* Honey is a food variety produced by bees from the nectar of flowers, for humans to eat in order to obtain the benefit.  As honey helps to treat some diseases, or relieve their pain, and it is used topically on the skin, and it is used to sweeten some food dishes, but in manufacturing, it is included in some products, such as skin moisturizers, soaps, and some cosmetics, and it is worth noting that  Honey can be exposed to contamination, whether it is during its collection or production, by some pesticides and other sources of pollution.

 Therefore, it is usually advised not to give it to infants, in order to avoid their botulism poisoning.

 * There are simple methods that can be followed at home to distinguish natural honey from other types, some of which are considered adulterated.  Where artificial honey is added, sugar syrup, molasses, corn syrup, and other flavors and additives, and thus the honey will be diluted, and at the same time the profits of the sellers will increase, and the following explains the properties of natural honey, and the tests that can be followed to distinguish it from some other types:

 * Unnatural honey has properties that help distinguish it from other varieties.Natural honey is not foamy, dense, does not drip easily, its texture is smooth, and it never separates into layers, and it is distinguished by its apparent smell, as for the unnatural honey, it is frothy, liquid and drips easily.  It is coarse, lumpy, easy to separate into layers, and may be odorless or sour-smelling.

 * Examples of simple tests that can be followed to distinguish natural honey from other varieties:

 1- Thumb test: A small drop of honey can be placed on the thumb, and if this drop spreads around the thumb, then this means that it is not clear honey, and if the drop remains as it is without any movement, this indicates that the honey is pure.

 2- The water test: You can put a tablespoon of honey in a cup filled with water.  As adulterated or artificial honey will dissolve in the water, as for pure honey, it will settle at the bottom of the cup.

 3- The vinegar test: You can add some water and 2-3 drops of vinegar extract to a little honey, then mix them well. If the mixture becomes foamy, this indicates that the honey is adulterated.

 Honey can be divided into several types, including:

 1- Organic honey: It is honey that is produced by bees and flowers that have not been exposed to pesticides or chemicals.

 2- Raw honey: it is honey that is obtained by extracting it from honeycombs and placing it on a net, or nylon cloth to separate honey from impurities, such as beeswax and dead bees, without subjecting it to pasteurization or treatment processes.

 3- Regular honey: It is honey that is subjected to the pasteurization process, which is a process in which high heat is used to eliminate the yeast present in honey, in order to increase its validity period, as it gives it a soft texture, and then it is subjected to filtration, to remove impurities and air bubbles, and sometimes  Factories add sugar or sweeteners to honey to reduce costs.

 Honey provides many health benefits to the human body, the most important of which are:

 Reducing coughing spells before bedtime, especially among children aged two years and over, and this may be due to honey having a sweet taste, which can stimulate the secretion of saliva in the mouth, which works to enhance the secretion of mucus, which moisturizes the airways.  Accordingly, it may calm the cough, as half a teaspoon or two teaspoons of honey are used when sleeping.

 * Some studies indicate that honey may be beneficial for diabetics.  As eating it daily helps to reduce weight, reduce sugar and cholesterol in the blood of people with this disease.

 * Reduces the risk of developing mouth ulcers caused by radiation therapy, or the so-called mucositis;  Where the results of clinical studies indicate that consuming 20 ml of honey, or using honey gauze topically, may reduce the risk of mouth ulcers, pain from swallowing, or weight loss associated with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

 * Honey can be used topically to help heal wounds, such as wounds resulting from surgical operations, chronic foot ulcers, burns, and abscesses, as honey has shown its ability to reduce odors or pus resulting from these wounds, and it can be used to clean wounds, and reduce infection and pain resulting from it.  And reduce the time required for healing, and adults can use 15-30 milliliters of honey every 12-48 hours, using sterile gauze, or appropriate dressings.

 Raw honey is more nutritious than regular honey, as it contains a wide range of nutrients compared to regular honey, as it contains many amino acids, in addition to nearly 30 types of bioactive plant compounds, which act as antioxidants, including  Polyphenols,

 The nutrients found in a tablespoon of honey:

 * Nutritional elements Nutritional value Calories 64 calories Carbohydrates 17 grams Calcium 1 mg Potassium 11 mg Sodium 1 Gram Copper 8 mcg Phosphorus 1 mg ...