While the bees play a critical role as pollinators for many agricultural crops in maintaining a balanced eco-system, they also have one very important work – yielding a sweet sticky liquid that man can eat for health.
Eat honey for health
This golden liquid is quite different from the sugar we eat daily. It is in fact a good sugar just like we have good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Though it is produced in small quantity by the bee but if taken regularly and daily for a considerable period of time, then it can lead to the prevention of cough, sinus, eczema, infections, arthritis, pains, burns, cuts, and even brought new precious understanding to those who are obese, trying to lose pounds, have high blood pressure, cholesterol issues and diabetes.
Why should you follow this article?
This post is going to change your perspective about equating honey and kitchen sugar on equal terms. We have a an assortment of numerous healthy benefits of consuming honey daily in your diet in place of sugars in the artificial sweetener and sweet corn syrups.
Nutritional value
Honey contains
- 80% natural sugar — mostly fructose and glucose. Due to the high level of fructose, honey is sweeter than table sugar.
- 18% water. The less water content the honey has, the better the quality of honey.
- 2% minerals, vitamins, pollen and protein.
- The vitamins present in honey are B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids.
- The minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.
Calorific value
Amazing Health Benefits of Honey
One tablespoon of honey has 64 calories, and one tablespoon of sugar has 46 calories. This shows that you actually consume less calories with the same taste of sweet with an equal amount of honey than in sugar.
How honey is different than sugar
- Honey has the same component of glucose and fructose as sugar or sucrose. Difference lies in the fact that they are both hooked together in the sugar while are separate in case of honey. Since fructose is sweeter than glucose hence all the processed foods available in the market use fructose more in their contents. Now this fructose does not convert to energy as efficiently as glucose and stores itself as fat in the body. This is not in the case of honey. Hence honey is far more superior to the table sugar.
- Raw honey is only heated to produce commercially thus saving its major nutrients while table sugar is highly processed making it devoid of all naturally occurring vitamins 7 minerals and leaving only empty calories behind.
3 major health benefits
- Energy booster
- Remedy for ailments
- Immunity builder
Anti-cancer
Honey has carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumor properties which makes it excellent anti-cancer medicine.
Immunity system builder
Honey has tremendous anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties which makes it a powerful immunity builder. Consume one tablespoon full of honey along with a lemon juice from half lemon after mixing them in a warm cup of water, just before your breakfast every day. Continue this schedule for few days every morning and see the extraordinary health benefits of this magic liquid.
Sleeplessness
Take a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of honey to calm the soul and induce sleep. Or, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey to a cup of chamomile tea and sip.
Sore throats
Honey has antimicrobial properties that not only soothes throats but can also kill certain bacteria that cause the infection. Take a spoonful of honey to soothe the inflammation or gargle with a mixture of two tablespoons of honey, four tablespoons of lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
Home remedy
Honey is regarded as the best home remedy for many ailments like athlete foot, arthritis pain and yeast infection.
Cuts & Burns
- Honey has antiseptic properties that prevent the growth of bacteria and infection. It can absorb the moisture from the air so it can promote healing and is a fantastic first aid treatment for wounds, burns and cuts.
- Its antibacterial properties prevent infection and functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and pain, and even scarring. UMF Manuka is usually the preferred honey for the wound dressing.
Hangovers
Use this formula in case of the hangover from drinking alcohol.
15ml of liquid honey with 80ml of orange juice and 70ml of natural yogurt. Blend them together until smooth.
Honey is gentle on the stomach and contains a mix of natural sugars such fructose which is known to speed up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver, acting as a ‘sobering’ agent.
Honey and cinnamon remedy
This mixture is known from the ages to cure many ailments including the hair loss and bad breath.
Honey and lemon remedy
This combination can get you the weight loss. It is also a truth that you can also lose weight if you eat honey before going to bed.
Cholesterol fighter
Daily Honey consumption gets you rid of the cholesterol from your arteries thus saving you from the cardiovascular diseases and many other related ailments.
Physical energy
Give your kids the sandwiches of honey, butter and ham to provide the energy needed during the buzzing school activities.
Some more Honey benefits
- Honey is fat free and cholesterol free
- Honey is a natural sweetener which is flooded wioth antioxidants which gives us good health and longer lifespan.
How should I select the best honey?
Manuka honey has a higher than normal conductivity — about 4 times that of normal flower honeys. The higher the conductivity, the better the value of the honey.