If you have a cough or a sore throat, your favorite remedy may not be a bitter pill...but a spoonful of honey! Honey is a cough suppressant as well as an antibacterial. These properties, combined with honey's pleasing flavor, make it an exceptional cough and throat remedy for adults and children over one year of age.
Honey has been known since ancient times for its ability to fight infection and assist in wound healing. Multiple studies confirm that honey effectively fights a number of bacteria and other microorganisms, including staph (S. aureus). A variety of compounds in honey seem to contribute to honey's antibacterial properties, including flavonoids and glucose oxidase.
In addition, research suggests that honey is as effective as over-the-counter cough suppressants. In a 2007 study, parents rated honey more effective than a common over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine at relieving their childrens' nocturnal respiratory infection symptoms. A 2009 study found honey to be moderately effective compared to OTC drugs.
Try honey out for yourself. Mix a spoonful in a glass of tea or warm water and add a twist of lemon. Or, take the honey by itself.
Florida produces its very own variety of honey by bees that collect pollen from orange blossoms. This orange blossom honey is exceptionally sweet, bright, and pleasing to taste -- and it is produced locally! Check it out at your local food store or fruit stand.
Warning: Never feed honey to an infant under one year of age, because honey may harbor botulism spores that a baby's immune system is too weak to defend against.
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