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LIVING
making carbs count
veterans, emergency workers, and
vulnerable people.
Recent studies indicate that
honey has anxiolytic properties,
meaning that it contains compounds
(such as an antioxidant flavonoids
called chrysin and gallic acid) that are
capable of reducing anxiety. Honey
is also beneficial for gut health,
which researchers believe has a
connection to better mental health.
It provides prebiotic fibre to help the
good bacteria (collectively called the
microbiome) in the gut thrive.
Co-founders, Iain and Suzie
Millar, are no strangers to the
wellness benefits of honey, with
scientists recently labelling their
Scottish Heather Honey a superfood.
It was discovered that it contains
10x the amount of Manganese
than any other honey, an essential
nutrient that is needed for healthy
brain function.
"You only have to spend a few
minutes amongst the hives and
the heather to be convinced of
how relaxing it is - the humming
is a little bit like white noise, and
being out in nature soothes the
mind as well," explains Suzie. "Then
the practice of beekeeping itself is
incredibly therapeutic. You forget
about everything else that is going
on, and focus completely on what the
bees need. It requires a slower, more
Co-founders, Iain and Suzie Millar.
mindful approach than a lot of us are
used to."
"We have been co-existing with
bees for centuries, and enjoying the
mental health benefits for just as
long. Beekeeping was even used in
the First World War to help soldiers
deal with post-traumatic stress.
We would love to see more people
exploring the positive impact that
spending time around bees can
provide - and the studies being done
around the links between honey
and better brain health are exciting
as well."
Just bee good
The Scottish Bee Company was
founded in 2017, when Iain and Suzie
Millar were inspired to do something
about the plight facing bees. They
adopted some bees, hired a team
of expert bee farmers, and brought
them together in the heather covered
hills of Scotland to produce uniquely
flavourful honeys that reflect the
region's unspoiled wilderness.
The Scottish Bee Company is
almost five years old, so still a young
brand, but it has already made waves.
In 2020, the brand's Scottish Heather
Honey became the first food in
the UK to be awarded the new BSI
Kitemark for Food Assurance (for
quality and safety). Scientists have
also labelled it as a superfood after
analysis revealed that it contains
up to 10 times more of the essential
micronutrient manganese compared
to global rivals.
The Scottish Heather Honey has
won multiple awards, including a
Great Taste Award and winner of
the highest award at the London
Honey Awards. The Scottish Bee