Honey, not the ones from China as they are honey mixed with sugar, but raw honey is packed with healthy benefits. This golden sweetness is high in beneficial plant compounds, and much healthier than sugar, which is just 100% empty calories.
This article will look at the health benefits of honey, and then you will understand why since ancient times it has been used as food and medicine.
The nutrients found in honey
Honey is produced by honeybees collecting sugar-rick nectars from flowers. They take this nectar back to the hives where it is consumed by the bees. The bees then digest it and vomit it out again. The bees store this liquid as food for other bees, but we know it as honey.
This honey is nutritionally rich. One tablespoon of honey will have 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose. Honey contains virtually no fiber, fat or protein. But when we digest it, it will turn from a sugar to protein in our livers.
Honey also contain trace amounts of different minerals and vitamins, as well as bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants.
High quality honey is rich in antioxidants
Good quality honey contains antioxidants, like phenols, enzymes and compounds like flavonoids and organic acids. Plus it is believed that it is the combination of these compounds that gives honey its antioxidant power.
Antioxidants have been linked to reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer. They may also promote eye health.
Honey is diabetic friendly
Although the studies on the use of honey for diabetics are mixed, it has been found by some studies that honey could aid with some of the risk factors in diabetics. For instance, honey can lower bad cholesterol, triglycerides and inflammation, and increase good cholesterol.
Then again, there were other studies that has found that honey could increase blood sugar levels, just not as much as refined sugar. Still, although honey is not as bad as refined sugar for people with diabetic problems, it is still something that diabetics should only consume with caution.
The antioxidants found in honey can help lower blood pressure
Blood pressure is a serious risk factor for heart disease, and honey may help lower it. That is since honey contains antioxidant compounds that have been linked to blood pressure lowering effects. Therefore, by eating honey can lead to modest reductions in blood pressure, which is an important risk factor for heart disease.
Honey may reduce cholesterol issues
A high level of bad cholesterol could lead to heart disease. More so, it plays a major role in atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. But, a lot of studies have shown that honey can mend your cholesterol levels. More so, it has been found that honey cannot only reduce the bad cholesterol, but it can also significantly raising your good cholesterol.
Honey can reduce triglycerides
Another big risk for heart disease is elevated blood triglycerides. These are also a crucial sign of insulin resistance, a major driver of type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels tend to surge on a diet that is high in sugar and refined carbs. However, different studies have found that honey taken on a regular bases could lower triglyceride levels, especially when it is used to replace sugar.
The antioxidants in honey could be good for your heart
Honey is packed with phenols and other antioxidant compounds. These elements are good for a healthy heart as they help the arteries in the heart dilate, increasing blood flow to the heart. They may also aid prevent the formation of blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Honey could help the healing of burns and wounds
Since the ancient Egyptian times, honey were placed on the skin to heal wounds and burns. In fact, even today, honey has been found to be effective at healing partial thickness burns and wounds that have become infected after surgery. Honey has also been found to be an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, which are an extremely severe complication and can lead to amputation.
Researchers consider that honey’s healing powers come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, but also honey’s ability to nourish the surrounding tissue. Therefore, honey is also used to treat other conditions, like psoriasis, hemorrhoids and herpes lesions.
Honey can help children by suppressing their cough
For children with upper respiratory infections, coughing is a common problem. Coughing can affect sleep and quality of life, for both the children and their parents. Yet, mainstream medications for cough are not always effective and can have side effects. Fascinatingly, honey may be a superior choice. In fact, the research has shown that honey is very effective.
The bottom line
Honey is sweet and delicious, but also a healthier alternative to sugar. Choose raw honey, that is packed will all the goodness and eat it in moderation, as it is high in calories and sugar. Enjoy it, as it is better than sweeteners and corn syrup, and it can be good for you.
