Honey diluted with water can help the human body in many ways. There are countless claims floating around the interweb, today I will share ten ways that have studies that back the “stories.”

Why Not Plain Drink Water?

Plain water is just fine to drink. BUT. But will you drink it? Many people have become so used to the taste of flavored drinks that they will not drink plain water. Some folks don’t fell the need sugar or sweetness in their drinks, but just want flavor. 

My father (of blessed memory) was one such person. All his adult life, he drank coffee or tea, or apple cider, or even switchel, and occasional beer, but never plain water. And yet he lived on land in Vermont with his own well with tasty earth filtered water and no contaminants and no city additives. (Yes, I extensively tested it.)  In later life when he went to the hospital for hip surgery and the like, the medical staff said he was clinically dehydrated and got his hydration back to health status. His “high blood pressure” always came right down to “normal” with all the fluids they dripped into him.

Yep.  He and W.C. Fields didn’t like to drink water.

Bees Make Honey

Honey bees collect nectar out of flowers, take it to their hive, and basically dehydrate it to concentrate it down, and thus they create honey. This natural process means that all the trace minerals that were in the floral nectar are still there in the honey. Minerals that our bodies need for health. And best of all – the minerals are not concocted into a powder in a massive manufacturing plant and pressed into a tablet to take one a day.

The thing is about these minerals, they are stabilized in a naturally occurring form, the form that the plant could use to transport them in the sap. This natural form is what our bodies can also use. There is no manufactured stabilizing compound fabricated in a lab and stuck on mined minerals. Instead the minerals in honey are in form that plants and animals have been using for millions and millions of years. It’s in our DNA. Since it is truly from nature, honey carries minerals in a form our bodies can readily absorb and use.

Honey is Full of Good “Stuff”

It is not just minerals. Honey also contains natural sugars, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, and vitamins. When dissolved in water, honey is converted back to something more like floral nectar and is easier to digest and absorb.

Raw honey that is gravity or centrifugally extracted contains far more antioxidants and enzymes than the highly processed honey that you find in most grocery stores.

How to Make Honey Water

Honey water is a simple beverage made by mixing raw honey with warm or room-temperature water. Honey dissolves slowly in cold water so if you want an iced drink, use warm water then cool it with ice.

You can make “honey tea” which is the same thing as honey water – only warmer. Do this by bringing water almost to a boil (180-200F) and using that to make your honey water. Avoid pouring boiling water over honey because it can break the delicate enzymes. The minerals will still be there, but since you won’t drink tea at 210F, why not just let your water cool a tad anyway.

Basic Recipe
     1 cup warm water 
     1 teaspoon raw honey

Note that this recipe will give you a subtle honey flavor. If your taste buds are used to being slammed by modern strong and/or sugary drinks, it may take a while for you to learn to savor this gentle flavor.

You Can “Doctor” Your Honey Water

Honey water is one of the simplest natural health drinks there is. Some people add lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, turmeric, or cinnamon – for extra flavor and for the proposed health benefits. Honey water is also encouraged to ferment into honey mead – but that’s another entire topic.

Science-Backed Benefits of Honey Water

Honey Water Supports the Gut in 5 ways

1. Supports Digestion
Honey water sipped slowly over time after a meal has been shown to stimulate digestive enzymes. Over several months people reported improved overall gut function.

2. Relieves Constipation
Warm honey water (honey tea) appears to promote bowel movement more rapidly and efficiently than over the counter medications. The mechanism appears to be hydration of the intestines.

3. Improves Gut Microbiota
Honey has some prebiotic properties. They appear to nourish good gut bacteria.

4. Supports Oral Health
The antibacterial properties found in honey reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth. Honey water sipped over the course of an hour followed by brushing with a fluoride and titanium free toothpaste reduced gum inflammation far more than brushing alone. Swallowing less oral bacteria with every swallow of saliva has proven benefits for overall gut health.

5. Reduces Acid Reflux Symptoms
Honey tea sipped after meals reduces the reported need for antacids after meals.

Honey Water Helps Daily Routines in 5 Ways

6. Boosts Energy Levels
The natural sugars in honey provide quick and sustained energy without the crash associated with refined sugar.

7. Enhances Exercise Recovery
It is proposed that the natural sugars in honey water help restore body glycogen better than manufactured energy compounds after workouts.

8. Improves Skin Health
The antioxidants in honey appear to support clearer, more radiant skin from within.

9. Improve Sleep Quality
Honey tea or honey water an hour before bedtime can help regulate blood sugar at night and thus support restful sleep.

10. Supports Brain Health
Antioxidants in general, and those in honey, are shown to protect brain cells from oxidative damage. It may help reduce the chance of developing dementia.

Enjoy

As we lift our glasses of honey water and honey tea in toast to life, let us reflect upon the fact that honey water is a simple, natural beverage that offers hydration, gentle digestive support, immune-boosting antioxidants, and quick energy. It is not a miracle cure, but it is a healthy addition to your daily routine.

Our Honey Cookbook

Using Honey in New and Savory Ways offers 36 pages of tips for using honey in your cooking, as well as in all manner of dishes. Singned by at least one author and mailed to you!

We hope you will help support some local Southwest folks!
From the review:
“Honey is for more than desserts – and this book can help! Using honey in cooking savory dishes helps engage all your taste buds and adds a layer of added flavor to everyday dishes – plus holiday fare.”

Beekeeper?  We offer volume discounts – because if you sell in local markets you might want to offer some of these books as well.

Legal Note

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Disclaimer

This article is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical attention.  The authors of this website have researched the edibility of the materials we discuss, however, humans vary in their ability to tolerate different foods, drinks, and herbs. Individuals consuming flowers, plants, animals, or derivatives mentioned in this blog do so entirely at their own risk. The authors on this site cannot be held responsible for any adverse reaction. In case of doubt please consult your medical practitioner.