Health benefits of honey. (Courtesy)
Not long ago, honey was just something to spread on toast. Then trials found it more effective than over-the-counter cough remedies – and Public Health England began recommending trying it before seeking a GP appointment. Now the golden nectar has superfood status and is increasingly on our radar as a treat with extra benefits, from healing wounds to treating acne.
Honey’s appeal is nothing new. It was the first sweetener used by humans – 8,000-year-old cave paintings in Spain depict people foraging for it. In traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, it is used as a digestive remedy, and Ancient Egyptians applied it as an ointment for skin ulcers. Today, worldwide sales are worth £7.58billion and honey is cropping up in everything from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals.