Description
THYME HONEY
Thyme grows in dry and rocky soil, and is considered to be a top apiculture plant, exactly because it produces an exceptionally fragrant honey with high nutritional value; this is why it is classified among the best varieties of honey worldwide.
What Does Thyme Honey Contain?
Greek thyme honey is rich in carbohydrates in the form of glucose, at a percentage of about 30%, and fructose, at a percentage of about 37%. Additionally, it contains pollen grains, at a percentage higher than 25%, thus reaching the impressive percentage of 85%! This quantity of pollen grains makes it especially rich in minerals and micronutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, boron, silicon, iron, zinc and manganese. It also contains the flavonoids: quercetin, hesperidin, catechin, camphor or naringin, etc, in quantities that vary depending on the geographical origin.
Health Claims
Thyme honey has been used since ancient times for its beneficial properties. Nowadays, scientific studies have shown that it possesses a powerful antimicrobial, antiseptic and antifungal action, effectively disrupting the viability of a wide spectrum of resilient microbes and pathogenic fungi. It also possesses antiestrogen action at low concentrations, but also chemoprotective action against breast, prostate and endometrial cancer. The high nutritional value and the powerful health-protective properties of thyme honey make it a nutraceutical food that, when included in our diet, it offers us health, energy and protection from illnesses.
The thyme plant itself is excellent for supporting the immune and respiratory systems. It is a formidable force when it comes to staying healthy.
Let us go through 3 of its important properties which most people do not know:
- Thyme honey acts as an antimicrobial and prevents the development of bacteria and other pathogenic organisms, and is useful for the disinfecting, cleaning and healing of wounds. A study, conducted after testing hundreds of honey types from all over the world, ranked thyme honey first, with a fair margin from second place. Thyme honey contains thymol, a phenol with acknowledged antiseptic properties, that swiftly ensures the healing of wounds and burns.
- Thyme honey has antiseptic properties, is a tonic, it augments the rate to which the heart operates, reduces stomach ulcer, and generally contributes to the normal operation of the human body. Because of its protective action on the stomach walls, it is also used for treating gastro-duodenal ulcers, intestinal infections and all types of liver failure. Additionally, it significantly helps to metabolise alcohol more quickly, thus resulting in a faster relief from the state of inebriation.
- Thyme has, for centuries, been used to treat coughing and bronchitis. If you feel your throat dry and irritated, a tasty warm brew with honey –a proven soothing agent against coughing– would be an ideal option.
The properties of thyme honey make it an optimal choice for every consumer category. Athletes, children and anyone that performs intense mental activity, like students, especially, should integrate it into their daily diet.