnovativeStarNailInternationalfoundedthefirstnaturalnail-, hand-, and foot-care treatment product line used in top spas and salonsworldwide.Manyof theproducts, frommassagecrèmes toSpaElixir, includemilk-and-honey combinations and are simply sublime—perfect for pamperingthebodyathome,too.

HONEYHOUSEHOLDPRODUCTSBigDipperWaxWorks

700SouthOrchardStreet

Seattle,WA98108

206-767-7322;888-826-7770

www.bigdipperwaxworks.com

Hand-craftedbeeswaxcandles.Productsincludetapers,pillars,andgiftsetsfor everyday and extraordinary seasonal selections: holiday glass gift sets,Scents of the Season, beehive glasses, Valentine’s Day candles, and a springcollection.

HoneyCandle

37MainStreet

Orleans,MA02653

508-255-7031;888-423-3929

www.honeycandle.com

Quaint candle shop, 100 percent beeswax collection, pillars, tapers,bayberry candles, and summer butterflies on front and back of decorativecandles.

KnorrBeeswaxProducts,Inc.

14906ViaDeLaValle

DelMar,CA92014

760-431-2007;800-807-BEES

www.knorrbeeswax.com

Beeswaxcandlesarepureeleganceandperfectforalloccasions.Selectionofquality100percentpurebeeswaxcandles.

HONEYPRODUCERSANDMAKERSINCALIFORNIAHoneyPacificawww.honeypacifica.com

Honey Pacifica offers raw honey varieties, always raw and unfiltered. Awidevarietyofexceptionalhoneys,honeycomb,candy,coastalbeepollen,royaljelly,propolis,skincreamsandlipbalms,andbeeswaxcandles.

HoneyRidgeFarms

12310NE245thAvenue

BrushPrairie,WA98606

360-256-0086

www.honeyridgefarms.com

Unforgettable gourmet honey, honey crèmes, honey vinegar, and honeygrillingsaucesandglazes.

Marshall’sHoney

159LombardRoad

AmericanCanyon,CA94503

707-556-8088;800-624-4637

www.marshallshoney.com

Californiahoney,rawhoney,kosherhoney,unfilteredhoney,allergyreliefpacks,andbeeswaxproducts.

HONEYCOMPANIESFROMOTHERSTATESINTHEUSAANDAROUNDTHEGLOBE

BannerBeeCompanyLLC

10021BannerCounty

Laytonsville,MD20882

240-793-0363

www.bannerbees.com

Aneye-catchingselectionofqualityhoneyproducts,includingrawhoney,beeswax candles, gourmet cocoa blended raw honey, and all-naturalHelpingHandpropolissalve.

BeePureHoney,Inc.WestBend,WI53095

262-675-0557

www.beepurehoney.com

Provides natural, healthy honey and other hive products, including beepollen,giftsets,rawhoney,andtea,directfromthebeekeeper.

LaneyHoney

25725NewRoad

NorthLiberty,IN46554

574-656-8701

www.laneyhoney.com

Premium honey from America’s Heartland, varieties offered by floralsource,aswellasbeeswaxandskin-careproducts.

Dutchman’sGold

300CarlisleRoad

Carlisle,ON

LOR1H2,Canada

905-689-6371

www.beepollenbuzz.com

www.dutchmansgold.com

www.anniesapitherapy.com

Raw,fresh,andunpasteurizedhoneyvarietalsandhoneyblends,includingfresh comb honey, raw honey, summer blossom honey, honey butter, andbuckwheat honey. Apitherapy raw honey blends, including royal jelly, beepropolis,andbeepollenforaddednutritionalvalue.

MagnoliaHoneyCompanyPostOfficeBox517/251Highway61North

Woodville,MS39669

601-888-7500

www.magnoliahoney.com

Homeofaward-winninggourmetproducts, includinghoney jellies,honeypickles,andhoneysauces.

ReallyRawHoney

3725GoughStreet

Baltimore,MD21224

800-REAL-RAW(732-5729)

www.reallyrawhoney.com

An earthy line of a variety of raw honeys, including unprocessed honeycontainingbitsofpropolis,honeycomb,andpollenthataddchewytexture.

SavannahBeeCompany

211JohnnyMercerBoulevard

Savannah,GA31410

800-955-5080

www.savannahbee.com

A top-notch company with a vast assortment of specialty honeys, rawhoneycomb,everydayhoney,body-careproducts,andgifts.

