Читать книгу Honey For Dummies - Howland Blackiston - Страница 48

And now to the star of this little book: honey. It’s a truly magical substance that cannot be replicated by humans. Although some have successfully made a sweet, syrupy substance that tastes very similar, it is impossible to mimic honey’s chemical composition or its unparalleled health benefits. Beginning with its low pH, honey is an acidic environment, inhibiting the growth of most bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which prefer to thrive in a more alkaline state. Honey registers at 3.2–4.5 on the pH scale, much lower than most pathogens can survive.

Next, honey is hygroscopic, meaning that when it is openly exposed to moisture or humid conditions, it will absorb water. This is because honey is a supersaturated solution and honey bees are able to dissolve much more sugar in water than normal using heat. This hygroscopic behavior comes in handy when honey comes in contact with bacteria. Honey will absorb any moisture surrounding bacteria, which will dehydrate and kill the cell. So be sure to put the lid back on your honey jar, especially when it is humid.

The last amazing thing that honey bees do is add their own enzymes to honey, and one in particular, called glucose oxidase, is added during the ripening process. Glucose oxidase prevents the honey from fermenting and is what breaks down the glucose sugar in honey to gluconic acid. This action produces hydrogen peroxide and is another major factor in why honey is said to have antibacterial properties. Hydrogen peroxide occurs in small quantities for a short time, and this happens only when the honey has not been heat treated and is in the presence of water. The pH of hydrogen peroxide is 6.2 (ideal for contact with blood and tissue), so consuming a spoonful of honey or applying it to an open wound will activate these unique properties.

Honey is good for your insides and also for your outsides. Try honey on skin irritations, scratchy throats, or a mask to make your face glow. Here we recommend some other not so common uses of honey.