Is honey your friend or foe?

Honey your friend or foe?

Honey is one of the oldest sweeteners on the earth. Lucky for us, it also has many health benefits and uses. Honey is so good, so many of them included it in our list of power foods that should be in your kitchen right now.

Today, honey is the focus of much scientific research by all medical communities, which has been investigating and confirming the many advantages of honey our forefathers thought up.

Since from ancient times, honey has been used as both for food and a medicine. It is very high in useful plant compounds and offers many health benefits. Honey is particularly healthier when it is used instead of refined sugar, which is 100% empty calories.

There are at least 40 types of honey, and each one has a distinctive taste and also unique properties. Different kinds of honey have different flavonoid profiles, that depending on the floral source of the nectar.

Types of Honey That Are Available Everywhere:

• Manuka
• Buckwheat
• Clover
• Alfalfa
• Blueberry
• Orange Blossom
• Wildflower

Darker honey tends to have higher antioxidant levels. Monofloral honey is usually having the lowest glycemic index

Here are the top 8 health benefits of honey which are also supported by science:

1. Healthy Weight Management

Honey consumption leads to weight loss. By replacing sugar with honey can actually help to prevent packing on extra pounds and also lower blood sugar. The results also suggest that in comparison of sugar, honey may lower the serum triglycerides. Raw honey can activate hormones which suppress the appetite.

2. Counters Pollen Allergies

Raw honey contains bee pollen, which is also known to ward off infections, it provides natural allergy relief and boosts overall immunity. Honey’s ability is to prevent allergies is based on a concept called immunotherapy

By eating honey in a high dose can improve allergy symptoms over a period of eight to nine weeks it also improves overall and individual symptoms of allergic rhinitis like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and other similar symptoms.

3. Natural Energy Source

Raw honey mainly contains natural sugars, water, and minerals, vitamins, pollen, and protein. It is not surprising that honey has been called “the perfect running fuel.” It provides an easily absorbed supply of energy in the form of liver glycogen, making it an ideal for energetic morning starts and as a pre- and post-exercise energy source.

Honey is one of the best choices of carbohydrate to consume right before exercising.

When it comes to raw honey’s use in athletic endeavors, raw honey is for both fueling and recovery. Thai is why raw honey is included in some of the best pre-workout snacks and post-workout meals.

4. Antioxidant Powerhouse

A daily dose of raw honey raises levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants help to block free radicals in the body that cause disease. It also boosts an immune system, acting as a preventative against any number of debilitating diseases. Honey contains polyphenols, which are very powerful antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

5. Sleep Promoter

Raw honey can also promote restorative sleep in two ways. By consuming raw honey before bedtime, it restocks the liver’s glycogen supply and prevents the brain from the process of a crisis search for fuel, which can wake you up. Mainly, eating raw honey fosters the release of melatonin in the brain by creating a small spike in insulin levels, which can stimulate the release of tryptophan in the brain. Tryptophan converts to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin.

Melatonin also boosts immunity and helps to rebuild tissue during periods of rest. Poor sleep, by comparison, has been shown to be a risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and arthritis. As honey is also proven to be a natural sleep aid, it naturally lowers the risk of all these health problems.

6. Wound and Ulcer Healer

Honey-infused bandages are also known to aid healing and it is a natural antibacterial with wound-healing effects. Honey reacts with the body’s fluids to make hydrogen peroxide, creating an inhospitable environment for bacteria.

Honey is mostly used in the treatment of burns and wounds; honey is typically applied directly to the problem area or in a dressing that is changed every 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes the dressing is left in place for up to 25 days.

7. Diabetes Aid

Consumption of raw honey can reduce the risk of developing diabetes and helps to aid medication that is used to treat diabetes. The combination of raw honey and also cinnamon can be especially useful to healthy blood sugar management, as well as many other health concerns.

8. Natural Cough Syrup

Raw honey has been shown to be as effective in treating dry coughs as over-the-counter commercial cough syrups. For a cough, take a half teaspoon to two teaspoons of honey at your bedtime with recommended dosage for anyone over the age of one.

Besides, these essential benefits, some precautions should be taken while eating too much honey. Some of the warnings are associated with honey, by eating so much honey can lead to unwanted weight gain, pancreatic cancer, acne, diabetes. Due to extra sugar content in honey, the chances of obesity become higher.