Honey is centuries old, potentially dating back to 2100BC when the first honey bees are thought to have originated from South Asia. Honey could be described as the ‘Nectar of the Gods’ for its historic uses for health, vitality, medicine, and beauty. In its most simple form, it is a healthy and characteristic natural sweetener; it is a widely used alternative to cane sugar. We should really appreciate the level of work put in by the amazing bees that produce our honey worldwide- it is thought that it may take around 160,000 bees to produce just one pound of honey! It is also almost guaranteed that as a child if you had a cold or a sore throat you were mixed up a concoction of honey and lemon to treat your symptoms! Honey is one of those foods that you either love or hate- its flavor is distinct. Here we take a little closer look at honey and its benefits.
#1
Honey has been used as a sweetener and preservative throughout human history. But who knew such a sweet, sugary substance could be so good for you? While we all know a sweet treat is good for the soul, honey has incredibly positive effects on the human body that we probably never think about when dripping some over our morning waffles.
Without further ado, here are some ways eating honey can have a positive effect on your health and your body:
#2 Energy Booster
Ever feel like lying your head down on your desk at work after lunch because you’re feeling completely zapped? How about trouble getting moving in the morning?
Yes, our energy can surely fluctuate, so anytime we can utilize a natural energy booster, it’s certainly a win-win.
Because of its high carbohydrate load, honey is a wonderful source of unprocessed sugar energy.The glucose and fructose hit the bloodstream quickly, which gives you the boost you need to get moving.It’s a great way to start off a long exercise regimen.
Otherwise, include it with your breakfast every morning to give you the boost you need.
A great idea is to add a spoonful to a cup of hot tea, as well as cutting back on your coffee consumption; too much coffee does not really give you an energy boost.
You can also make some iced tea for the afternoon and sweeten it with a tablespoon of honey.
Heck, you might as well just carry a little jar with you to have on hand.Just take one to two tablespoons of raw honey per day and keep it moving.
#3 Reduces a cough and throat irritation
It helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey. In a study of 105 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.
#4 Stave off cancer
Honey contains various flavonoids, which reduce the risk of some cancers. However, this has not been clinically proven to reduce the risk of all cancers; but it has shown significant effects in some smokers and women.
#5 Alleviates Allergies
Honey’s anti-inflammatory effects and ability to soothe coughs has led to the belief it can also reduce seasonal allergy symptoms. Although there are no clinical studies proving its efficacy, Dr. Matthew Brennecke, a board certified naturopathic doctor practicing at the Rocky Mountain Wellness Center in Fort Collins, Colo., told Medical Daily in an email, "A common theory is that honey acts like a natural vaccine." It contains small amounts of pollen, which if the body is exposed to small amounts of it, it can trigger an immune response that produces antibodies to the pollen. "After repeated exposure, you should build up these antibodies and the body should become accustomed to their presence so that less histamine is released, resulting in a lesser allergic response."
#6 Healing Power of Honey
The renowned UMF Manuka honey, perhaps the tastiest natural medicine, is commonly cited in many discussions on health benefits of honey. This honey not only fights infection and aids tissue healing but also helps reduce inflammation and scarring. In addition, it is often used for treating digestive problems such as diarrhea, indigestion, stomach ulcers and gastroenteritis. The page, titled "In What Ways have
You Experienced the Benefits of Honey?" is filled with eye-popping testimonies about the healing power of honey. I've lost count of the number of times I have accessed that page, but the stories posted there never cease to move and amaze me over and over again. With more and more health experts and theories, such as the Hibernation Diet, supporting its benefits, this oldest natural sweetener just keeps getting better.
#7 Acne Treatment
Acne can be treated with honey, believe experts from the University of Oklahoma. The fact that honey has unique healing properties is not a secret. One teaspoon of honey reduces pain in the throat, and even can calm nerves. Dr. Sarah Maddox from the University of Oklahoma explains that the nutrients contained in the honey helps against various inflammations of the skin.
This refers to acne. The scientists say that honey may be more effective than medical treatment. When we have skin inflammation appears bacteria and honey is able to contribute to stop the formation of microorganisms. Honey nectar contains folic acid, which contributes to the production of antibodies.
#9 Weight Loss
Despite the fact that honey possesses a larger amount of calories than sugar, it efficiently aid digestion to get rid of fat stored in body. For better effect, you can use the mixture of this ingredient and lemon juice or cinnamon.
#9 Helps with Dandruff
The good news is that researchers have found that when you apply a diluted solution of honey and water to the scalp and leave it on for a few hours, your scalp will get back to its healthy self in no time.In fact, some people report that skin lesions completely heal after just a couple weeks of this remedy; others say that they saw an improvement in avoiding hair loss as well.
Honey works so well with scalp issues because of its antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.So feel free to lather up your head with some local honey and receive this deep type of conditioning for the scalp so that you won’t have to worry about dry, flaky scalp any longer.
You can even use honey if you don’t have any scalp issues; it will simply moisturize and give your hair a wonderful conditioning.