SueBee®Honey

301LewisBoulevard

P.O.Box338

SiouxCity,IA51102

712-258-0638

www.suebee.com

AleadinghoneycompanyinAmerica,whichoffersall-naturalhoney,spunhoney,AuntSue’sRawHoneywithpureunfilteredallnaturalflavor,andAuntSue’sOrganicHoney,which is certified100percentorganic as recognizedbytheUSDA.

VolcanoIslandHoneyCompany,LLC46-4013PuaonoRoad

Honokaa,HI96727

808-775-1000;888-663-6639

www.volcanoislandhoney.com

Rawhoneyfitforthegods.Tropicalhoneyiscertifiedorganic.

GOURMETSPECIALTYFOODSChefShop.com

1425ElliottAvenueWest

Seattle,WA98119

800-596-0885

www.ChefShop.com

ChefShop.comcarriesanextensivelineofartisan-producedspecialtyfoodsandingredientsfromaroundtheworld,includingabroadselectionofmonofloralhoneys, such asTasmanian leatherwoodhoney andTasmanian tea tree honey.Stopbytheretailstoreanytimetotryhoneyoraskforapersonalizedoliveoilandvinegartasting.Orshoponline.

MEDICINALHONEYDuringthecreationofTheHealingPowersofHoney,asanauthor-intuitive

Iwasworkingasaphonepsychic.I’dgetcallsfromAustraliaandNewZealand.Often,I’dsensethecaller(sometimeswithoutanaccent)wasringingmefromthesecountries.Itwasjustagutinstinct.

HoneymarkInternational,LLCP.O.Box15381

Boston,MA02215

866-427-7329

www.HoneymarkProducts.com

Awide variety of importedmedicinal honey products, including first-aidantiseptic lotion, antifungal cream, liquid hand soap, andmanuka honey soap.ThemanukahoneyistheonlyproductimportedfromNewZealand.Thesesoapsare excellent formoisturizingdry skin, clearing acne, and eliminatingbacteriaonthesurfaceoftheskin.

Medihoney

DermaSciences

214CarnegieCenter

Suite300

Princeton,NJ08540

609-514-4744

www.medihoney.com

Linked to Comvita,Medihoney was a pioneer in the field of honey andwound-careresearch.

TheTasmanianHoneyCompany25AMainRoad

Perth,Tasmania7300

Australia

(03)63982666

[email protected]

Apotpourriofdeliciousandsophisticatedhoneyswithhealingproperties,including Tasmanian leatherwood, Tasmanian manuka, French lavender, andeucalyptus.

ComvitaNewZealandLtdPrivateBag1,TePuke

NewZealand

0800-504-959

www.comvita.com

A pioneer company selling honey and other bee products, includingmanukahoney,first-aidcreams,andhoneybandages.

TheHoneyCollectionLimited

74GroveRoad

Blenheim7201

Marlborough

NewZealand

+64-3-5786303

www.honeycollection.co.nz

TheHoneyCollectionprovidesavarietyof“PureNewZealandSkinCareproducts”thathaveUMF-ratedmanukahoneyasaprimeingredient.

CHOCOLATETOPAIRWITHHONEYLakeChamplainChocolates

750PineStreet

Burlington,VT05401

800-465-5909

www.lakechamplainchocolates.com

For 25 years, Lake Champlain Chocolates has been making fresh, all-naturalgourmetchocolates.

NaturalCandyStore1009 SharyCircle, SuiteBConcord, CA 94518 925-288-1704; 800-875-

2409www.naturalcandystore.com

Honeycandies,includingItalianHoneyFilledCandy,HoneyMintPatties,HoneybeesNaturalCandy,andmuchmore.

QueenBeeGardens1863Lane111/2

Lovell,WY82431

307-548-2543;800-225-7553

www.queenbeegardens.com

Awidevarietyofthebestgourmetcandymadewithhoneyandchocolate,includingtruffles,Honeymoons,pralines,andotherconfections.

OLIVEOILTOPAIRWITHHONEYNickSciabica&Sons

2150YosemiteBoulevard

Modesto,CA95354-3931

209-577-5067;800-551-9612

www.sciabica.com

Sciabica specializes in cold-pressed olive oils, using several varieties ofCalifornia olives. They also provide natural red wine vinegar, as well asbalsamicvinegarimportedfromModena,Italy.Sciabicaoffersavarietyofextravirgin olive oils. Also, Sciabica’s “Specialty Olive Oils” include flavoredproductscontainingbasil,garlic,jalapeño,lemon,andorange.Theseoilscontainno artificial flavors but are made by crushing and cold-pressing together theingredientsandfreshMissionVarietyolivesinthemill.

