Health benefits of honey

Honey has enough nutrients to get you through the day and get rid of that lethargic feeling. The sweet tasting honey is ideal to maintain the glucose level of the body as it instantly gets absorbed in the blood and gives an energy boost.

Nature always blesses us with its miraculous products, and one such product is the golden colored honey. This sweet treat is available throughout the year and tastes its best when harvested fresh, especially in summers and Fall. Honey is also known to be the best substitute for sugar; in fact it should be substituted with sugar, whenever possible.

 

Beekeeping practice for the production of honey is believed to be observed since 700 BC. In many cultures it is considered to be sacred and was used in religious ceremonies to praise gods. It was used in cooking only by the rich, as in ancient times it was very expensive and rare, and only a few people could afford it. Finally with the discovery of refined sugar in the culinary world, the demand for honey declined and sugar became the cheap substitute for it.

The process by which the busy bees produce honey is yet another fascinating process. They start their work by gathering nectar from the flowers. The nectar is carried in their mouths where it gets mixed up with the enzymes present in their saliva. The half completed honey is then taken back to the hive where it is deposited in the hive cells. The fluttering wings of the bees reduce the moisture content from it, thus making it fit for consumption.

So it’s about time that you should madly fall in love with this natural golden liquid. Here are some convincing facts that may help you analyze its goodness.

Honey as an effective Antioxidant
A regular intake of honey helps to increase the antioxidant levels in the body therefore, protects the cells from the harmful damages caused by free radicals. The effective antioxidant properties of the honey are determined by its color; the darker the color of the honey, higher will be the level of antioxidants.

Ideal source of essential Nutrients
Honey is rich in vitamins such as vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and C and also contains some vital minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphate, copper, zinc, iodine and sulfur. Some of these minerals are important for the release of various hormones in the body.

Improves Cardiovascular Health
Honey is also known to improve endothelial function, (the cell function by which lining of the blood vessels is formed) which results in improved heart health. It is also known to reduce cholesterol and saves from heart attack.

Honey as an Immunity Booster
Honey is known to boost the immune system and researches prove that. Honey has been found to increase white blood cells and red blood cells. So it helps develop immunity to fight against chronic diseases, even cancer and also stabilizes hemoglobin.

Effective in upper Respiratory tract Infections
To cure infections of the upper respiratory tract and night time coughing honey is an effective remedy, especially in children. Experiments were conducted where children with age 2 to adults with the age 18, having respiratory tract infections were given a teaspoon of buckwheat honey at night time. All of these patients showed significant improvements. However doctors do not recommend honey for children under the age of 2.

Honey as an Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal
Honey is well known for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, here is what Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, New Zealand has to say, “All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide.”  It has been found effective for the treatment of stomach ulcers and also bacterial gastroenteritis.

It is a natural healer of external wounds and can be used as first aid treatments for burns and cuts.

Honey as an effective weight loss treatment
Honey is believed to burn excessive fats in the body by mobilizing them for the release of energy. The energy thus produced is used up in various physical activities. It is suggested to take a table spoon full of honey mixed with warm water, this helps regulate the digestive system and decreases excess weight. Lemon can also be added to this mixture to get rid of the belly fat.

Honey as an anti-inflammatory
Honey is found effective in treating chronic arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory property. It also helps to relieve itchiness and irritation resulting from mosquito bites.

Honey as a Probiotic
There are some friendly bacteria present in honey that have many therapeutic properties. There are 4 species of bifidobacteria and 6 species of lactobacilli found in honey.

Cure for skin infections
Honey is beneficial for treating various skin infections such as ring worms and eczema. Applying a mixture of 3 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon on the skin may also help you get rid of pimples.

It is advised by the doctors to add a spoon full of honey to your daily diet. However some researchers say that it shouldn’t be used in cooked form. The Ayurveda Wellness Center quotes, “When honey is heated above 108 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes transformed into a glue-like substance that is extremely difficult to digest. This substance is considered a toxin (ama), since it adheres to the tissues of the body and is very difficult to remove.”