Bees make sweet wildflower honey from the fragrant pollen of trees, bushes, flowers and herbs near their hive. It's a rich source of calories and carbohydrates to provide you with a quick energy boost. Eating honey local to your region may even reduce the symptoms of annoying seasonal allergies. Use honey in moderation, as it's high in sugar, and don't feed it to infants to avoid potential negative effects.

Wildflower Honey Basics

Bees collect nectar, which contains carbohydrates, from flowers and take it back to their hive. The nectar is partially digested into more simple sugars and stored in the honeycomb inside the hive. Eventually it loses moisture and condenses into thick, sweet honey. The type of flowers the nectar came from influences the color and flavor of the resulting honey. Some common varieties are clover, alfalfa or orange blossom. If the bees use a variety of flowers found in nature, the honey is simply referred to as wildflower honey.

Energy Source

Honey is used mainly as a sweetener. It's made up of two forms of sugars, or simple carbohydrates, which are fructose and glucose. From 1 tablespoon of wildflower honey, you'll get 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar, according the Nutrient Data Laboratory at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This dense source of calories and sugar provides you with a quick-digesting source of energy. According to an article published in "The Journal of the American College of Nutrition" in 2008, you'll also get trace amounts of amino acids, enzymes, minerals and vitamins from honey. Be aware of your portion size when eating wildflower honey as calories can add up quickly.

Allergies

Eating wildflower honey from the area local to you may help to decrease the symptoms of seasonal allergies caused by the pollen in your region. A study published in "The International Archives of Allergy and Immunology" in 2011 found that participants with allergies to birch trees who consumed honey prior to allergy season made from the pollen of the trees had fewer allergy symptoms than participants who took conventional allergy medications. However, more research is needed to determine the exact impact of eating honey for treating seasonal allergies.

Uses

The mild floral flavor and sweetness of wildflower honey make it a popular sweetener for hot or cold tea. You can use it to sweeten other beverages, such as coffee, as well. Try drizzling golden wildflower honey on top of pancakes or waffles instead of maple syrup or using it on muffins and biscuits instead of jam. Honey is an all natural alternative to refined white table sugar or corn syrup. According to the text "Understanding Food Principles and Preparation," substitute one part honey for every one and one-fourth parts sugar in recipes and reduce the liquid in recipes by one-fourth, as honey contains moisture.

Precautions

In rare cases honey may contain botulism spores, which are harmful to your health. Side effects of ingesting botulism include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or difficulty breathing. Honey should not be fed to infants under 1 year old because of the risk of botulism, according the University of Maryland Medical Center. Contact your health care provider immediately if symptoms arise.

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