7 Health benefits of honey | Nutritional values of honey

Honey

Honey is a sweet food substance that is made by honey bees and some other related insects.

You can find honey in honeycomb and some flowers. It is made from the sugary secretions of plants. This is the reason behind the sweetness of honey.

Honey has a worldwide commercial production and human consumption because of a variety of honey bees.

It is almost everyone’s favorite food substance. In this article, we will be talking about the 7 health benefits of honey, nutritional values in honey, and some cautions also.

Nutritional values of Honey

Along with the rich taste it also contains some really essential minerals and vitamins.

Let us have a look at some of the nutrients according to the USDA database.

• Vitamin B6
• Riboflavin
• Carbohydrates
• Sugar
• Niacin
• Vitamin C
• Folate
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Potassium
• Phosphorous
• Energy 304 kcal (per 100 gm)

Health benefits of Honey

Honey is gold that can be eaten. It is very delicious and nutritious. There are many health benefits of honey. Ayurveda and medical science use honey majorly in medicines. Honey is present in every house. We never think twice before consuming honey for health benefits.

Let us look at some detailed explanations of the health benefits of honey.

1. Acts as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal

According to research conducted in 2001, it says honey can kill bad bacteria and fungus. Hydrogen peroxide in the chemical which kills bacteria and fungus. This is the chemical that is present in honey naturally.

This way of using honey is used from ancient times to date. In remote hilly areas those who pet bees, they are most likely to use this method of treating bacterial infections.

2. Heal wounds faster

A special type of honey called “Manuka Honey” is used for treating wounds. This type of honey exhibits excellent germ-killing property. It also enables quick cell regeneration.

According to research conducted in US Manuka Honey boost healing time and reduce infections.

Note: Don’t use raw honey directly on your wounds without filtering. Honey used in hospitals and ayurvedic clinics is filtered to some levels. raw honey might contain stings of bees which can cause harm if not separated from it.

3. Immunity booster

A compound present in plants called phytonutrients protects the plant from harm.

It exhibits anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial because of this phytonutrient. This phytonutrient makes honey and excellent anti-oxidant.

This phytonutrient also makes honey super effective in curing cancer and boosting immunity. Cancer is developed in our body by free radicals and anti-oxidants destroys free-radicals from our body. It is true honey need to be filtered before use, but heavy processing of honey might also destroy its nutritional values.

4. A good source of anti-oxidants

Raw honey acts as an amazing antioxidant because of the presence of an array of plant chemicals. There are some special types of honey. This special honey contains antioxidants equal to fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants also protect our body from cell damage.

Some free radicals in our body may damage cells in our body. Free radicals can cause serious damage to our bodies. It can also cause some chronic diseases like cancer and heart diseases.

According to research conducted in Canada, it has been proven that honey can reduce heart diseases. It is because of a compound named polyphenols that’s responsible for curing our heart.

5. Good for digestion

We can also use honey to treat digestive issues like diarrhea. There is not much research regarding this statement. There is one proven result of effectiveness in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. These bacteria are the main causes of stomach ulcers.

It is used as a moisturizer. It not only nourishes our skin but it also nourishes the good bacteria inside our intestine.

6. Sore throat

Sore throat is very common during cough and cold. Honey and ginger are the age-old remedies for this problem.

Add it to hot tea with lemon whenever you feel the cold is hitting you. You can also take 1 teaspoon of honey and add few drops of ginger to get rid of sore throat.

According to research in 2007 honey is as effective as dextromethorphan. It is a common ingredient to cough and cold medicines. It also works as a suppressant.

7. Weight loss

A good metabolism is very important for managing weight. Drinking honey-lime water early in the morning increases metabolism.

Cellulite accumulates in our body which is why we start gaining weight. In order to lose weight, one should target all the cellulite in the body.

It is said that drinking Luke warm water with 1 tablespoon of fresh honey increases the metabolism and controls appetite throughout the day. If we drink the same honey water at night before we go to bed it burns all the calories during sleep time.

It is also proved in a study of American college of nutrition in 2010. If you want to reduce the sugar intake in your daily food you can also start adding honey in place of sugar.

Cautions

• It is great for burning cellulite which puts on weight in our body. It is the heat in the honey which performs all these actions.
• According to Ayurveda if the heat-induced in body due to honey enters the blood it might remain there for months and years.
• Eating too much of honey at a time might increase the body heat, this can lead to many skin problems like pimples and acne. To some people, it can also cause diarrhea or constipation.
• Some girls might suffer menstrual disturbance or cramps during mensuration.
• Pregnancy is one of the most delicate times in a women’s life, and consuming anything during this time without consulting might not be safe for the baby and the mother. Therefore, though it is safe but the doctor’s consult is very important before taking any actions.
• It kills all the bacteria in the gut and makes it safe for the baby but the body goes through a lot of changes during this time. Honey might and might not suit your body.

Also read: Sweet on Honey: What’s in It, If It’s Good for You, and All the Other Buzz on Nature’s Golden Nectar

Here at gardeninfograph we try to bring in front of you many relatable topics that are can add up to a healthy diet in your homes to keep your family and friends healthy. Some topics that we have covered are 5 powerful Ayurvedic herbs, 7 health benefits of green tea, Neem, kafal, cardamom, Coriander, Oregano, garlic, curry leaves, Fennel, Spinach and you will find many more.