High Tech from the Hive: Business Week 7/5/99.

If Dutch researchers have their way, a spoonful of honey won't just help the medicine go down - it will be the medicine. Various agricultural research organizations were surprised when they found antifungal proteins in the nectar from purple flowers of heather. Curious, they analyzed some commercial honey and found the proteins had passed undamaged through the honey bees and into the honey. They predict that flowers and bees could provide a rich bounty of drugs.

Ingesting it would trigger the body to produce antibodies and build immunity. Etc etc. National Honey Board News, July 2000, vol.4 & 5 Honey also seems to have specific compounds to fight cancer and promote overall good health. It is also the preferred carbohydrate to promote long-term energy and athletic performance when ingested during exercise.
FROM THE NATIONAL HONEY BOARD NEWS, SEPT.2000 As per Dr. Molan, Ph.D.from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, honey may help prevent bacterial colonizationbecause of its antibacterial properties. Their research has demonstrated, that honey can reduce inflammation and prompt clean healthy granulation tissue as new skin growth occurs. A new, University of Memphis Excercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory research study, sponsered by the National Honey Board, showed that honey is a great pre-workout energy source. As part of a three-phase clinical trial, honey is being studied against other forms of carbohydrate gels when ingested just prior to doing excercise. The study shows that honey can help aid an athlete's endurance during workout or race.
The latest  good news from the National Honey Board of May 2001 indicate that, researchers at the University of Memphis reported that honey was one of the most effective forms of carbohydrate gels to ingest just prior to exercise.

The effect of Honey on Calcium Absorption

See National Honey Board Magazine, Winter 2005 Edition, page 3.            

For a Copy, please contact

National Honey Board, 390 Lashley Street, Longmont, Co 80501-6045

Tel: 1800  553 7162 or www.nhb.org  

2004 was not a very good year for honey in general worldwide,  especially not  in the south of France, where Lavender is grown. Due to the unusual warm weather last summer, the flowers withered and dried before the bees could gather the Honey, thus creating a shortage. 2005 seems to be a little bit better and we hope that weather conditions will improve in the years to come. 2006 and 2007 were bumper years. Weather conditions have improved in France, more rain as in previous years.  2007 just arrived. As good as ever...2008 Harvest has been one of the best so far. Even though the weather in France was not very good, no crystallization has taken place. Smooth and as golden as ever...2009 landed on January 28, 2010. Unfortunately, there is no Chestnutflower Honey available this season, due to weather condition in the Cevennes Mountains in the lower Rhone Valley. All the other Honeys are great. As good as ever.