Many of us tend to avoid eating too much honey. We often consider it to be bad for us, simply because it is sweet and quite delicious. The fact of the matter is, however, honey has some amazing benefits and it is delicious, so you can enjoy it for all it has to offer!
To make honey, bees collect nectar from flowers, digest the nectar and regurgitate it. Inside of that nectar is almost 600 different compounds. Honeybees are a necessary part of life and without them, humans could not survive. They also provide us with one of nature’s greatest power foods in the form of honey. Here are some of its many health benefits.
1. Cancer and Heart Disease Prevention – Thanks to the natural flavonoids (antioxidants) found in honey, it can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer.
2. Reduce Gastrointestinal Problems – Honey treatments may also help a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including bacterial gastroenteritis and ulcers.
3. Antifungal and Antibacterial – The honey bees make contains an enzyme that is used in making hydrogen peroxide. As a result, it is a natural antibiotic. A single dose of buckwheat honey may help to relieve coughing at night just as effectively as cough medicine.
4. Athleticism – Ancient Olympic athletes would use dry figs and honey for performance enhancement. Modern studies have verified that honey is excellent for maintaining glycogen levels and reducing recovery time.
5. Coughing – As we discussed, buckwheat honey is excellent for helping with coughs but any type of honey will have that benefit.
6. Balance – Honey has been used for thousands of years in ancient forms of medicine to provide a balance in the human body. It is thought to penetrate into the deepest tissues of the body and when used along with certain herbal preperations, can have a profound effect on us.
7. Blood Sugar – One might think that something as sweet as honey would spike your sugar but it may actually help to regulate your blood sugar levels. Some types of honey are actually low on the glycemic index.
8. Wounds and Burns – Applying honey to a wound or burn may be as effective as treating it with silver sulfadiazine. In part, this could be due to the natural antibacterial properties of honey but the simple sugars could also keep the wound dry.
9. Probiotic – The friendly bacteria in natural honey is often beneficial for the digestive system. This may be the reason why honey has so many therapeutic benefits!
10. (Bonus Health Benefit) Skin – Honey can be both nourishing and moisturizing for the skin. The antibacterial properties of honey can also be beneficial for skin problems.
There are many different types of honey, each of which may have its own particular benefits. This may be, in part, due to the source of the nectar that creates the honey.
Types of Honey:
Alfalfa
Blueberry
Buckwheat
Clover
Manuka
Orange Blossom
Wildflower
There are over 40 different types of honey, each of which has its own unique properties.
If you are wanting the antioxidant benefits, opt for a darker form of honey.
If honey comes from a single plant species (monofloral honey) it will typically have a lower listing on the glycemic index.
Suggestions:
Avoid buying store-bought honey, as much of it is not honey at all! If you want the real benefits that honey provides, purchase it pure and raw. Raw honey will contain enzymes, minerals and vitamins that may otherwise be destroyed when the honey is processed.
Precautions:
It is best to avoid feeding honey to infants due to certain spores that have been found in honey in North America.
If your health is lacking, avoid eating too much honey because of the sugar. Honey is high in calories and eating too much of it could cause a sugar spike.
Some people have expressed concern over cooking with honey. According to the Ayurveda Wellness Center:
“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.”
Do you love honey? Make sure you share this information with your friends and family