TheOlivePressAtJacuzziFamilyWinery

24724Highway121(ArnoldDrive)

Sonoma,CA95476

707-939-8900;800-965-4839

www.theolivepress.com

The Olive Press Tasting Room and Gift Shop and the online store arededicated to olives and olive oil. They also sell some honey-related items,includingOliveYouDogTreatsthatcomeinpeanutbutterandhoney.

TEATOPAIRWITHHONEYCelestialSeasoningsTheHainCelestialGroup,Inc.

4600SleepytimeDrive

Boulder,CO80301

800-434-4246

www.celestialseasonings.com

All-naturalchai,green,herbal,red,wellness,white,andspecialtyteaswithhoney are what you’ll find at Celestial Seasonings, the largest specialty teamanufacturerinNorthAmerica.HoneyteasincludeHoneyVanillaChamomileHerbalTea,SweetAppleChamomileHerbalTea,HoneyLemonGinsengGreenTea,andHoneyVanillaChaiTea.

BUZZ-WORTHYINFORMATIONONHONEYBeeCulture623W.LibertyStreet

Medina,OH44256

330-725-6677;800-289-7668

www.BeeCulture.com

BeeCulturewas established in1873 andhasbeenpublishedby theA. I.RootCompany, inMedina,Ohio, since its inception.Readersare internationalbutmostly from theU.S. and reflect the beekeeping community . . . about 10percentcommercial,25percentsideliners,andtherestbackyardbeekeepers.

CanadianHoneyCouncil—NationalOffice

36HighValeCrescent

SherwoodPark,AB

Canada

T8A5J7

877-356-8935;780-570-5930

www.honeycouncil.ca

CommitteeforthePromotionofHoneyandHealth,Inc.P.O.Box3

Haddam,KS66944-0003

713-436-7802

www.prohoneyandhealth.com

TheHoneyAssociationGraylingPortlandHouse

BressendenPlace

London,

SW1E5BH

+44-0-20-7932-1850

www.honeyassociation.com

UK honey site, compiled by British Honey Importers and PackersAssociation.Containshoneyrecipesandhoneyhealthtips.

TheHoneyLocator

11409BusinessParkCircle

Suite210

Firestone,CO80504

303-776-2337

www.honeylocator.com

The Honey Locator is a valuable resource that dishes out suppliers ofhoneysandproducts in theUnitedStates.Youcanpinpoint anapiary statebystate,oryoucansearchbyhoneytype.

NationalHoneyBoard

11409BusinessParkCircle

Suite210

Firestone,CO80504

303-776-2337

www.honey.comThe National Honey Board was founded in 1990 to enlighten the public

aboutallthingshoneyrelated,fromthehoneybeeandhoneyhealthbenefitstohoney facts and recipes. Its goal is to educate people about honey use byconsumers,thefoodindustry,andfoodmanufacturers.

Notes

CHAPTER1:THEPOWEROFHONEY1“HoneyQuotes,”www.foodreference.com/html/qhoney.html.2Steven G. Pratt, M.D., and Kathy Matthews, SuperFoods HealthStyle:

SimpleChangestoGettheMostOutofLifefortheRestofYourLife(NewYork:Harper,2007),p.148.

3Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The

Surprising,UnbiasedTruthAboutWhatYouShouldEatandWhy(Beverly,MA:FairWindsPress,2007),p.316.

CHAPTER2:ANANCIENTESSENTIALELIXIR1“FamousHoneyQuotes,”www.honeything.com/articles/honeyquotes.html.2NathanialAltman,TheHoneyPrescription:TheAmazingPowerofHoney

asMedicine(Rochester,VT:HealingArtsPress,2010).

3Ibid,page45.4Ibid,page44.5JenniFleetwood,Honey:Nature’sWonder Ingredient:100AmazingUses

fromTraditionalCurestoFoodandBeauty,withTips,Hints,and40TemptingRecipes(London:LorenzBooks,2007),page12.

6Ibid,page14.7Ibid,page14,15.8JenniFleetwood,Honey:Nature’sWonder Ingredient:100AmazingUses

fromTraditionalCurestoFoodandBeauty,withTips,Hints,and40TemptingRecipes(London:LorenzBooks,2007),p.15.

9NathanialAltman,TheHoneyPrescription:TheAmazingPowerofHoney

asMedicine,p.56.10JenniFleetwood,Honey:Nature’sWonder Ingredient:100AmazingUses

fromTraditionalCurestoFoodandBeauty,withTips,Hints,and40TemptingRecipes(London:LorenzBooks,2007),p.15.

