Garlic-infused Honey Recipe

I have always been into making my own health remedies. Not only is it cool to try and heal yourself but making your own remedies is seriously satisfying. It’s amazing to think that you have healing foods, herbs, and spices hanging out in your kitchen.

For most people. Running to the doctor at the first sign of the sniffles is common practice. I’m not knocking going to the doctor’s office and agree that a visit is sometimes warranted, however, I choose to snuff out minor illnesses myself. Using natural remedies is a big part of who I am and how I raise my family.

Awhile back, I was reading about natural ways to boost the immune system. Going back to that whole doctor visit thing…prevention is key. If you take measures to keep yourself healthy you won’t need to go to the doctor. Remember the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? There is so much truth to that!

Anyway, there are many ways to naturally boost your immune system and garlic infused honey is one of them.

Now, stay with me, OK?

I know you may be shaking your head at the thought of eating garlic infused honey. Most people don’t think of putting those two foods together because one is sweet, and one is very, very savory.

Don’t knock it until you try it. Surprisingly, garlic infused honey is delightfully wonderful. I like to infuse whole cloves of garlic in raw honey and then eat the cloves. They are amazing! You just pluck one of the garlic cloves out of the jar and pop it into your mouth for a small snack or an immune-boosting pick-me-up.

You can eat the garlic cloves or take a spoonful of the honey as a maintenance measure for good health or when you are experience illness. If you catch it right away, a cold can be totally snuffed out before it truly even starts by using garlic infused honey.

Personally, I give the kids (over 2 years of age) a spoonful of the honey when they have coughs. It works like a charm! I usually eat one clove of honey infused garlic per day to keep my immunity up. If I happen to get sick (which is rare) I’ll eat a few more cloves throughout the day and take a few spoonful’s of the honey.

So, you may be wondering what makes garlic and honey so great? I’m going to let you in on the power of these magical foods.

OK, so they really aren’t magical in a supernatural sense, but they may as well be. Haha!

Check it out…

Health Benefits of Garlic

Who ever thought that a small, stinky little clove of garlic could pack such a punch for your health? Did you know that garlic is a plant in the allium family? Allium is the onion family. So, basically, garlic is part of the stinkiest family on earth.

Don’t let that deter you from eating it, though.

Scientists are saying, and have been saying, that most of the health benefits of garlic come from sulfur compounds that are formed when garlic cloves are crushed, chopped, or chewed up in your mouth.

Some vital compound sin garlic are allicin, diallyl disulfide, and s-allyl cysteine. These sulfur compounds enter the body from your digestive tract and travel all over your internal system. It is during this process that garlic has a potent effect on your biological makeup.

Even though garlic is extremely nutritious, it contains very few calories. A 1-ounce serving of garlic contains 23% manganese, 17% vitamin B6, 15% vitamin C, 6% selenium, and .6 grams of fiber. There are significant amounts of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin B1.

Other vitamins, in trace amounts, are also found in garlic.

Science has shown us that garlic is excellent for combating sicknesses like the common cold and flu. Most people get fewer colds if they add garlic supplements to their daily regime. On average, symptoms of the common cold are cut down by 70% when garlic is taken.

If you are dealing with high blood pressure, garlic is an herb you should consider adding to your diet. There have been human studies performed to back this information up. In some cases, using high does of garlic was just as effective as taking prescription medications for hypertension.

In addition, garlic can lower total and LDL cholesterol. This is huge for some people who are dealing with high cholesterol and do not want to take statin drugs.

Some researchers have found that not only is garlic good for heart health but may help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Oxidative damage occurs from the free radicals in the environment and these free radicals contribute to the aging process. Garlic is packed with antioxidants that support protective mechanisms within the body to combat oxidative damage.

By reducing cholesterol and blood pressure and adding the antioxidant effects of garlic, the combination can help prevent common brain diseases of the elderly.

Because garlic helps keep your heart and brain healthy it encourages longevity. Many people who religiously take garlic often live longer.

It’s time to ditch the harmful energy drinks and weird supplements because garlic can help enhance your performance. It was most notably used in ancient Greece during the Olympics. Garlic is known to reduce peak heart rates during exercise allowing for better workout capacity.

