8 INCREDIBLE BENEFITS OF HONEY YOU MUST KNOW
By: Rayyan Saleem
Tags: Healthcare, Articles, Health, Content Marketing, Writing

Being famous for its luscious taste and loads of health benefits, Honey is a natural liquid produced by bees, which has been around for some 8000 years.

From being used as a sweetener in cooking to being tried in medicinal practices, Honey has always been a supernatural potion widely revered for its benefits.

Although honey exists in several different forms that differ by flavor and color, all of these pack numerous health expediencies and have been proven highly beneficial for the well-being of humans.

Honey Has a Great Nutritional Value:

The main nutritional components of honey are sugars, including fructose (38%) and glucose (31%).

Honey also contains trace amounts of Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals, which provide it with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

It contains virtually no cholesterol or fats, which makes it highly suitable for people with heart diseases or diabetes.

On average, 1-tbsp of honey contains 64 calories and 17g of sugars. *

On account of its high nutritional value, honey in any of its forms is highly recommended by experts around the world for maintaining sound health.

Highly Rich in Antioxidants:

One of the most vital defense agents of the body are antioxidants, which protect the human body from heart diseases, certain cancers, and other chronic illnesses.

Honey is rich in many important antioxidants, due to which it is super beneficial for people with heart diseases. Experimental data proves that the substitution of honey in some foods for other sweeteners can enhance the antioxidant defense system in adults. *

Antioxidants enhance blood flow to the heart, and prevent clot formation in arteries, hence reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. *

Moreover, the antioxidants in honey have been proven to lower blood pressure, which is another risk factor for heart problems. *

Ability to Heal Wounds:

Studies conducted by experts have shown honey to be quite beneficial in Healing Wounds and Burns. Due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, honey has a cleansing action on wounds, stimulates tissue regeneration, and prevents infection.

Moreover, honey has been proven to heal cuts and bruises, or post-operative wounds more effectively than standard treatment methods.

The Physical Properties of honey, like high acidity, osmotic effect, and anti-oxidant contents, make it highly suitable to be used as an ointment for wounds. Its antiseptic nature prevents inflammation of the wound and speeds up the natural healing process.

With its established benefits, honey may be used in wound dressings as a substitute for other ointments, though this has not yet been confirmed.

Health Benefits of Honey:

In addition to medicinal uses, honey also packs some profound health benefits. Numerous experiments have shown its advantages for physical and mental health in humans.

· Honey can be used as a Natural Remedy for Cough. Studies prove that it reduces nighttime cough in children, inhibits allergic reactions, and also helps in falling asleep. Evidence shows that honey could be effective in reducing acute coughs due to respiratory tract infections. Some experts claim it to be even more effective than cough syrup, though there is no sizeable evidence.

· Several studies suggest that honey Manages Cholesterol Levels in the body notably. Honey effectively reduces “bad” cholesterol and raises “good” cholesterol, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disorders.

· Experiments have also proved honey for Improving Memory and reducing the cognitive decline associated with aging. Honey improves both short-term and long-term memory, leads to significant improvement in learning, and produces neuroprotective effects.

· Minor studies have also shown honey as being Beneficial for Eyesight. It reduces conditions of short-sight and long-sight and improves vision.

Honey is A Natural Energy Source:

With its blend of carbohydrates, water, minerals, and vitamins, honey acts as a great source of instant and sustained energy.

The carbohydrate components of honey are easily absorbed by the body, and provide a quick energy boost. Moreover, the sugars in honey also help in preventing fatigue during exercise.

Experts even suggest that due to its multiple-carbohydrate composition, honey could offer a viable alternative for traditional forms of carbohydrate provisions, hence making it an effective pre-workout energy source for athletes or anyone looking for a natural energy boost. *

In fact, in ancient times, honey was commonly used by warriors and athletes in their diets as well as before and after training.

Numerous Uses for Skin:

In recent times, Honey has been getting attention among physicians for being beneficial for many skin conditions.

Direct application of Honey on infected areas of the skin, helps to overcome conditions like acne, wrinkles, and oiliness. Combined with other natural ingredients, honey can be highly effective for giving us healthier and fresh-looking skin.

· Moisturizing and Hydrating: Honey is a natural moisturizer and hydrates even the most barren of skin. It naturally opens up pores and gets the skin rid of blackheads, hence acting as a clarifying agent for giving a fair complexion to the skin.

· Exfoliating the Skin: Acting as a gentle exfoliator, Honey also rids the skin of dead cells, leaving a radiant and smooth texture on it.

· Treatment of Acne and Scars: Thanks to its anti-bacterial ability, honey is capable of curing and preventing acne spots on the skin. It also lightens scars and minimizes any inflammation, making it suitable for being used as a natural face cleanser.

Having a little honey with warm water early in the morning can increase the metabolic activity of the body, which provides more energy and helps to reduce weight.

Honey is a Good Alternative for Sugar:

Being potentially a little less harmful than sugar, and having a sweeter taste, honey ­– especially raw honey — might be a good alternative for those looking to cut down on their sugar intake.

While honey may have a bit more calories than sugar, it has a lower GI value, meaning it does not increase sugar levels in the blood as much.

Some studies have shown honey to be less harmful than sugar for diabetics and heart patients. It is widely accepted that the use of a moderate amount of raw honey may be safe for diabetics.

However, there is no substantial scientific evidence for such claims. At the end of the day, honey is still a form of sugar, hence its intake should be moderated.

How Much Honey a Day?

Although having a long history of being used as a sweetener, a medicine, and an ointment, honey may still be harmful if consumed excessively.

According to experts, children under the age of one should NEVER be given honey, as it can cause a serious condition called infant botulism.

According to the American Heart Institution, the adequate number of calories from added sugars, for men and women are:

· Men: 150 Calories per day

· Women 100 Calories per day

This implies that Men can have a little over 3 tablespoons of honey a day, while women should have 2.