Bees make honey from the nectar they sip from the hearts of blossomed flowers. A long and tedious process is required to transform nectar into the thick, golden substance we call honey.

In the vitamin category, honey offers vitamin A, B complex, C, D, E and K and beta-carotene. Among the mineral salts, it offers magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, iodine, sodium and manganese.

For centuries Honey has been used to supply energy and rejuvenate the body. Due to its balanced sugar formula, Honey requires no intermediate steps for proper digestion. For this reason, it is a source of rapidly supplied energy.

Applied to injury, minor abrasions and burns, honey can aid in healing. Honey is an antimicrobial agent. Honey is hygroscopic, that is, it can draw moisture from the air. On minor skin injuries, this hygroscopic nature promotes healing, helps prevent scarring and keeps the injured area from adhering to the bandage.

The main practical difference in sucrose and the simple sugars (glucose and fructose) in honey is the manner in which the body absorbs them. Sucrose is absorbed via osmosis. This means that it simply enters the bloodstream, penetrating directly through membranes, when it is being digested. The implication is that large amounts of sugar can rapidly enter the system. This rapid entry can cause an over-reaction of insulin production by the pancreas, resulting in the quick burning of the sugar in the system. A crash back to lower levels of sugar may occur.

The simple sugars contained in honey are absorbed by a process known as “active transport”. While the term “active” may seem to denote that this should occur quickly, the opposite is true… since the transport of the sugars through membranes and into the bloodstream is accomplished by an actual carrying agent (a chemical that binds the sugar), the speed with which it is absorbed is regulated by the availability of the transport agent. So simple sugars move into the bloodstream at a slower rate and are, therefore, less likely to cause an over stimulation of insulin production.

* Book Reference – Healing from the Hive. Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis and Honey by Rita Elkins M.H (Woodland Publishing)