Garlic Honey - Easy to Make, Healthy and Delicious

Fermented garlic and honey are a traditional natural remedy that has many health benefits, is easy to make, and can be a great addition to your natural medicine cabinet.

Health Benefits of Garlic

Garlic contains powerful medicinal properties and has been used both medicinally and as a food or flavoring since the dawn of recorded history. Ancient medical texts from as far afield as Egypt, China, India, Greece, and Rome discussed the medical uses of garlic. The Bible and Qur’an mention it, and while the plant is native to Central Asia, cloves dating back more than 3000 years were found in King Tutt’s tomb.

The reason people of the past and present choose to include garlic among their often-used natural ingredients is that this plant contains helpful organosulfur compounds along with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals such as vitamin c, manganese, vitamin b6, selenium, and several others.

Garlic has been clinically studied and found to be a great way to:

· Boost the immune system

· Reduce the incidence of cold and flu

· Reduce the duration and severity of sickness

· Lower blood pressure

· Improve cholesterol levels

· Reduce oxidative stress

· Improve exercise capacity

· Reduce and protect against heavy metal toxicity

Garlic is widely recognized for its ability to fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even parasites. One study found that allicin, an active component of freshly crushed garlic, had antiviral properties and was also effective against a broad range of bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli.

It's high in antioxidants, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, which may support better health. Small studies in humans show honey's antioxidants could help improve cholesterol levels, which could help decrease the risk for heart disease, although larger long-term studies are needed to confirm those findings.

Benefits Associated with Raw Honey

Honey has been used both as food and medicine since ancient times. Human use of honey is traced to some 8000 years ago as depicted by Stone Age paintings Honey is as old as written history, dating back to 2100 B.C. where it was mentioned in Sumerian and Babylonian cuneiform writings, the Hittite code, and the sacred writings of India and Egypt. Its name comes from the English hunig, and it was the first and most widespread sweetener used by man. Honey was valued highly and often used as a form of currency, tribute, or offering. In the 11th century A.D., German peasants paid their feudal lords in honey and beeswax.

Honey contains mostly sugar, as well as a mix of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc, and antioxidants. In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.

Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and anti-anxiety benefits. In some studies, honey has been shown to help prevent memory disorders.

Health Benefits of Fermented Garlic and Honey

These two products have been used since ancient times and are great examples of traditional medicine.

This simple mixture of honey and cloves of garlic can help:

· Boost/ support your immune system

· Aid digestion

· Support healthy blood pressure levels

· Help achieve or maintain healthy cholesterol levels

· Fight cold and flu symptoms

· Aid is your body’s detoxification

And much more!

Using a combination of honey and garlic is a great way to stay healthy during the winter season and can help:

· Coughs

· Colds

· Skin infections

· Asthma symptoms

· Infections

· Sore throats

· High blood pressure

· Arthritis

· Antianxiety

And it isn’t just helpful if you’re feeling under the weather, it is also good for whole health too!

Raw honey is a very ancient food and medicine known to be a natural preservative that also has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.

It is also naturally high in antioxidants and can help fight free radicals, inflammation and balance the immune system!

Much like garlic, clinical studies have shown honey to:

· A healthier sweetener

· Lower blood pressure

· Lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise the good (HDL)

· Be effective for wound healing

· Suppress coughs

· Help relieve a scratchy throat

· Is a helpful flu remedy

Now that we know a few of the benefits of both garlic and honey, think of how effective they can be fermented together!

Best Ways to Use Fermented Garlic and Honey

If you feel run down or like a cold (or other illness) is starting to come on you can eat a clove of the fermented garlic or take a spoonful of honey, or both! My favorite to help heal a sore throat, or cough is to simply take a spoon full every 2 to 4 hours.

However, there are other ways to enjoy Garlic and Honey.

You can reap the great health benefits of fermented garlic and honey by using them in:

· Marinades

· Sauces

· Glazes

· Salad dressings

· Dips

· Drizzle over cheese

· Add to soups

· Stir Fry

· Mix it into your tomatoes when making Bruschetta

· Add it to you dipping oils for breads

· Use it in pasta sauce

· Add it to your fresh salsa

· Add it to your hummus

· Add it to your Mash Potatoes

As you can see, Garlic Honey can be used to enhance many of your favorite recipes, while adding the medicinal properties.

Or any other delicious recipe you can create!

Is Fermented Garlic and Honey Safe?

For most people, fermented garlic in honey is safe.

The nutritional and health compounds in garlic and honey may cause side effects or reactions in some people. Talk to you doctor before you take garlic or honey supplements.

People with these issues should avoid this recipe:

· Have an allergy to garlic or honey

· Are taking blood thinners

· Are on medication for HIV

· Have diabetes

· Babies under 1 year of age (the main concern is that honey could contain botulism spores that can make babies sick)

Fermented Honey and Garlic Recipe

Ok, so we’ve gone over the medicinal properties and health benefits of both garlic and raw honey, how to use it, and safety info, that means it’s time to get to this simple recipe and start the fermenting process!

There are only two ingredients, so this is going to be SUPER easy to make

Ingredients

· 1 cup of fresh, whole garlic cloves (about 15 cloves)

· 1 cup of raw honey

Instructions

1. Peel fresh garlic cloves and crush or just bruise slightly (You do not want to over crush. Crushing releases, the active ingredient allicin. You want the garlic to maintain as much of this ingredient as possible.)

2. Place garlic in a clean glass jar (I use pint size mason jars.)

3. Add raw, unpasteurized honey and completely cover the garlic. It should be filled to the top with honey. Add more honey if necessary.

4. Stir the Garlic and Honey mixture. Some flip the jar several times to combine the ingredients.

5. Cover with the lid loosely and let rest on the counter for 24 hours.

6. Retighten the lid and flip the jar upside down again, and then loosen the lid again when you put it upright.

7. A few days later, flip the jar again and loosen the lid. Repeat this for up to a month for the fermentation process to work.

8. You will notice tiny bubbles start to appear after a few days. This is totally normal.

The finished product will be honey that is a little thinner with sweet and slightly spicy garlic cloves.

Helpful Tips

· The best way to store your fermented garlic and honey long term in a dark, cool place.

· This preparation will keep for years to use and enjoy, if stored properly. There have been reports that the garlic will become tough or rubbery over the years, to avoid this keep it in your refrigerator.

· A lot of commercial honey is pasteurized and does not contain minerals, nutrients, enzymes that provide all the wonderful health benefits.