Honey is a sweetener that’s commonly used for a variety of purposes. Maybe you enjoy honey on toast, tea, or using it in baking. However, honey actually has characteristics that make it a great survival food. These 5 things you didn’t know about honey will give you some reasons to stock honey as a survival food.
1. Honey Won’t Spoil
If honey is stored properly, it won’t go bad. In fact, a tomb dating from ancient Egypt was found to have honey stored in a sealed container. The honey was still good to use. In order to avoid spoiling though, honey must be kept in a sealed container. It will ferment if moisture gets into the honey. You can prevent any fermentation by keeping containers sealed tightly when not being used.
2. Improves Shelf Life
Because honey has a long shelf life when stored alone, it also improves the shelf life of anything that it’s in. Baked goods that contain honey as part of the sweetener instead of sugar will have a longer shelf life. Honey can also be used to preserve fruit and other sweetened canned goods. Because honey is a supersaturated solution, it prevents the growth of bacteria and will make canned goods last longer than using sugar.
3. Medicinal Purposes
Honey has antimicrobial properties which makes it a good option for infection prevention when you’re in a pinch. Honey is often used for minor cuts and burns. Mix a small amount of money with oil and then apply in the affected area. Bandage to avoid making a mess and change out daily. This home remedy isn’t used very much today but it still proves to be effective.
4. Power-packed Food
Honey is one of the few foods that contains all of the ingredients needed to sustain life. Although you would probably never want to rely completely on honey, it actually contains a variety of enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. Honey is also the only food that contains pinocembrin which is an antioxidant associated with an improved cognitive function. Using honey as a sweetener is a good way to get a healthy boost to your diet.
5. Improves Skin Disorders
Honey can be a treatment for dermatitis, skin irritation, and even dandruff. Dilute with a small amount of water, the solution is applied to the scalp and then rinsed. For people who have sensitive skin, honey offers a natural alternative and is both easy and effective. When creams and lotions aren’t available, honey can be used to soothe and heal irritation, making it a great choice for the medicine cabinet.
These are a few of the reasons why honey is a great food to always have in stock. From food preparation and storage to medicinal uses, you’ll be surprised at how many uses you can find for honey. The key to making your honey work for you is to get good quality honey and store it well. If you take care of honey, it will last for as long as you need to keep it.