Many people have heavy metals in their bodies. These heavy metals come from vaccinations, environmental factors, and even from our food. However, garlic has been shown to protect against organ damage due to heavy metal toxicity.

Garlic is also known to improve bone health, especially in menopausal women.

So, basically, garlic is pretty awesome and contains a wealth of health benefits. Plus, it tastes really good and can be used in a variety of ways, like being soaked in honey.

Benefits of Honey

Before we get into the health benefits of honey I just want to point out that not all honey is equal. It starts out amazingly, and then manufacturers mess it up. The honey you see on the shelves at your local grocery store is probably not the type of honey you want to buy. Read labels and read them carefully.

You do not want pasteurized honey. Pasteurized honey is heated to such a high degree to “kill the bad stuff” that there is literally nothing beneficial left. The only people who need honey to be pasteurized are those folks who have a compromised immune system, and for them, the honey would then simply be for taste and enjoyment. Children under 2 shouldn’t have honey of any kind.

Many honey’s in the grocery stores contain additives like sugar. Now, why on earth would you add sugar to honey? That’s like adding sugar to your sugar.

You want to look for RAW honey and preferably local. Using local honey has been pollinated by local bees and will help ward off your local allergies J

So, here we go! Honey has been used for centuries, and we are talking ancient times, as both a food and a medicine. It is extremely high in plant compounds due to our friendly little honey bees. Even though honey turns to sugar in the body, unlike refined sugar, it contains beneficial nutrients.

Honey bees make honey by constantly collecting, consuming, digesting, and vomiting the sugar-rich nectar of flowers. Sounds absolutely disgusting. However, bee vomit isn’t like any other vomit, as you already know if you’ve ever tasted honey.

Nutritionally speaking, 1 tablespoon of honey contains about 65 calories and 18 grams of sugar. It is very high in plant compounds and antioxidants. The darker the honey, the more nutrient dense it is.

Some studies have shown that even though honey is a sugar, and will increase blood sugar levels, it may not do so as much as refined sugar.

Just like garlic, honey may help lower your blood pressure. Honey is high in antioxidants which have been linked to blood pressure lowering effects. Bad LDL cholesterol has also been shown to be lowered when honey is consumed in a medicinal fashion.

Honey also has non-internal benefits like burn and wound healing. Due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, honey has the ability to nourish and promote healing of the skin. Some folks even use it to treat hemorrhoids and herpes.

Instead of reaching for chemical-laden cough syrups, grab the honey! Honey can calm and thwart coughs like nobody’s business, It’s a safe and effective medicine.

Why is Combining Honey and Garlic So Good for You?

You’ve just read about the benefits of garlic and honey as individuals. Just imagine what combining them together can do for your health! If you use honey infused garlic as a therapy, meaning you take it every day, you will strengthen your body’s immune system. Between the plant compounds and antioxidants, you’re really going to give an impending cold a run for its money.

Another thing to consider is that garlic infused honey or honey infused garlic cloves are fermented foods. When you make this remedy, you will be allowing it to sit for about 30 days. That is going to cause it to ferment. Fermented foods are chock full of prebiotics and very good for your gut health.

Science has shown us that 60% of your body’s immune response dwells in your gut. It’s no wonder we get sick when we aren’t caring for our guts, properly. Adding honey infused garlic to your daily routine will help you do just that.

Honey Infused Garlic Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 bulbs of garlic, cloves peeled
• 1 cup of raw, local honey – Use enough honey to fully submerge the garlic. Using raw honey is imperative for the fermentation process to occur.
• Pint size jar with lid

Directions

1. First, wash your jar and lid with hot soapy water and then rinse. Get a pot of water boiling on the stove and let the jar and lid sit in the water for 10 minutes. This will sterilize your vessel. You want the jar to be completely free and clear of all toxins, fungus, and bacteria.
2. Once the jar and lid have been sterilized, dry them completely with a clean kitchen towel.
3. Now, add the peeled garlic cloves to the jar and pour over the honey. Make sure you use enough honey to completely submerge the cloves. Place the lid on the jar and put the honey and garlic infusion into a dark cupboard to ferment. Leave it alone for 30 days before using.
4. Check your jar every couple of days for air bubbles. The presence of these bubbles signals that fermentation is indeed taking place. You can release the lid to “burp” away the air bubbles. After a bit of time has passed, the fermentation process will calm down and the garlic will begin to darken. You’ll also notice that the honey will be a bit waterier. These occurrences are all normal.
5. After about 4 weeks your garlic infused honey is ready to be used. You can continue to store the jar in your pantry, but you also have the option of placing it in your refrigerator. Cold garlic infused honey feels wonderful on a sore throat.