11The National Honey Board; http://www.honey.com/nhb/media/press-

kiet/press-kit-honey-history-facts/.12JenniFleetwood,Honey:Nature’sWonder Ingredient:100AmazingUses

fromTraditionalCurestoFoodandBeauty,withTips,Hints,and40TemptingRecipes(London:LorenzBooks,2007).

13Ron Fessenden, MD, MPh.H, and Mike McInnes, MRPS, The Honey

Revolution:Restoring theHealth of FutureGenerations (Haddam,KS:WorldClassEmprise,LLC,2008),p.142.

CHAPTER3:AHISTORICALTESTIMONY1“BeeQuotes.”www.brainquote.com/quotes/keywords/bees.html.

2DouglasMartin,“EvaCrane,EnglishExpertonWorld’sBees,Diesat95,”

the New York Times, September 16, 2007,www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/world/europe/16crane.html.

3Peter Marren, “Eva Crane: Authority on the History of Beekeeping and

Honey-HuntingWhoTraveledtheWorldinPursuitofBees,”TheIndependent,September14,2007,www.independent.co.uk.

4“GlobalHoneyMarket toReach1.9MillionTonsby2015,According to

NewReportbyGlobalIndustryAnalysts,Inc.,”SanJose,California(PRWEB),February 8, 2010:www.prweb.com/releases/honey_honeybee/raw_monoflorz/_polyfloral/prweb3453434.htm.

CHAPTER4:WHEREARETHESECRETINGREDIENTS?1“HoneyQuotes,”www.foodreference.com/html/qhoney/html.2Steven G. Pratt, M.D., and Kathy Matthews, SuperFoods HealthStyle:

SimpleChangestoGettheMostOutofLifefortheRestofYourLife(NewYork:Harper,2007),p.147.

3Nele Gheldof, Xiao-Hong Wang, and Nicki J. Engeseth, “Buckwheat

HoneyIncreasesSerumAntioxidantCapacityinHumans,”J.Agric.FoodChem.51(5)(February26,2003):1500–1505.

CHAPTER5:HONEY,YOU’REAMAZING!1“FamousHoneyQuotes,”www.honeything.com/articles/honeyquotes.html.2Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The

Surprising,UnbiasedTruthAboutWhatYouShouldEatandWhy(Beverly,MA:FairWindsPress,2007),p.223.

3AllenR.Robin,etal.,“DailyConsumptionofaDarkChocolateContaining

Flavanols and Added Sterol Esters Affects Cardiovascular Risk Factors in aNormotensive Population with Elevated Cholesterol,” American Society for

NutritionJ.Nutr.138(April2008):725–731.4“MalaysianHoneyRetardsCancerGrowth, Inhibits Bacteria and Fungi,”

Apitherapy News, February 9, 2010,www.apitherapy.blogspot.com.2010/02/maylasian-honey-retards-cancer-growth.html..

5“BuzzSurroundsVenominCancerResearch,”TheDay,retrievedAugust

5,2010www.theday.com/article/2010805/B1202/308059461/1/B12.6Mike and Stuart McInnes, The Hibernation Diet (Haddam, KS: World

ClassEmprise,LLC,2007),p.7.7Ron Fessenden, MD, MPH, and Mike McInnes, MRPS, The Honey

Revolution:Restoring theHealth of FutureGenerations (Haddam,KS:WorldClassEmprise,LLC,2008),p.125.

8H.Guo,A. Saiga, et al., J.Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. (Tokyo) 53 (4) (August

2007):345–348.R&DCenter,NipponMeatPackers,Inc.9Ray Sahelian, MD, “Royal Jelly Benefit, Side Effects, Research

InformationofthisHealthSupplement,”www.raysahelian.com/royaljelly.html.10C. R. Earnest, et al, “Effects of Preexercise Carbohydrate Feedings on

Glucose and Insulin Responses During and Following Resistance Exercise,”StrengthandConditioningResearch14(2000)361.

11www.comvita.com/aboutus/html.12“Honey as an Aphrodisiac,”

www.hubpages.com/hub/Honey_as_an_Aphrodisiac,byPrincessa.

