Health Benefits of Honey

Honey has a long medicinal history. Discover the health benefits of one of the oldest sweeteners on earth, plus some interesting trivia, some great recipes and a few cautions. The ancient Egyptians not only made offerings of natural honey to their gods, they also used it as an embalming fluid and a dressing for wounds. If you are feeling low and lethargic in the morning, don't try those energy drinks. Instead have a toast with natural honey or add natural honey to your corn flakes. It will be refreshing for you.

Light colored honeys are generally milder in flavor while darker ones are more robust. Depending on the bees' nectar source, the color and flavor of honey may differ. There are currently more than 300 kinds of unique honey in the United States.

Here's the truth behind the claims about natural honey's health benefits

Helpful cancer and heart disease Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease.

Heal wounds and burns External application of natural honey has been shown to be as effective as conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazene. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and honey’s anti-bacterial nature combine to create this effect.

Enhance athletic performance Ancient Olympic athletes would eat honey and dried figs to enhance their performance. This has now been verified with modern studies, showing that it is superior in maintaining glycogen levels and improving recovery time than other sweeteners.

Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide, said Peter Molan, director of the Natural Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. Increases Antioxidant Level Eating honey leads to increase in the antioxidant levels, which are helpful in protecting cell damages caused by free radicals. The ability of the honey to increase the antioxidant level can be determined by the color itself-darker the natural honey, higher will be the antioxidant levels.

Beautiful skin Honey may also be good for your skin. It has the ability to attract water. It is also safe for sensitive skin. You can use it as a moisturizing mask for your skin as well as your hair. Its anti-bacterial qualities are particularly useful for the skin, and when used with the other ingredients, can also be moisturizing and nourishing! For a powerful home beauty treatment.

Reduce cough and throat irritation Honey helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey. In a study of 110 children, a single dose of buckwheat honey was just as effective as a single dose of dextromethorphan in relieving nocturnal cough and allowing proper sleep.

Blood sugar regulation It is known that honey has also been found to keep levels of blood sugar fairly constant compared to other types of sugar. So, it's time to include honey in your diet. Extra Power Before you go for a workout, take a spoon of honey to enable you to go for the extra mile.

Some Side Effects

Honey and Sugar Honey is a sugar, so do not eat jars full of it if you value your good health and want to maintain a healthy weight. It has a high caloric value and will put you on a sugar high and low cook with honey or not…when honey is heated above 108 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes transformed into a glue-like substance that is extremely difficult to digest. This substance is considered a toxin (ama), since it adheres to the tissues of the body and is very difficult to remove. (quote from the Ayurveda Wellness Center)