9 Benefits of honey for health

Honey has nutritional and therapeutic properties beneficial to health. It is rich in antioxidants that protect the body and heart from aging, helps lower blood pressure, lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels, has properties against bacteria, fungi and viruses, fights sore throats and coughs and can be used as a natural sweetener.

Despite all these benefits honey should be consumed in moderation, as it is rich in calories and sugar.

9 Benefits of honey for health

Substituting honey for sugar in some foods helps to keep blood sugar levels stable and can bring great health benefits. Some of these are:

1. Increases the body’s defenses

The compounds present in honey provide an antioxidant characteristic that helps protect the body. Among the benefits are the reduction of the risk of heart attack and stroke, promotion of eye health, as well as helping in the treatment of some types of cancer, such as kidney cancer, preventing the multiplication of cancer cells.

2. Improves heart health

Honey brings benefits to heart health as it is able to increase blood flow and reduce the formation of clots. This process helps to lower blood pressure, preventing heart disease.

3. Improves cholesterol and lowers triglycerides

Honey is a good ally in the treatment of high cholesterol, as it lowers the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the good cholesterol (HDL) in the body.

In addition, honey can help lower triglyceride levels because it can be used as a sugar substitute. Generally, diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates lead to an increase in triglyceride levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

4. Combats bacteria and fungi in wounds

Honey has properties that reduce healing time, since it is able to sterilize wounds, reduces pain, odor and size, thus promoting healing. Therefore, it is considered effective and even better than some curatives.

It can also be a good choice for treating diabetic foot ulcers, as it fights germs and aids in tissue regeneration. Honey has also been used to heal oral and genital herpes lesions, as it reduces itching and works like some ointments you can buy at the drugstore.

It can treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, ulcers and long-term wounds after surgery and burns. 

5. Relieves sore throat, asthma and cough

Honey reduces inflammation of the throat and lungs, being efficient even in cases of flu and cold, improving sleep. 

It is recommended to take 2 teaspoons of honey before going to sleep, as the sweet stimulates the production of saliva. This improves the mucous membrane of the throat protecting against irritation, reducing and relieving cough, being, in many cases safer and more effective than some syrups.  

6. Improves gastrointestinal health

Honey is a very potent probiotic that nourishes the good bacteria living in the gut, as well as being beneficial for digestion and overall health. It can also be used to treat digestive problems, such as diarrhea and is effective in treating infections caused by Helicobacter pylori, responsible for gastric ulcers.

Likewise, honey tea can be prepared with cinnamon which helps fight poor digestion, as these two natural foods help improve the digestive process as a whole.

7. Improves memory and anxiety

The use of honey as a sugar substitute is associated with improved memory and anxiety levels. In addition, studies indicate that honey can also improve memory in menopausal and postmenopausal women.

8. Helps treat hemorrhoids

Honey has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and healing properties that reduce bleeding, relieve pain and itching caused by hemorrhoids. To do this, it is necessary to mix olive oil and beeswax, then apply to the area.

9. Combats obesity

Due to its properties, honey improves the levels of sugar and fat in the blood, reducing the state of inflammation and helping to maintain weight.

Nutritional information of honey

The table below contains the nutritional information for 100 g and for 1 teaspoon of honey.

It is important to remember thatHoney is not recommended for children under 3 years of age due to the immaturity of their intestine because it does not prevent the entry of small microorganisms present in honey that can cause infections. 

Honey contraindications

Although honey possesses great benefits, there are some restrictions and contraindications for some people, in some situations such as:

  • Children under 1 year of age: until the first year of age, as the child’s digestive system may not be fully developed and immature, it does not defend itself efficiently from foreign bodies. So there is a high risk of severe botulism poisoning by a bacterium found in honey.
  • Diabetics: Diabetics should avoid honey, as it is a simple carbohydrate that rapidly raises blood glucose, being harmful to diabetics.
  • Allergy sufferers: Sensitive people with a tendency to make allergies may develop allergic reactions manifesting gastric discomfort and even stomach pain due to pollen grains present in honey. 
  • Fructose intolerance: this occurs when the intestine cannot digest fructose, a type of sugar that is present in honey and in some foods such as fruits, vegetables and some industrialized products containing additives such as fructose syrup. Know how the diet should be.

    • Therefore, in case of not presenting any contraindication, and observing the benefits of honey, this food is a good ally and adding it to the daily diet can be a good choice.

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