Honey, honey

Honey is basically a combination of fructose and glucose (both concentrated sugars) and water. I suppose its "goodness" comes from its source? But it is sugar. I had a bit of a Google to be sure - isn't it great to be able to look things up so fast?

As far as I understand - beekeepers take the natural honey from the bees and replace it with sugar. We receive the pure honey and the bees keep the sugary stuff.

Anyone know if this is the case?

Blimey. Like the bit about good for ridding the body of excess water and wind. Will plant some to-day.

janeainsworth Hasn't she (the McColl woman whoever she is) got a nerve! Honey consists of just over 82% sugars by weight!

Jo1book I find gin and tonic does the same for me.

I have a huge lovage plant that comes up every year. The leaves can be frozen or dried for use the year round.

Lovage is a herb. You buy seeds and plant now, but it is a perennial, so you can buy a plant. The flavour is like celery, and the leaves look like celery. you can add the leaves to salads, or use the seeds. Nice to add the leaves to soup.
It reduces water retention and flatulence.

My thoughts exactly, janea

Teetime I hate to tell you this but anything that has honey in it is not sugar-free.

Perhaps someone should report Davina McCall and her publishers to Trading Standards. We are used to celebrities cashing in on their celebrity status, but to do so by peddling incorrect dietary advice seems to me to be beyond the pale.

I don't know jo; I inherited it....

Another boozy tip. Chop up any old fruit in your fruit bowl with a slurp of any liquor and flash in microwave until soft. Serve with ice cream. Lovely.

Teegan.
I fancy lovage. Where do you get it from

I was drinking Lovage the other day, which I'd never heard of before; it was delicious [and full of herbs and spices so was god for me]. Alas, it's all gone. There is another bottle at the S.O's but I've told him he must keep it there to stop me drinking it .

Thanks for the info Jo1

I am using Davina McColls new Sugar Free recipe book at the moment which uses honey in many delicious recipes. I made cakes at the weekend for a family visit and they were much tastier than traditional sugar based cakes. She uses wholemeal spelt flour too though which gaves extra texture.

I always remember living in Devon - I had a friend/neighbour who was catholic and attended Buckfast Abbey. Every year one of the Father's used to visit my friends house at Christmas and we would all get together and celebrate the day. He always got extremely inebriated, then would get into his old banger and drive back to the abbey - clearly God was always with him as he lived to tell the tale year after year.

Buyer beware. NT shops sell it but at a higher price. EH sell it for about £10 a bottle.

Any English Heritage Site Shop will sell it to you without you having to join.
I think it is a lovely pick-me-up. A glass in the evening is very relaxing and anything with honey is good. I have been told that manuka honey rubbed onto the face will heal spots and abrasions.

Cornish mead for me, please! Haven't had any for years, the honey flavour is wonderful. Wonder if it can be bought online? Oh dear . . . .

Used to live near Buckfast Abbey - the monks make a good mead there.