Honey is more than something you add to your milk at night to ensure a good night’s sleep! In fact, people have, for centuries, used honey in their cooking and as a medicine. Traditional medicine to this day makes use of honey for several health issues. And science has proven practitioners of traditional medicine right – honey has many health benefits that most of us are unaware of.
What Are The Beneficial Properties Of Honey?
Besides the fact that honey is a pleasant topping to your morning toast, it also has many beneficial properties that could aid in sustaining your general health while also helping to deal with certain health issues.
It is a natural antibiotic due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide which has antibacterial properties. It also has a high sugar content which helps curb the growth of certain types of bacteria.
The low pH level in honey means honey is slightly acidic. This lower pH encourages oxygen release in the blood that, in turn, encourages the healing process.
Lastly, sugar has strong antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work at getting rid of toxins and free radicals in your body.
How Honey Maintains Your Health
So, now that we have established that a drizzle of honey is more than your breakfast toast topping, the question arises: how does honey maintain my health? Well, it does so in a number of ways.
Honey Lowers Cholesterol
Did you know that honey contains no cholesterol whatsoever? And that it contains antioxidant vitamins that may help decrease bad cholesterol in your body?
Honey Helps Maintain Skin Health
The antioxidant effect of honey helps clear toxins from your body that could cause a breakout. In addition to this, the antibacterial properties remove all impurities from your skin if used topically.
For a great topical honey application for a smooth, clear, moist skin try mixing a good dollop of honey with a tablespoon of oatmeal and patting it onto your skin. Leave this on for about twenty minutes, rinse off with lukewarm water, pat dry, and moisturize.
Honey Helps Heal Wounds
The various properties in honey help to promote wound healing. This is because if its amazing bioactive compounds, antibacterial properties, and unique pH balance.
So, the next time you have a situation where a wound has difficulty healing; do consider using honey before putting on your wound dressing.
Honey Promotes Sleep
The unique sugar compounds in honey help to increase your insulin levels and the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. So, the old wives’ tales are correct. A good dollop of honey in a glass of warm milk may very well help fight insomnia.
Honey Promotes Digestive Health
Stress and anxiety often affect your digestive health. If this happens, you may suffer from heartburn, indigestion, and even, in extreme cases, leaky gut.
Because of honey’s strong antioxidant and antiseptic properties, a spoonful on an empty stomach may help prevent the various digestion issues so many of us sit with. And, while the honey passes through your digestive tract, it also helps get rid of the bacteria that may irritate your intestines and help heal any wounds along the way.
Honey Fights Anxiety and Depression
Honey stimulates the release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin, which is often referred to as ‘the feel-good’ hormone, is an important neurochemical that helps with the working of your body’s neurons which sends messages to all parts of your body telling them what to do. It also promotes relaxation in the brain and gives you that great feeling you may also experience after eating chocolate. Because you feel good, you feel less anxious or depressed.
Honey Improves Heart Health
The antioxidant in honey may help prevent the buildup of plaque on your arteries. The narrowing of your arteries may result in heart failure. Incorporating honey into your daily diet may help with this issue.
Honey Improves Cognitive Function
Because the antioxidant properties of honey help prevent the narrowing of arteries, it thus helps increase blood flow to the brain. It also helps fight stress which may also impair memory function. Furthermore, honey contains calcium which helps with proper brain function.
Honey May Help With Weight Loss
While honey contains certain sugar compounds, they are not the same as those found in common sugar. Their composition may help boost your metabolism, making it work at processing foods, and thus burning fat as energy. So, instead of using sugar as a sweetener in your coffee or food, rather opt for honey. Besides helping increase your metabolic function, you get the benefit of its other wonderful properties as well.
A Word of Caution about Honey
Please remember that some people are allergic to the bee pollen in honey. Signs that you may have a honey allergy include swelling, breathing issues, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and a stinging or burning sensation where applying honey topically.
So, if you suspect you may be allergic to honey, please go see a doctor and have yourself tested. Also, if you have used honey and any of these symptoms crop up, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.
