Human Uses of Bees

Bees are a very important part of nature. Without bees there would not be healthy plants, and without them there would be no honey. Beekeeping is a hobby for some and a profession for others. Human uses of bees include many things, some of which we depend on for our health.

Sweetener

Honey is used as a sweetener for many consumables, including beverages and baked goods. Many chefs consider honey to be a good alternative to sugar in baking and cooking. It is made of both fructose (fruit sugar) and glucose (a simple sugar), and is considered a nutraceutical (a naturally made food which has many health benefits). Sugar is considered an empty calorie food and has little nutritional value. Honey, on the other hand, has many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

Dietary

Honey is one of the few sweeteners which actually has nutritional value. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and C are all found in honey, as well as many minerals such as zinc, iodine and copper. The amounts of nutrients vary depending on what types of pollen the bees used to make the honey.

Allergy Prevention and Help

Many people suffer from seasonal allergies. If honey from your area is consumed, it can actually help you find allergy relief or even prevent them altogether. Local honey is made by local bees which use the local pollen to make it. By eating local honey, you are taking in small amounts of what you are allergic to and building up your immunity to it.

Healing

Honey is used to help heal sore throats, stomach problems such as ulcers and diarrhea, and to help heal cuts. Honey is considered to act as an antifungal and an antibacterial. It can be used on the skin, hair, and even as a mouthwash. Honey can also be a good remedy for a hangover when taken with orange juice.

Beeswax

Beeswax is also gathered by beekeepers and sold to consumers. There are many uses for beeswax, including making beeswax candles, as a waxing agent in baskets, a coating agent in candies such as jelly beans, in solid soaps and lotion bars, to help heal the cracked hooves of animals, as the wax coating on dental floss, as a natural earwax removal, in ear candles and even to aid in oil spill cleanups.