CHAPTER6:THEMEDITERRANEANSWEETENER1“HoneyQuotes,”www.foodreference.com/html/qhoney.html.2“New Antioxidant Compounds Have Been Identified in Foods Such as

OliveOil,HoneyandNutsUsingTwoAnalyticalTechniques,”November20,

2009,www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171618.php.3DaphneMiller,M.D.,TheJungleEffect:ADoctorDiscoverstheHealthiest

DietsfromAroundtheWorld—WhyTheyWorkandHowtoBringThemHome(NewYork:HarperCollins,2008),p.54.

CHAPTER7:HEALINGHONEYVARIETIES1“HoneyQuotes,”www.foodreference.com/html/qhoney.html.2Bob Gulliford, “Beginning in Bees,” The Australian Beekeeper, August

2010,p.83.3Ibid.,p.83.4JenniFleetwood,Honey:Nature’sWonder Ingredient:200AmazingUses

fromTraditionalCures toFoodandBeauty,withTips,Hintsand30TemptingRecipes(London:LorenzBooks,2008),p.30.

CHAPTER8:HONEYANDCINNAMONPOWER1www.quotesea.com/quotes/keywords/cinnamon.2Steven G. Pratt, M.D., and Kathy Matthews, SuperFoods HealthStyle:

SimpleChangestoGettheMostOutofLifefortheRestofYourLife(NewYork:Harper,2007),pages281–282.

3Ibid.,p.282.

CHAPTER9:SWEETSTUFF:HONEYCOMBOS1“HoneyQuotes,”www.foodreference.com/html/qhoney/html.2“GlobalHoneyMarket toReach1.9MillionTonsby2015,According to

NewReportbyGlobalIndustryAnalysts,Inc.,”SanJose,California(PRWEB),February8,2010.

CHAPTER10:TEA(S)WITHYOURHONEY1“Tea and Toast Food Quotes,”

www.foodreference.com/html/qteaandtoast.html.

CHAPTER11:HOMEREMEDIESFROMYOURKITCHEN1“FamousHoneyQuotes,”www.honeything.com/articles/honeyquotes.html.2D. C. Jarvis,M.D.,FolkMedicine: A New England Almanac of Natural

HealthCarefromaNotedVermontCountryDoctor,(NewYork:FawcetCrestBooks,1958),p.115.

3Ibid.,pp.115–116.4Ibid.,p.109.5Ibid.,p.112.6E.A.Ophori,B.N.Eriagbonyer,andP.Vgbodaga,“AntimicrobialActivity

ofPropolisAgainstStreptococcusmutans,”AfricanJournalofBiotechnology9(31)(August2,2010):4966–4969.

7I. M. Paul, J. Beiler, A. McMonagle, et al., “Effect of Honey,

Dextromethorphan, andNo Treatment onNocturnal Cough and SleepQualityfor Coughing Children and Their Parents, Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. (12)(December2007):1140–1146.

8Jarvis,FolkMedicine,p.109.9Douglas I. Rosendale, et al., “High-through Put Microbial Bioassays to

ScreenPotentialNewZealandFunctionalFoodIngredientsIntendedtoManagetheGrowthofProbioticandPathogenicGutBacteria,”InternationalJournalofFoodScience&Technology43(12)(November2008):2257–2267.

10Howland Blackiston, Beekeeping for Dummies (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley

Publishing,2009),p.31.11CalOrey,TheHealingPowersofVinegar(NewYork:KensingtonBooks,

2009),p.175.12Ibid,p.214.13Jarvis,FolkMedicine,p.119.14Ibid.

CHAPTER12:HONEYMANIA:HONEYFORTHEHOUSEHOLD1“FamousHoneyQuotes,”www.honeything.com/articles/honeyquotes.html.2“DidYouKnowYouCanUseHoneytoTreataWoundonYourPet?”K9

Magazine,May1,2009,www.dogmagazine.net/archives.

CHAPTER13:HONEYBEE-AUTIFUL1“FamousHoneyQuotes,”www.honeything.com/articles/honeyquotes.html.2“PrinceCharles’WifeUsesBeeVenom,HoneytoFightWrinkles:Camilla

FightsWrinkleswith‘BeeVenom.’”PTI,July28,2010.

CHAPTER14:THEBUSYBEEWORKERS1“FamousHoneyQuotes,”www.honeything.com/articles/honeyquotes.html.

