10 Surprising Health Benefits of Honey
and Use of Honey in Daily Life
Since ancient times, honey has been used as both a food as well as medicine.
Honey is a sweet, thick liquid made by honeybees.
The bees collect sugar mainly from the sugar-rich nectar of flowers from their environment.
Once inside the beehive, honeybees repeatedly consume, digest and regurgitate the nectar.
The end product is honey which is a liquid that serves as stored food for bees. The smell, color and taste depend on the types of flowers visited by honeybees.
It’s very high in beneficial plant compounds and also offers several health benefits. Honey is particularly healthy when used instead of refined sugar.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of honey:
1. Honey Contains Some Nutrients
Nutritionally, 1 tablespoon of honey (20 grams) contains 63 calories and 16 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose.
It contains virtually no fat, fiber or protein.
It also contains trace amounts which is under 1% of the RDI of several vitamins and minerals, but you would have to eat many pounds to fulfill your daily requirements.
Where honey shines is in its content of bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants.
Darker types tend to be even higher in these compounds than lighter types.
2. High-Quality Honey Is Rich in Antioxidants
High-quality honey contains many important antioxidants, these include organic acids and also phenolic compounds like flavonoids.
Scientists believe that the combination of these compounds present in honey is the reason for its antioxidant power.
Surprisingly, two studies have shown that buckwheat honey increases the antioxidant value of your blood.
Antioxidants have been linked to reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes and even, some types of cancer. Also, they may promote eye health.
3. Honey Is “Less Bad” Than Sugar for Diabetics
The evidence on honey and diabetes are complicated.
On one hand, it can also reduce various risk factors for heart disease common in people with type 2 diabetes.
For example, it may lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and inflammation while raising “good” HDL cholesterol.
However, some studies have found that honey can also increase blood sugar levels but just not as much as refined sugar.
However, honey may be slightly better than refined sugar for people with diabetes but it should still be consumed with caution.
4. The Antioxidants in It Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is an important risk factor basically for heart disease, and honey may help to lower it.
This is because honey contains antioxidant compounds that have been linked to lower blood pressure.
Studies in both rats and humans have shown some modest reductions in blood pressure from consuming honey.
5. Honey Also Helps Improve Cholesterol
High LDL cholesterol levels in humans is a strong risk factor for heart disease.
This type of cholesterol plays a vital role in atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup in your arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Interestingly, several studies show that honey may also help to improve your cholesterol levels.
Honey reduces total and “bad” LDL cholesterol while significantly raising “good” HDL cholesterol.
For example, one study in 54 patients compared honey to table sugar and found that honey caused a 5.7% reduction in LDL and a 3.3% increase in HDL cholesterol. It also led to modest weight loss of 1.4%.
6. Honey Can Lower Triglycerides
Elevated blood triglycerides are also another risk factor for heart disease.
They are associated with insulin resistance which is a major driver of type 2 diabetes.
Triglyceride levels tend to increase on a diet high in sugar and also refined carbs.
Multiple studies have linked with regular honey consumption with lower triglyceride levels, especially when it is used to replace sugar.
For example, one study comparing honey and sugar found 12–20% lower triglyceride levels in the honey group.
Also Read : Honey vs. Sugar: Which Sweetener Should I Use in Daily Life?
7. 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 properly.
They may also help to prevent blood clot formation, which can even lead to heart attacks and strokes.
8. Honey Promotes Burn and Wound Healing
Topical honey treatment has been used to heal wounds and burns since ancient time and is still common today.
A review of 25 studies on honey and wound care found that honey is most effective at healing partial-thickness burns and wounds that have become infected after surgery.
Honey has also an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, which are serious complications that can lead to amputation.
One study reported 44% success rate with honey as a wound treatment.
Researchers believe that the healing powers of honey come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects as well as its ability to nourish surrounding tissue.
What’s more, it can to help treat other skin conditions, including psoriasis and herpes lesions as well.
9. Honey Can Help Suppress Coughs in Children
Coughing is a common problem in children with upper respiratory infections.
Interestingly, honey may be a better choice, and evidence indicates that it is very effective.
One study found that honey worked better than the common cough medications.
Another study found that honey reduced cough symptoms and also improved sleep more than cough medication.
BUT, honey should never be given to the children under one year of age due to the risk for botulism.
10. It’s Delicious, But Still High in Calories and Sugar
Honey is a delicious and a healthier alternative to sugar.
Make sure to choose a high-quality brand, because some lower-quality ones may be mixed with sugar syrup.
Keep in mind that honey should only be consumed in moderation, as it is still high in calories and sugar also.
The benefits of honey are most pronounced when it is replacing another, unhealthier sweetener in daily life.
Lastly, honey is simply a “less bad” sweetener than sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.