28 Proven Health Benefits of Honey

Benefits of Honey for health that you need know. Moreover, the Honey contains properties beneficial for prevent and fight various diseases. Then, check the benefits of Honey for health. Like to know what the benefits of Honey are? Know the properties of Honey: main benefits, nutrients, vitamins and origin. Honey has been used by countless cultures all around the world over the past 2,500 years. While the numerous health benefits of Honey have made it an important element of traditional medicines such as Ayurvedic treatments, scientists are also researching the benefits in relation to modern medicine, particularly in the healing of wounds.

It is known as Honig in German, Miele in Italian, Shahad in Hindi, Miel in French and Spanish, Mel in Portuguese, мед in Russian, Honing in Dutch, and μελι in Greek; there is almost no part in the world where Honey is not widely used and celebrated as a part of the cultural diet.

But what makes Honey so popular? Most likely, it is the ease with which it can be consumed. One can eat it directly, put it on bread like a jam, mix it with juice or any drink instead of sugar, or mix it with warm water, lime juice, cinnamon, and other herbs to make a medicine. It is savored by all due to its taste as well as health benefits, making it extremely useful and versatile.

Rich in Vitamins & Minerals: It contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. The type of vitamins and minerals and their quantity depends on the type of flowers used for apiculture. Commonly, Honey contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron. If you check the vitamin and mineral content in regular sugar from any other source, you will find it completely insignificant.

Helps prevent cancer and heart disease:  Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease.

Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal: “All Honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide,” said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. This contributes to the incredibly long shelf-life of Honey.

Regulates Cholesterol Levels: In one study, intake of 70 g of Honey for 30 days showed a reduction in cholesterol levels by 3 percent. Another study showed a reduction of 8 percent. More interestingly, Honey was also found to increase the levels of good cholesterol. As per one German study, women might benefit by substituting Honey for sugar in their diet (in terms of total cholesterol levels).

And according to another BBC report, honey can fight cholesterol. The antioxidants in honey can protect the body against damage from free radicals. Honey can also enhance the effects of an existing heart-healthy diet and regulate cholesterol levels. One smart way of including honey in your diet is using it in the place of sugar

Maintains Blood Pressure: One study published in 2011 suggested that Honey had a protective effect against high blood pressure. The desirable effects were noticed in rats fed with excess calories. Another Malaysian study had also come up with similar findings

Improves Heart Health: The antioxidants in Honey protect the heart. Honey also reduces the formation of conjugated dienes, which are compounds created through oxidation, and which are related to the bad cholesterol in the blood. This, by default, improves heart health.

Honey was also found to reduce the formation of plaques that otherwise narrow arteries and cause heart attacks. Even the polyphenols in Honey have a role to play in heart health. Numerous studies have shown that an increased intake of polyphenols can reduce the risk of cardiac disease.

Can Help Fight Cancer: The phenolic compounds in Honey were found to have anticancer properties and can help prevent various types of cancer. Honey also exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, which also makes it one of the best foods for preventing cancer. Honey even modulates the body’s immune system, making it further effective in cancer treatment.

Honey also possesses antiproliferative properties that prevent cancer from spreading further. More interestingly, honey works selectively – it tends to destroy cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells undamaged. Some research suggests against taking raw Honey during cancer treatment and instead recommends the intake of heat-treated honey. Check with your doctor.

Fun Honey Fact: Honey is made of 80% sugar and 20% water. And 1 tablespoon contains 64 calories.

Fights Infections: The antibacterial activity of Honey can play a role in treating infections. Honey maintains a moist wound condition, and its high viscosity provides a protective barrier that prevents infection. In fact, honey has been in use since ancient times to treat infected wounds. But it is important that honey can be used only as a supplement and not as a replacement. The use of honey can be considered only if other therapeutic procedures on the infection have failed.

Other research says that the bacteria found in honey can help treat infections. These bacteria can be used as an alternative to antibiotics. In studies, these bacteria in honey (which originated inside the stomachs of honeybees) were found to be effective against yeast and other forms of bacteria present in human wounds.

Reduces cough and throat irritation: Honey helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey. In a study of 110 children, a single dose of buckwheat honey was just as effective as a single dose of dextromethorphan in relieving nocturnal cough and allowing proper sleep.

Balances the 5 elements: Honey has been used in Ayurvedic medicine in India for at least 4,000 years and is considered to affect all three of the body’s primitive material imbalances positively. It is also said to be useful in improving eyesight, weight loss, curing impotence and premature ejaculation, urinary tract disorders, bronchial asthma, diarrhea and nausea.

Honey is referred as “Yogavahi” since it has a quality of penetrating the deepest tissues of the body. When honey is used with other herbal preparations, it enhances the medicinal qualities of those preparations and also helps them to reach the deeper tissues.

Heals wounds and burns: External application of Honey has been shown to be as effective as conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazene. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and Honey’s anti-bacterial nature combine to create this effect.