CHAPTER15:HONEYISNOTABUZZFOREVERYONE:THESTING1www.quotesdaddy.com/quote/934659/Joseph_Jouber/when-yougo-in-

search-of-honey-you-must-expect-to.2Tom Keyser, “Bee Venom Used to Treat Arthritis, MS, Lupus, Chronic

FatigueSyndrome,”TimesUnion,February1,2009.3Ray Sahelian, MD, “Royal Jelly Benefit, Side Effects, Research

InformationofthisHealthSupplement,”www.raysahelian.com/royaljelly.html.4Andrew Schneider, Senior Public Health Correspondent, “11 Execs, 6

ForeignFirmsCaughtinHoneySting,”September2,2010,www.aolnews.com.5Ray Sahelian, MD, “Honey Health Benefit,”

www.raysahelian.com/honey.html.6Charles Downey, “Sweet Solution,” WebMD, March 13, 2000:

www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50608.

CHAPTER16:ANDTHEBEES’BUZZGOESON...1OscarWild,from“HerVoice,”Poems1881.2AllisonAubrey,“HealingHoneyand theNewQueenBee-(keepers)”July

19, 2010, www.npr.org/2010/07/19/128574280/healing-honeyand-the-new-queenbee-keepers.

CHAPTER17:THEJOYOFCOOKINGWITHHONEY1“HoneyQuotes,”www.foodreference.com/html/qhoney.html.

CHAPTER18:CIAO,HONEY!1“HoneyQuotes,”www.thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/honey.2“All About Honey,” February 29, 2000,

www.virtualweberbullit.com/honey.html..3“HoneyQuotes,”www.foodreference.com/html/qhoney.html.

SelectedBibliography

Altman,Nathaniel.TheHoneyPrescription:TheAmazingPowerofHoneyasMedicine.Rochester,VT:HealingArtsPress,2010.

Blackiston, Howland. Beekeeping for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: WileyPublishing,2009.

Bowden, Jonny, Ph.D., C.N.S. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: TheSurprising,UnbiasedTruthAboutWhatYouShouldEatandWhy.Beverly,MA:FairWindsPress,2007.

Fessenden, Ron, MD, MPH, and Mike McInnes, MRPS. The HoneyRevolution: Restoring theHealth of FutureGenerations. Haddam,KS:WorldClassEmprise,LLC,2008.

Fleetwood,Jenni.Honey:Nature’sWonderIngredient:200AmazingUsesfromTraditionalCures toFoodandBeauty,withTips,Hintsand30TemptingRecipes.London:LorenzBooks,2008.

Jarvis, D. C.,M.D.FolkMedicine: A New England Almanac of NaturalHealthCarefromaNotedVermontCountryDoctor.NewYork:FawcettCrestBooks,1958.

Marchese, Marina C.Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper.NewYork:BlackDog&LeventhalPublishers,2009.

McInnes, Mike and Stuart. The Hibernation Diet, Haddam, KS: WorldClassEmprise,LLC,2007.

Pratt, Steven G. M.D., and Kathy Matthews. SuperFoods HealthStyle:SimpleChangestoGettheMostOutofLifefortheRestofYourLife.NewYork:Harper,2007.

Sciabica,GemmaSanita.BakingSensationalSweetswithCaliforniaOliveOil.Modesto,CA:GemmaSanitaSciabica,2005.

———. Baking with California Olive Oil: Dolci and Biscotti Recipes.Modesto,CA:GemmaSanitaSciabica,2002.

———. Cooking with California Olive Oil: Popular Recipes. Modesto,CA:GemmaSanitaSciabica,2001.

———.CookingwithCaliforniaOliveOil:RecipesfromtheHeartfortheHeart.Modesto,CA:GemmaSanitaSciabica,2009.

———. Cooking with California Olive Oil: Treasured Family Recipes.Modesto,CA:GemmaSanitaSciabica,1998.

Traynor, Joe. Honey: The Gourmet Medicine. Bakersfield, CA: KovackBooks,2002.

Permission to reproduce The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid and CommonFoods and Flavors of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid © 2009, granted byOldwaysPreservation&ExchangeTrust,www.oldwayspt.org

KENSINGTONBOOKSarepublishedby

KensingtonPublishingCorp.

119West40thStreet

NewYork,NY10018

Copyright©2011byCalOrey

Allrightsreserved.NopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanymeanswithoutthepriorwrittenconsentofthePublisher,exceptingbriefquotesusedinreviews.

KensingtonandtheKlogoReg.U.S.Pat&TMOff.ISBN:978-0-7582-7455-7

Warning:Toavoidinfantbotulism,donotfeedhoneytoababywhoisyoungerthanoneyear.

NotesaIftheasteriskedrecipesdon’tincludeservingsizes,useyourownjudgment

andstayonportioncontrolwatch.

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