Amazing Benefits of Honey
When a cup
of tea or a piece of toast is in need of some sweetness, honey often does the
trick. This deliciously sweet and sticky substance produced by bees can offer
you more health benefits than you might expect, and it’s
actually been used for centuries for its claimed healing
properties.
Despite the
fact that honey is just a natural form of simple sugar, it’s possible
to use it strategically to support a healthy weight and improve your
health overall. So if you thought that sugar was really all that bad for you,
think again.
Skeptical, but
curious to find out more? Here’re how this natural sweetener can help
you become healthier.
1. It
helps regulate your blood sugar.
Honey is a
simple sugar, but research has shown that it’s more
beneficial for the body than table sugar (for healthy adults at
least–perhaps not for diabetics). During the honey-making process, the bees
divide the honey molecules into glucose and fructose, which our bodies can
directly absorb for a gentler impact on blood sugar levels. With
table sugar (sucrose), however, our bodies have to work to separate the
molecules before using it as energy, causing blood sugar levels to
get a bigger jolt.
2. It
can promote the growth of good bacteria in your gut.
Research has shown that swapping out table sugar for honey can
help to prevent the harmful effects of bad bacteria in the intestine by
providing probiotics that increase good bacteria. To get the full
benefit of honey’s gut bacteria balancing power, however, you’ll need to select
a type of raw honey with the least amount of processing. Heating, filtering and
processing honey eliminates the enzymes and nutrients that make it such a
functional food for health.
3.
It may improve brain function.
Although
there’s very little research to back it up at the moment, raw honey is known to
contain naturally active compounds that can enhance memory and lower
anxiety. In a study on postmenopausal women who were given
tualang honey as a supplement, results showed improvements in immediate
memory. Despite these findings, more scientifically rigorous research is still
needed to determine with more precision how honey really impacts the brain
and nervous system.
4. It
can be used to soothe a sore throat or cough.
Honey has long
been used as a popular home remedy for the common cold because of its
natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. In a study conducted
on children aged two and up with respiratory tract infections, two teaspoons of
honey taken orally before bedtime was shown to have helped reduce
nighttime coughing and promote better sleep. Although safe for most adults
and children over one year old, honey should never be given to babies (due to
concerns of botulism).
5. It
can help you get a better night’s sleep.
If you
find that you never quite feel rested when it’s time to get up in the
morning, try drinking some milk or herbal tea with honey before bed. Consuming
a bit of honey prior to hitting the hay will cause a steady rise in
insulin along with a mood-boosting release of serotonin, which is then turned
into melatonin–the hormone responsible for sleep regulation. Your brain also
uses quite a lot of energy when you sleep, so a small amount of honey may help
improve your of sleep quality.
6. It
can give you an energy boost.
Carbohydrates
are your body’s main source of energy, and at 17 grams per tablespoon,
honey can give you a dense hit of simple carbs in the morning when you need to
wake up, before an intense workout, or any time of the day when you feel a bit
of a slump. You likely won’t need more than a tablespoon. Honey doesn’t have
any protein, fat or fiber to it, so stick to a very small portion to avoid insulin
spikes that could cause you to crash later on. It does, however, have as
many as 80 valuable nutrients to offer–including vitamins A, C, D, E, K
and all the B-complex plus essential minerals like calcium, magnesium,
potassium, zinc and others.
7. It
can aid in the healing process of wounds and burns.
For non-severe
burns and wounds of the skin, topical application of honey to the affected area
may help it heal faster and more effectively. It turns outthat honey’s acidity, hydrogen peroxide
content, osmotic effect, nutritional and antioxidant contents, stimulation of
immunity, and other compounds work together to promote new tissue growth and
minimize scarring. As long as a burn or wound is mild enough not to require
medical treatment from a professional, honey may be used as a
safe, effective and all natural healing remedy.
8. It
encourages you to cut down on table sugar so that you can
lose or maintain weight.
Per tablespoon,
honey is about 64 calories while standard sucrose (a.k.a. table sugar) is about
48 calories. Yikes, there’re more calories in honey than in regular sugar!
But it’s not all bad news. In fact, honey is much sweeter than regular
sugar, meaning that you need less of it than you would if you used sugar.
If you were to go by sweetness rather than by the tablespoon, you’d most
likely end up consuming less calories by choosing honey over sugar, which
is great for anyone who’s looking to shed a few pounds or avoid gaining any.
How to
Incorporate the Benefits of Honey Into Your Diet
Keep in mind
that raw honey is best for its rich nutrition, and when shopping around for
specific brands, make sure to go for the type that is extremely dark in color.
The darker the honey, the less processing it’s been through and the higher its
nutritional value.
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http://www.lifehack.org/369702/amazing-benefits-of-honey-5-refreshing-recipes?mid=20160309&ref=mail&uid=687414&feq=daily
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