Helps improve skin: Its anti-bacterial qualities are particularly useful for the skin, and, when used with the other ingredients, Honey can also be moisturizing and nourishing. For a powerful home beauty treatment for which you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen already, read Carrot Face Mask.

Weight Loss: Though it has more calories than sugar when consumed with warm water, Honey helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly, Honey with lemon juice or cinnamon helps in reducing weight.

Improves Athletic Performance: Recent research has shown that Honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helps in boosting the performance of athletes. It is a great way to maintain blood sugar levels, muscle recuperation, and glycogen restoration after a workout, as well as regulate the amount of insulin in the body.

Factors Governing The Benefits Of Honey: Not all Honey is created equally, so the quality is different. Both the price and the health benefits of Honey are dependent on its quality, so it has become very important for the manufacturers and consumers to understand the various factors that affect the quality of Honey.

Some of these factors include the type of flowers used in the formation of the honeycombs, the blending process, storage conditions, the temperature of heating, and more. These factors have been explained below in more detail

Blending: It is also believed that polyfloral Honey (which is obtained from more than one flower) provides more benefits than monofloral. Hence, many companies sell blended Honey as it offers the benefits from a variety and is, therefore, considered to be healthier than non-blended one.

Water Content: Honey can also undergo fermentation. If the water content is high (above 19%), the chances of it becoming fermented are high. You can measure the water content using a refractometer. Furthermore, freely flowing Honey either contains higher water content or has been heated to disturb the natural crystallization process, thereby reducing the benefits it will confer to you.

Storage: When stored for a long duration, it becomes darker in color. It loses some of its properties and may also ferment if the water content is too high. Therefore, prolonged storage should be avoided, while newly harvested Honey should be preferred.

Heal wounds and burns: External application of Honey has been shown to be as effective as conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazine. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and Honey’s antibacterial nature combine to create this effect. Studies have shown it to be very successful in healing wounds.

Promotes Sleep: Though concrete studies haven’t been done yet, preliminary research shows that a tablespoon of Honey right before bed can promote sound sleep – probably because it keeps liver glycogen full (if glycogen stores in the liver are depleted, the liver starts breaking down fat and protein to form glucose for energy, and this entire process can keep one from falling asleep soon).

Antioxidant property: Although darker Honey generally contains more antioxidant power than light colored, both are still a rich source of valuable antioxidants. Antioxidants go to work against free radicals and encourage new tissue growth. This, in turn, helps expedite healing of damaged tissue and also helps skin appear younger and more radiant.

Makeup remover: Mix baking soda and Honey together to make a paste and add a few drops of tea tree oil. Apply using a warm washcloth in a circular motion. Rinse with warm water.

Natural cough syrup: You can make a very effective, tasty, natural cough syrup using the following ingredients: one cup of filtered water, 1/4 cup fresh ginger root, 1/4 cup marshmallow root, one tablespoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice and one cup Honey. Pour the water into a saucepan and add the dried herbs.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer until the volume is reduced by about half. Pour through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove herbs. While the liquid is still warm, but not boiling, mix in the lemon juice and Honey. Stir well and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Lip moisturizer: A very easy way to heal and prevent chapped lips can be made with Honey. Mix one part of warm, recently-melted beeswax to three parts olive oil. Then add one to two tablespoons of honey to the mixture. Once the mixture has set, it’s ready to use.

Blood sugar regulation: Even though it contains simple sugars, it is NOT the same as white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Its exact combination of fructose and glucose actually helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. Some kinds of Honey do have a low hypoglycemic index, so they don’t jolt your blood sugar. Watch this video Sweetener Comparison where I compare stevia, brown rice syrup, Honey, molasses, and agave, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Dark circle remover: Mix one teaspoon of Honey with one teaspoon of sweet almond oil and spread the mixture under the eyes. After about 20 minutes, wash the mixture off and follow up with a light layer of organic coconut oil. Repeat this treatment a few times a week to keep your skin looking great.

Healthy sports drink: Commercial sports drinks are loaded with sugar and other not-so-healthy ingredients. However, it is very easy to make your own homemade sports drink using honey. Simply combine the following ingredients in a Vitamix and blend until the Honey dissolves: 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, two cups water, 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt and two tablespoons of raw Honey. Take some of this mixture in a water bottle when going out on a long hike and you’ll feel hydrated and energized.

Strengthen the immune system: Manuka Honey has been found to stimulate the production of immune cells according to a study at the School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK. Manuka is a favourite of mine.

Promotes Hair Growth: Though there is little evidence on this, there is no harm in giving it a try. You can combine Honey with olive oil for preventing hair loss and strengthening hair. Simply heat the olive oil until it is warm. To this, add 2 tablespoons of Honey(you can also add one egg white). Mix well and smooth this mixture through wet hair. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then shampoo your hair as usual. This mixture can also treat dry hair.