Used by humans for 2,500 years, honey was called the nectar of the gods in ancient Greece and has many health benefits, from alleviating allergies to healing the skin. Made from the nectar of flowers by bees, this superfood is often used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of ailments.
The 20 health benefits of honey are:
1. Energy booster
Honey is an excellent natural source of energy, containing just 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon. Being a natural raw sugar, it can be digested by even the most sensitive stomachs. Fructose and glucose directly enter the bloodstream and provide a quick energy boost. The rise in blood sugar serves as a short-term source of energy during exercise, especially during long-term endurance exercise.
2. Allergy help
If you’re one of the millions of allergy-prone Americans, try buying local, organic honey! Native bees pollinate native flowers that you’re probably allergic to, so the nectar contains a small amount of honey. This allows the body to initiate an immune response that produces antibodies against pollen in small doses, which means fewer allergic reactions.
3. Anti-inflammatory
The ancient Greek physician and herbalist Dioscorides recognized the anti-inflammatory properties of honey, writing that it is “good for sunburns and acne on the face” and that “honey heals inflammation of the throat and tonsils.”
4. Improve sports performance and recovery.
Recent studies have shown that honey is an excellent ergogenic agent and can help improve athletic performance. Honey stabilizes blood sugar levels, promotes post-exercise muscle and glycogen recovery, and regulates insulin levels in the body.
5. Natural preservative
When applied topically, honey slowly releases hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It is an antibacterial and antiseptic compound produced by enzymes that disinfect wounds, kill bacteria and heal damaged skin. Scientific evidence shows that most strains of harmful bacteria die in the presence of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide.
6. Wound and skin ailment healing.
Honey’s healing properties are due to the fact that it has antibacterial activity, moistens wounds, and its high viscosity helps create a protective barrier that prevents infection. Honey’s effectiveness in treating yeast infections, a variety of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and fungal infections ranging from athlete’s foot to ringworm has been confirmed.
7. Eliminates free radicals from the body and strengthens the immune system.
Because honey contains nutritional supplements, it is an excellent source for trapping and eliminating free radicals and toxins in the body. For the same reason and its antibacterial properties, it is great for boosting the body’s natural immune system.
8. May help with healthy weight management.
In moderation, honey helps digest fat stored in the body. Taking it with lemon or cinnamon may improve weight loss (along with a healthy diet and exercise!)
9. Sleep aid
Honey can help with sleepless nights. Honey releases serotonin in your body, a neurotransmitter that boosts your mood and feelings of well-being. The body then converts serotonin into melatonin, a compound that regulates the length and quality of sleep.
10. Memory accelerator
Honey is rich in antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and loss in the brain. A 2011 study published in Menopause found that a daily spoonful (20 g) of Malaysian honey in postmenopausal women improved memory and could be used as an alternative therapy for intelligence-related decline. It turns out that there is a possibility. After four months of the study, women were more likely to have better short-term memory than women who took hormones.
11. Rich in antioxidants
Honey is known to be rich in antioxidants such as organic acids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Antioxidants also help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and certain cancers and lower blood pressure. Therefore, honey benefits from its rich antioxidant properties.
12. Healthier alternative to sugar
Although high in calories and sugar, honey is a healthier alternative to refined white sugar when used in moderation. Adding sugar to your diet provides extra calories with no nutritional benefits and only contributes to weight gain.
13. Helps with digestive problems.
According to various studies, honey is known to shorten the duration of diarrhea and reduce its severity. Honey helps increase potassium and water intake, which helps with diarrhea.
14. Soothes a sore throat.
Tired of sore throats and coughs? Among the many other benefits of honey, it is also widely used to treat sore throats. Besides fighting the bacteria that cause throat infections, it also works as a cough suppressant. Overall, this makes this sweet syrup an excellent remedy for sore throats.
15. Fights oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is bad for your body. Not only is this harmful to cells and their contents, but it is also associated with a variety of conditions. Oxidative stress is responsible for aging and has been linked to conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and poor brain and eye function. Honey can help fight the oxidative stress response in the body and improve health. Regular use helps maintain organ function.
16. Increases sexual activity.
Want to stay in bed longer and improve your sex time? This natural sweetener can spice up your sex life. This product contains boron and B vitamins, which can boost your testosterone levels. Being an aphrodisiac, it can help improve sperm count and make you more fertile.
17. May support gut health.
Honey acts as a prebiotic because it’s a source of indigestible carbohydrates called oligosaccharides. We cannot digest these carbohydrates, but the bacteria in our gut can. The use of oligosaccharides as a food source helps the growth of “good” bacteria, including bifidobacterium and lactobacillus.
18. Soothes stomach ulcers.
Test-tube and animal studies have shown honey’s ability to protect against the harmful effects of stomach ulcers. First, it is anti-inflammatory; second, it helps fight infections such as Helicobacter pylori; and lastly, it protects the intestinal lining from damage.
19. Helps prevent plaque formation.
Honey may seem like an odd food to keep your teeth healthy, but due to manuka honey’s antibacterial properties, it’s not associated with tooth decay. Studies show that these antibacterial properties minimize plaque formation. It suggests that it may help with gingivitis, thus reducing the risk of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. Honey inhibits the growth of unwanted oral bacteria such as Porphiomonas gingivalis.
20. May help manage cystic fibrosis.
Honey’s powerful antibacterial properties also enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics in cystic fibrosis patients suffering from upper respiratory tract infections. It may be a useful therapeutic strategy in the future.
Wrapping up
Honey is a natural sweetener and has several health benefits. The benefits of honey range from improving digestion to protecting brain function in older people. Since honey is a natural substance, it has very few side effects. It can be taken early in the morning, added to herbal teas, or added to pancake condiments. When you eat honey, be sure to eat it in moderation, as it is high in calories. Excessive use may cause nausea, dizziness, sweating, arrhythmia, fainting, etc. So these were the amazing health benefits of honey. Thank you!