Some Things You Should Know…

It is perfectly fine to consume garlic infused honey as a treatment for illness or as a preventative measure. However, you can also use this lovely infusion to sweeten tea, as a marinade for meats and vegetables, or even spread on your toast. I even enjoy it as a salad dressing.

You do not need to refrigerate the garlic infused honey after you open the jar and begin using it.

If you have children under the age of 2, please do not give them garlic infused honey. Their stomachs and immune systems cannot handle the bacteria in raw honey. Adults can handle the bacteria just fine and it is actually good for them but not for a child who’s immune system is still developing.

Preventing botulism is something that many people are concerned about when it comes to fermented foods. Even though it is an unlikely occurrence in honey infused garlic, taking preventative measures is always best.

You want to ensure that your honey infused garlic has a PH lower than 4.6. Botulism likes to grow in low acid foods so anything over 4.6 is at risk. You can check the PH of your honey fermented garlic with test strips. Any drug store, wellness store, or even Amazon will have these strips available for purchase.

If you find that your honey fermented garlic is testing a PH higher than 4.6 you can current this issue by simply adding 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your jar. Do not use a metal spoon to due this but rather plastic or wood. Allow the honey infused garlic to sit for about an hour and then test the PH levels again.

Are There Any Side Effects to Eating Honey Infused Garlic?

If you consume to much of anything, no matter how natural or good it is for you, you can fall ill. The same goes for honey infused garlic. I don’t recommend eating more than 1 or 2 garlic cloves and 1 tsp. of honey per day.

If you eat to much at once you can experience heartburn, diarrhea, vomiting, GI issues, headache, and even liver toxicity. Keep in mind that these side effects are rare and typically only effect folks who are consuming extremely high amounts of garlic infused honey in one day.

Some Helpful Tips to Keeping Yourself Healthy in Combination with Using Honey Infused Garlic

• Make hand washing a common practice. Wash before and after eating, after using the bathroom, and wash more often when you are sick.
• If at all possible, stop touching your face. Germs from your hands can easily enter the mucous membranes of your mouth, nose, and eyes.
• Add some exercise to your daily routine. Working out strengthens your immune system and it helps you feel happier due to the release of endorphins.
• Eat a nutritious diet – Food is medicine!
• Get adequate sleep

Using Honey-Infused Garlic on Your Family

So, your entire family (except kids under 2) can use and benefit from garlic infused honey. I don’t know about you guys, but my family wasn’t having any of it, at first. My husband looked appalled when I invited him to try a clove of garlic from the honey jar. Most people find it hard to wrap their minds around the concept of sweet honey and savory garlic being combined.

I had to get creative in my methods of encouraging my family to at least give the concoction a try. My kiddos say that their dad didn’t want the garlic honey so that prompted them to turn their noses up to it as well.

The first thing I did was research some recipes that include honey and garlic. I came across a lovely chicken breast entrée that looked delicious. I gathered my ingredients and made the meal and served it to my family.

Just as I suspected, they absolutely devoured the chicken and asked me to make it again. I sat back and smiled and told them what was in the sauce. The looks of disbelief and shock on their faces was truly priceless. They just couldn’t believe that garlic infused honey tasted that good.

I was finally able to convince my husband and three kids to give the garlic and honey a shot. Everyone started with a garlic clove. My husband really liked it. My boys were OK with it but they definitely preferred the honey, instead.

I’m just glad that I was able to get everyone on board to at least eat the infusion when they aren’t feeling well or know that a cold is coming on. Me? I eat it every day because I don’t want to deal even with the most minor of symptoms of the cold and flu viruses.

If you are finding that your family and friends won’t even give garlic infused honey a try, make a meal for them using it. Most people don’t realize that their favorite hot wings are made with a honey garlic sauce. Isn’t that hilarious?

I bet after they try the infusion as a marinade they won’t look at it in the same light. It becomes food to them and not a medicine. But we know the truth!