|
Alberta’s honey bees are nature’s super-pollinators, collecting nectar from our abundant crops and native plants to produce honey that’s expertly and sustainably harvested by our beekeepers. These little insects are small but mighty. In fact, a queen bee can lay up to 800,000 eggs in her lifetime - now that's a busy bee!
Honey bees create honey from nectar collected from flowers. Here in Alberta, canola crops are a significant contributor to nectar collection, in addition to many native plants like dandelion, clover, and wildflowers. These crops help to create the unique flavor and colour characteristics found in pure Alberta honey. With Alberta being the largest honey producer in Canada, and those honey bees going on to pollinate our farm crops, by choosing pure Alberta honey you are supporting sustainability in both farming and beekeeping. In fact, Alberta's commercial honey producers manage around 25 Billion bees - that's over 5,800 bees for every person living in the province!
Looking for a local honey producer near you? Visit AlbertaBeekeepers.ca/producers/
Nutrition
Honey is often called a super-food, and there’s good reason for that. Honey, with its antibacterial properties, flavonoids and antioxidants, is in the category of healthy foods like blueberries, cruciferous veggies, nuts and whole grains. Adding honey to your meals and snacks can be beneficial!
1. Honey has a lower Glycemic Index than sugar.
The Glycemic Index (GI) is a comparative ranking of carbohydrate in foods indicating how they affect blood glucose levels. Foods with a high GI will increase blood sugar higher and faster than foods with a low GI. Honey typically ranks 58 on the GI scale while white table sugar (sucrose) ranks higher at between 58 and 65. Honey is about one-and-a-half times sweeter than sugar, so you can use smaller amounts of honey to get your sweetness kick.
2. Honey has powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
When bees synthesize pollen, they deposit hydrogen peroxide into the honey. Honey is also naturally acidic. These characteristics give honey its powerful antibacterial properties. Studies have shown honey’s effectiveness in treating burns, skin sores and inflammation. It’s thought that the drying effect of honey’s simple sugars and its antibacterial nature both contribute to its healing properties. Honey also contains polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant also found in vegetables, fruits and olive oil.
3. Honey can help soothe sore throats.
Studies have shown that honey can ease nighttime coughs and help with sleep, even when compared to popular over-the-counter cough suppressants. Just a word of caution, though: honey should NOT be given to children under one year of age.
Other Bee By-Products
Wax - Bees naturally produce wax flakes in glands on the underside of their abdomen, then use it to build cells in which they raise their broods and store honey. Beeswax is used in many ways, from candles to furniture polish and cosmetics to Ukrainian Easter Egg decorating!
Pollen - Bees rely on pollen as a source of protein, and now it is marketed as a supplement that can boost the immune system and provide many other benefits. Even chefs are using them in elevated cuisines!
Royal Jelly - Royal jelly is a very nutritious substance that worker bees produce through their glands and feed to the larvae and queen. It is believed that eating royal jelly increases energy and prolongs youthfulness, though it is time consuming for beekeepers to gather.
Propolis - Propolis is a sticky substance that bees collect from trees and other plants. They use it to seal cracks in the hive, and it has antimicrobial properties that help keep the hive sterile. On the human side, it's used to make many different things, from wood varnish to skin ointments and other health products.
Venom - Bee venom is a liquid that a bee secretes from her stinger in self-defence. It is known for its therapeutic properties (for example, to help control arthritis pain), but should be used cautiously as many people can have serious allergic reactions to the venom. Source: bees.techno-science.ca
|
