Oh Honey, you shouldn't have. (tasted like feet)

Raw Honey

or how I overcame my fear of botulism

Initially I had some reservations about raw honey, mostly due to the fact that prior to learning about natural foods, I liked all my food one way: sterile. I mean, if you can pasteurize something or make it shelf stable or preserve it, why not? Safety first, right?

Well as it turns out whole foods equal healthier foods and sterilizing food kills precious enzymes, nutrients, etc. So after extensive research, I bought my first jar of raw honey.

This honey was too strong for my husband. Actually, to quote him, he said it tasted like eating dirty feet. As usual, my kid thought it was delicious (seriously, no taste buds on my kid) and I found it tolerable. I liked seeing all the little bits of hive and what not, swirling around in there. Made me feel like I was really getting all the power of the bee. But it was hard to overlook the foot smell, so after that jar I tried one a bit less "chunky". Next honey.

Okay, so this one rated better than the first, still chunky but less footy. Sadly, this honey was not local to Virginia and when it came time to use the raw honey for springtime allergies the rule is: Buy Close to Home. Next honey.

Now this is a tasty honey. Golden Angels Apiary, we chose the Wild Rose variety, bottled in Singers Glen, Virginia. No bits of hive in this guy, to the delight of my hive hating husband. Rated excellent by the whole family.

What am I doing with all this honey?

• Honey is naturally anti-viral,anti-bacterial and anti-fungal
• It can be used in place of cough syrup or to soothe a sore throat
• It can be on wounds to speed healing and fight infection
• A spoonful of local honey a day helps ward of environmental allergies
• Naturally occurring enzymes and probiotics aid in digestion

There is a ton of info about honey all over the internet. I think this website remains factual and concise: World's Healthiest Foods.

A quick recipe for when you feel sickness creeping up on you. And it works. My patients swear by it. Drink it when you feel sick or when you are taking care of your sickly family. And don't be scared. It is actually pretty tasty.

Garlic Lemonade

2 quarts water
8-10 garlic cloves, whole and peeled
the juice of one lemon (or two if you like lemons)
raw honey, however much you'd like

a pinch of cayenne pepper
optional: a chunk of peeled ginger

Combine the water and the garlic (and ginger, if using) in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for one hour. Remove from heat. Add the lemon, cayenne and the honey. I like to leave all the chunks just chilling at the bottom of my jar. Strain it if you'd like.

You already know why the honey is there. A quick rundown of the rest. Lemons: vitamin C, plus acidity to fight infection. Cayenne: brings your body temperature up to sweat out those nasty germs. Garlic: oh the healing power of garlic (and ginger) is endless. Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, the list goes on and on. I could write a whole post just about garlic. Hmmmm.......

****You probably have heard this a million times but just to be sure NO HONEY FOR BABIES UNDER ONE YEAR OLD. Okay. I feel better now****