Let’s show you the Amazing 9 Health Benefits of Honey.
According to a nutritionist, the health benefits of honey have been shown to possess numerous benefits to overall health.
Honey has been an ancient sweetener made from honeybees; it offers beneficial plant compounds. You can use it medically to treat wounds, and you can take honey as a supplement.
Notably, honey is best used instead of using refined sugar. This article explains in detail the benefits of honey to your overall health.
Amazing 9 Health Benefits of Honey
1. Honey Contains Healthy Nutrients
Honey is a sweetening compound with thick liquid that can be influenced by the composition of environmental conditions or processing techniques.
These bees collect sugar-rich nectar from the flower in the environment. Once inside the beehive, they repeatedly consume, digest, and regurgitate the nectar.
The end product is honey, a liquid that serves as stored food for bees. The smell, color, and taste depend on the types of flowers visited.
Nutritionally, 1 tablespoon of honey (21 grams) contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose.
It contains virtually no fiber, fat, or protein.
It also contains trace amounts — 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. Honey Contains An Antioxidants which Help Lower Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease, and honey may help lower it.
Research shows that it contains antioxidant compounds that have been linked to lower blood pressure.
3. Honey Is “Less Bad” Than Sugar for Diabetics
The evidence on honey and diabetes is mixed.
On the one hand, it can reduce several risk factors for heart disease common in people with type 2 diabetes.
For instance, it may lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation while raising “good” HDL cholesterol.
However, studies have found that it can also increase blood sugar levels — just not as much as refined sugar.
While honey may be slightly better than refined sugar for people with diabetes, it is advised to consume it with caution.
In fact, people with diabetes may do best by minimizing all high-carb foods
Notably, certain types of honey may be adulterated with plain syrup. Although honey adulteration is illegal in most countries, it remains a widespread problem.
4. Original Honey Is Rich in Antioxidants
According to research, original honey contains many important antioxidants. These include organic acids and phenolic compounds like flavonoids.
The combination of these compounds gives honey its antioxidant power.
Observational studies have shown that buckwheat honey increases the antioxidant value of your blood.
Antioxidants have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and some types of cancer. They may also promote eye health.
High LDL cholesterol levels are a strong risk factor for heart disease.
This type of cholesterol plays a major role in atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup in your arteries leading to heart attacks and strokes.
Studies show that honey may improve your cholesterol levels.
It reduces total and “bad” LDL cholesterol while significantly raising “good” HDL cholesterol.
Also, one study in 55 patients compared honey to table sugar and found that honey caused a 5.8% reduction in LDL and a 3.3% increase in HDL cholesterol. It also led to a modest weight loss of 1.3%.
6. Honey Promotes Burn and Wound Healing
Honey treatment has been used to heal wounds and burns since ancient Egypt and is still common today.
A review of 26 studies on honey and wound care found honey most 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.
One study reported a 43.3% success rate with honey as a wound treatment. In another study, topical honey healed a whopping 97% of patients’ diabetic ulcers.
Researchers believe that 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.
7. The Antioxidants in Honey Are Linked to Other Beneficial Effects on Heart Health
According to observational studies, honey is a rich source of phenols and other antioxidant compounds. Many of these have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Other studies show that 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.
8. Honey Can Lower Triglycerides
Elevated blood triglycerides are another risk factor for heart disease.
They are also associated with insulin resistance, a major driver of type 2 diabetes.
Triglyceride levels tend to increase on a diet high in sugar and refined carbs.
Observational studies have linked regular honey consumption with lower triglyceride levels, especially when used to replace sugar.
9. Honey Can Help Stops Cough in Children
Coughing is a common problem for children with upper respiratory infections.
These infections can affect sleep and quality of life for both children and parents.
However, mainstream medications for cough are not always effective and can have side effects. Interestingly, honey may be a better choice, and evidence indicates it is very effective.
One study found that honey worked better than two common cough medications.
Conclusion on 9 Health Benefits of Honey
Honey is delicious and is a healthier alternative to sugar.
Keep in mind that honey should only be consumed in moderation, as it is still high in calories and sugar.
The health benefits of honey are most pronounced when it is replacing another, unhealthier sweetener.
At the end of the day, honey is simply a “less bad” sweetener than sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
