Let’s face it: the holidays may be fun, but they’re so stressful. We have to manage family relations, event planning, cooking, staying warm, and work or school on top of it all. When the crowded airports, overly touchy relatives, and packed holiday parties roll around, we never realize the toll it takes on us until it’s all over.

Sure, some of it is managed with some spiked eggnog and way-too-much caffeine, but the one thing you can’t find a workaround to is your immune system. Every interaction with another human being invites another chance at being exposed to whatever contagions they happen to have picked up in the last few months. We can sleep, take our Vitamin C, and drink plenty of water—all of those are great things to do—but improving your health should be as enjoyable as it is beneficial, and everybody loves tea.

The first thing we want to tackle here is tea for a number of reasons, because of the way that its warmth promotes circulation, its ability as a great hydrator for those who don’t like the taste of water, and its delicious flavor. But let’s talk about that flavor—how can we make your hot tea the best it can be for your taste-buds and your health? The answer lies, of course, with honey.

Before we get too far into the science, let’s just face it: Honey tastes incredible. We all like some sweetness and honey has a complexity to it that changes based on the type, the location, and the way that it’s processed. The novelty can be addicting! People are afraid of anything that tastes good, or anything that might be sweet, but we want to come out and remind you that carbohydrates are necessary for your body to function, and that your body is designed to process sugar. That’s what your insulin is for. Moderation is important and you should avoid heavier-processed sugar, but you should be able to enjoy your food.

Now, how do we make sure that the honey you stir into your tea is the best it can be for you? First, we solve the majority of our problem by making sure we use Raw Organic Honey. Raw honey has more natural enzymes and vitamins than processed honey; the only reason that supermarkets heat up their honey is to make sure it looks pretty in the jar, but it removes so many of the benefits. And since the term ‘raw’ isn’t regulated by anything, make sure that whoever you buy from is 100% Raw and truthful about the terms they throw around. (That’s why we link Heavenly Organics’ Honey!)

Now, how can you benefit from honey during the holidays? Because let’s face it, sometimes you just get tired of tea. Well, there are countless recipes online for honey-based cough drops, and that’s a great way to go about it. If you start feeling that tell-tale tickle in your throat, you’re going to want to fight that lurking cold right away. You can make some frozen cough drops, some baked cough drops, or find whatever home remedy works for you. There’s a reason that the biggest cough drop manufacturer, Halls, uses honey in their products.

What else can we do with honey? We can replace other sugar with it. This keeps our blood sugar more stable than the quick-burning effects of bleached, white sugar, which will give you more energy for surviving those in-laws. (Or use organic cane sugar)You can use honey in your marinades and sauces for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, you can stir honey into some hot cocoa for (arguably) the greatest chocolatey treat of all time, and you could use it to make a refined simple syrup for Old Fashioneds, cranberry spritzers, or winter Mules. Check out our recipes for some more cocktail ideas.

It’s also got a secret power for baking. Have you ever wondered why cornbread is so good with honey in it? The answer is that honey is a ‘humectant,’ meaning that it holds moisture inside of the baked good. That will give you fresher, better-feeling treats for whatever party you’re baking for.

No matter what you’re going into this holiday, and whatever traditions you celebrate, make sure your health is supported. Incorporate some pure, raw honey into your routine so you can indulge smartly, sleep deeply, and protect yourself and your loved ones.