Honey is commonly used as a food and medicine. It is especially good for health when used as a substitute for table sugar. Here are the top health benefits of honey.
Honey contains nutrients that are beneficial to health.
Honey is a sweet liquid made from nectar of flowers, collected and produced by bees through a unique process. The taste and color of honey depends on the type of flowers from which they collect nectar.
Nutritionally, one tablespoon of honey (21 grams) contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar (including fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose). It contains almost no fiber, fat, or protein. It also contains less than 1% of the daily recommended intake of vitamins and minerals.
Light-colored honeys contain higher levels of bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants, which are even higher in darker honeys.
Raw honey is rich in antioxidants
Raw honey contains many important antioxidants such as organic acids and phenolic compounds (flavonoids, ...). The combination of these compounds gives honey its antioxidant properties.
Pure honey is rich in antioxidants - Photo: Internet
Buckwheat honey has been shown to increase blood oxygen levels, a type of antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and certain cancers. It also helps maintain healthy eyes.
Using honey instead of sugar helps improve diabetes
Honey has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes. It can reduce bad LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, inflammation and increase good HDL cholesterol. However, honey also raises blood sugar levels, but to a lesser extent than table sugar.
Although honey does not affect blood sugar levels as much as table sugar, it still needs to be used with caution in people with type 2 diabetes. In fact, to minimize the condition, people with diabetes should limit foods rich in carbs.
Note that there are still honey products on the market that are mixed with regular syrup. Although labeled as honey, they are high in sugar and do not have the full nutritional value of pure honey.
Antioxidants in honey help lower blood pressure
Honey contains antioxidants that may help lower blood pressure. Studies in both rats and humans have shown that honey can help lower blood pressure modestly.
Hypotension is one of the complications that can occur after endotracheal anesthesia.
The antioxidant components in honey help lower blood pressure.
Honey helps improve cholesterol
High LDL cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for heart disease. They are a major cause of atherosclerosis, a fatty buildup in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Honey improves cholesterol levels by reducing total LDL cholesterol and significantly increasing HDL cholesterol. A study in 55 patients compared honey to table sugar and found that honey reduced LDL by 5.8%, increased HDL cholesterol by 3.3%, and caused a slight weight loss of 1.3%.
Honey helps reduce triglyceride levels
Elevated blood triglycerides are another risk factor for heart disease. They are also linked to insulin resistance, a major cause of type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels tend to increase on diets high in sugar and refined carbs.
Regular consumption of honey, especially as a substitute for table sugar, may reduce triglyceride levels. One study comparing the triglyceride levels of honey and sugar found that the triglyceride levels in honey were 11–19% lower than those in table sugar.
Antioxidants in honey benefit heart health
Honey is rich in phenols and other antioxidant compounds. Many of these substances have the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Antioxidant compounds help dilate the arteries in the heart, increasing blood flow to the heart. They may also help prevent blood clots from forming, which can cause heart attacks and strokes.
A study in mice found that honey protected the heart from oxidative stress. There are currently no long-term studies on the effects of honey on heart health.
Honey helps heal wounds quickly
The use of honey in the topical treatment of wounds and burns has been used since Egyptian times and is still commonly used today.
Honey is effective in healing extensive burns and deep, infected wounds after surgery with a success rate of up to 43.3%.
Honey is also an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, a serious complication that can lead to amputation, with a healing rate of up to 97%.
Researchers believe that honey's wound-healing ability comes from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects as well as its ability to nourish the tissues surrounding damaged organs.
Honey also helps treat other skin conditions such as psoriasis and herpes lesions. Manuka honey is especially effective in treating burns.
Honey helps reduce cough in children
Cough is a common symptom in children with upper respiratory tract infections. It can affect sleep and quality of life for both the child and the family.
Cough medicines are not always effective and can even have side effects. Honey may be a better alternative to medicines, with convincing evidence supporting its effectiveness in treating coughs.
Studies show that honey works better than some common cough medicines and reduces cough symptoms and improves sleep more than cough medicines.
Photo: Internet
Note that honey is contraindicated in children under 1 year of age due to the risk of poisoning.
Note: Honey still contains high calories and sugar, so use it wisely.
Honey is a delicious, healthier alternative to sugar. Look for reputable brands of honey, as some may be mixed with syrups that can degrade the quality of the honey.
Honey should be consumed in moderation as it is still high in calories and sugar. Its benefits are best seen when used as a substitute for unhealthy sweeteners. When consumed at night, honey is simply a healthier sweetener than high fructose corn syrup and sugar.
Reference source: Healthline.com