Far from being an “empty calorie” sweetener like refined sugars, honey has demonstrated some surprising anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. In healthy and high-cholesterol individuals honey:

• lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol
• lowers homocysteine (a risk factor for heart disease and stroke)
• shows anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties by lowering CRP, a blood marker of inflammation.

These health benefits may be explained by the antioxidants contained in honey. When choosing honey, the darker the better in terms of antioxidants. Buckwheat honey, for example, is darker in color and contains higher antioxidant concentrations than the lighter-colored clover honey. Also remember unless you choose raw honey, you will lose many of these health benefits as heating and processing will destroy these antioxidants. Honey is not recommended for children less than one years old, due to the risk of infant botulism.

Here’s a tip to make measuring honey a pleasure and not a sticky mess! Spray a little olive oil or lightly grease your cups and spoons, before you measure, to prevent the honey from sticking. Enjoy!