This Sweet Ingredient Boosts Immunity, Soothes Your Stomach, and Deepens Sleep

It’s almost a new year, and that means another shot at sticking to our health resolutions. But there’s no need to dread the thought of getting healthy. Some changes can be sweet — like adding more honey to your diet! Raw honey has a bevy of health benefits that can leave you feeling better instantly. Here’s how it helps — plus three tasty drink recipes that will help you add more of it to your diet this year!

Powers Immunity

Raw honey contains a powerful enzyme (glucose oxidase) that kills 100 percent of bacteria on contact, per research in the journal World Wide Wounds. The effect is so powerful that stirring the sweet treat into warmers can prevent viruses from spreading. Bonus: Honey soothes a sore throat in just three minutes.

Deepens Sleep

A honeyed sip can improve sleep quality by as much as 62 percent, thanks to enzymes and natural hydrogen peroxide that soothe the stomach to ward off rest-disrupting heartburn. What’s more, a good night’s sleep makes your immune system 44 percent stronger.

Soothes Your Stomach

Australian researchers say adding one teaspoon of honey to meals will cut recovery time in half if your bowels are loose. Thanks goes to honey’s rich stores of anti-inflammatory enzymes, which soothe digestive tract inflammation, calm intestinal spasms, and improve fluid absorption.

Add raw honey to these sweet drinks!

Honey Chai Latte Soother

• 4 bags black tea
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 Tbs. honey
• 1 cup milk

In pot, bring two cups water, black tea, cinnamon, and honey to a boil. Add milk, remove from heat and divide evenly among four mugs. Top with additional cinnamon. Makes four servings. Bonus! Cinnamon compounds increase focus by 60 percent.

Black Tea Lavender Bliss

• 5 bags lavender black tea
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 3 Tbs. honey

In pot, heat two cups water, tea, lemon juice, and honey until hot, around five min. Discard tea bags, divide evenly among four mugs. Makes four servings. Bonus! Lemon juice nixes indigestion in 60 seconds.

Rosemary Hibiscus Sip

• 4 bags hibiscus tea
• 2 Tbs. honey
• 1 orange, juiced
• 4 sprigs rosemary

In pot, heat four cups water, hibiscus tea, honey, and orange juice; cook, stirring, four to five min. Divide rosemary sprigs and tea evenly among four mugs. Serve hot. Makes four servings. Bonus! Compounds in rosemary speed illness recovery by 33 percent.

This article originally appeared in our print magazine, First For Women.