Honey has been used as a medicine for centuries. And there's a good reason for that! Honey has a plethora of health benefits, ranging from aiding in wound healing to protecting your reproductive health. Not only does honey has great health benefits, but its taste can also help you add flavor to many dishes as a side bonus.
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10 Honey's Health Benefits for Your Advantage
1. Honey is an excellent source of energy for people on a low-carb diet
Raw honey contains vitamins A, B6, C, D, E, and K, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and potassium. It is mainly composed of fructose and glucose. It has about 64 calories per tablespoon.
2. Honey Is Rich in Antioxidants
Honey is rich in antioxidants because it comes from flowers and plants (therefore you are having the advantage of phytochemicals). These antioxidants help protect honey from oxidation, which occurs when oxygen molecules attach themselves to the sugar molecules in honey. Oxidation is what makes honey brown. And these antioxidants help us too! This is the reason that honey has anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Honey Has a Medium Glycemic Index
One of the main reasons people use honey instead of other sweeteners is that it has a lower glycemic index (GI) than sugar. Food is considered to have a low GI when it is below 55. Honey has a GI of 58, while the GI of sugar is 60. This means that it does not cause an immediate spike in blood glucose levels after consumption because its carbohydrates take longer to break down. Instead, it provides a slow release of energy into the body.
4. Honey Can Help You Lose Weight
If you’re looking to lose weight, honey can help you do so. Although more research is needed, studies have shown that honey can help to activate the hormones that suppress appetite. So, it might not be a complete solution against obesity but something else that is available to help you lose weight. Additionally, honey contains antioxidants that can protect against free radicals and inflammation. These two things can help prevent obesity.
5. Honey Helps to Prevent Heart Disease And Stroke
Honey also helps to lower cholesterol levels. It also contains flavonoids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect that prevents damage to the cells that can result in diseases. This anti-inflammatory effect helps protect or prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.
6. Honey Can Protect Against Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic Syndrome is a group of conditions that increase the chances of getting heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Therefore, the multiple properties that honey has, for example, its antioxidant activity, anti-obesity, and the help it provides against high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels, make it also an excellent food to protect and prevent metabolic syndrome.
7. Honey Helps Against Infections
Yes, honey also has antibacterial properties. Honey can fight infections caused by multiple microorganisms, including bacteria known to be resistant to antibiotics. The antibacterial efficacy goes hand in hand with its chemical composition and concentration, which varies depending on the bee type, the nectar, and the storage.
8. Honey Accelerates Wound Healing
Honey is excellent at accelerating wound healing. The combination of the inhibition of bacterial growth, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and its actions at promoting cell growth and tissue repair, makes it very popular and effective for wound care. It is used for example as patches or gels to cover wounds and facilitate healing.
9. Honey Might Protect Reproductive Health and Fertility
Although more studies are needed, it seems that all the properties of honey discussed above protect women's and men's reproductive health and fertility. Honey can help the quality of sperm by restoring the levels of testosterone. In women, it can protect the reproductive tract and prevent fungal infections.
10. Honey Relieves Cough
Another good thing that honey can offer you is to relieve or decrease your cough episodes. It is probably because honey can help break down the mucus, which is responsible for causing the irritation that provokes the cough reflex.
Honey is a delicious natural food with many health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Honey can help protect your reproductive system, relieve your cough, and speed the healing process. It is also a natural source of energy and can help you regulate your blood sugar levels, among other incredible health benefits. And don’t forget that it is also a healthy alternative to sugar. So, if you're looking for a natural way to improve your health, add honey to your diet.
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Resources
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Honey and Its Role in Relieving Multiple Facets of Atherosclerosis. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356546/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.
A Review on the Protective Effects of Honey against Metabolic Syndrome. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6115915/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.
The Mechanism of Honey in Reversing Metabolic Syndrome. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7913905/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.
The antibacterial activities of honey. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8071826/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.
Honey in wound healing: An updated review. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8496555/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.
Role of Honey in Advanced Wound Care. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8398244/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.
Protective Roles of Honey in Reproductive Health: A Review. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8197897/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.
Use of honey associated with Ananas comosus (Bromelin) in the treatment of acute irritative cough. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5176060/ Accessed on Jan 1, 2023.