Nothing tastes better than these drips from the bees. Not only is it sweet on the tongue, but it’s also medicinally good for the body. No wonder it’s been used as both and medicine even from ancient periods.
Honey is composed of plant compounds that are highly beneficial to human health. When using as an alternative to refined sugar, it poses healthier benefits to the body.
Contained in this article are the benefits of honey. So, if you’ve always been licking those, better cling that all day!
Here are some benefits of honey
Honey is highly nutritious
As said earlier, honey is obtained from honey bees – ironically, something as sweet as honey can be produced by such insects whose sting can kill. Usually, it is thick and contains a lot of nutrients.
Nutritionally, one tablespoon of honey contains 17 grams of sugar and 64 calories. The sugar present in honey is composed of glucose, maltose, fructose, and sucrose – all simple and complex sugar. It has no fiber, protein, or fat. However, some traces of vitamins and minerals.
High-quality honey is rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants have been linked to a reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes, and some types of cancer. They may also promote eye health. Organic acids such as flavonoids are present in honey and these are good antioxidants to ward off accumulated body waste in the body.
It has been revealed by two studies that the antioxidant value of the blood can be increased when you eat buckwheat, honey.
Honey Is safer for diabetes than sugar
Honey can reduce several risk factors for heart disease common in people with type 2 diabetes.
For instance, it may lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, inflammation, and triglycerides while raising “good” HDL cholesterol.
Nevertheless, it’s been found to increase blood sugar levels but not as high as that of sugar. This is more reason why diabetic patients are advised to consume honey with caution. It’s in the best interest of these categories of health patients to reduce all forms of carb intake.
Honey can easily be adulterated, hence, diabetic patients should consume it less but more than sugar.
Antioxidants present can reduce blood pressure
Antioxidants have been linked to reduced blood pressure. Since honey has some degree of oxidant in it, it helps to reduce blood pressure, hence, reducing the risk of heart disease to a minimum.
Studies in both rats and humans have shown modest reductions in blood pressure from consuming honey
Honey improves cholesterol level
High LDL cholesterol levels are a strong risk factor for heart disease because they play a major role in atherosclerosis which is the fatty buildup in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Interestingly, honey consumption improves cholesterol levels as shown by several studies. It reduces total and “bad” LDL cholesterol while significantly raising “good” HDL cholesterol.
When compare with refined in a study, it was made known that honey reduced LDL in cholesterol by 5.8 percent and also increased HDL in cholesterol by 3.3. percent. Hence, impacting positively on heart health and body weight.
Honey can lower triglycerides
These fat cells pose a serious health risk to the body. They can trigger heart disease and also foster insulin damage which is responsible for type 2 diabetes in the body. However, by consuming more honey, the triglyceride level in the body declines.
The antioxidants in it are linked to other beneficial effects on heart health
Again, honey is a rich source of phenols and other antioxidant compounds. Many of these have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
They may help the arteries in your heart dilate, increasing blood flow to your heart. They may also help prevent blood clot formation, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Honey promotes burn and wound healing
Since the era of ancient Egypt, topical honey treatment has been used to heal wounds and burns. It’s still a common practice in modern times.
As shown by a review of over twenty studies, honey is very effective at healing partial-thickness burns and wounds that have become infected after surgery.
Honey is also an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, which are serious complications that can lead to amputation. As believed by researchers, honey’s healing powers come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects as well as its ability to nourish surrounding tissue.
What’s more, it can help treat other skin conditions, including psoriasis and herpes lesions.
Manuka honey is considered especially effective for treating burn wounds
