As you already know, honey is a natural substance produced by bees. It is one of the oldest sweeteners in our history and it has been used for centuries mostly for its nutritional value, health benefits, and medical applications. Most of the benefits you can get from it come from unpasteurized and raw honey – no matter if you eat one spoon a day or use it to prepare meals, you will be able to reap a wide range of health benefits from it. In the text below, you will be able to read about 10 reasons to include honey in your diet. Let’s take a closer look.
- It is Rich in Antioxidants
This sweet substance contains a wide range of plant chemicals that work in a similar manner as antioxidants. Some types of it have as many antioxidants as raw veggies and fruits. The antioxidants found in honey will help you protect your body from cell damage that occurs from free radicals. The free radicals in your body play a big part in the aging process and it can cause chronic illnesses such as heart disease or cancer. So, the antioxidant called polyphenol can prevent you from developing heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
- It Prevents Acid Reflux
A study conducted recently suggests that consuming this natural substance can reduce acid reflux by lining your stomach with your esophagus. By doing so, it will help reduce the possibility of developing GERD – which is an abbreviation for GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease – which could cause annoying and possibly dangerous conditions including acid reflux, heartburn, and inflammation. The study also stated that it might help with disorders like bacterial gastroenteritis and ulcers.
- Reduces Throat Inflammation and Irritation That Leads to Coughing
Honey will help with throat irritation and coughs. And if you find yourself in this situation, doctors suggest consuming honey made from buckwheat. In a research that included 105 kids, a single dose of honey worked in the same way as a dose of cough syrup that is used for alleviating coughs. This means that in some situations it can be used as a natural remedy for nocturnal coughs which allow proper sleep.
- It Can Improve Cholesterol Profiles
If you want to improve your cholesterol levels, doctors suggest mixing 250 milliliters of water with 75 grams of honey. In order for the solution to work, you will want to stick with it for at least two weeks. It can lower the LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol which is bad for your health, and improve the HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol which is good for your body. In other words, this is a medicine-free way to improve your cholesterol.
- It Can Boost The Healing Process
If you cut or burn yourself, GiftWits recommends using Manuka honey to treat your wounds. Manuka honey acts as a germ killer and it also boosts tissue regeneration, which in return makes the healing process faster. It will also reduce the chances of you developing an infection from your wound.
- It Can Replace Added Sugar in Your Diet
If your goal is to lead a more healthy life or if you simply want to try something new, the sweet honey flavor can make a great alternative to sugar. As you already know, added sugar has more calories that have no nutritional values. This situation can cause weight gain, which can in return, cause conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. By adding honey to your drink and food, you will get a healthy sweetener that will not negatively impact your wellbeing. However, although it is a natural ingredient, keep in mind that ingesting too much honey is also not healthy.
- Acts as a Probiotic and Strengthens the Immune System
Some types of honey have large concentrations of friendly bacteria including six types of lactobacilli and four types of bifidobacteria. This actually explains why honey has a wide range of therapeutic and health benefits. It also stimulates the production of immune cells which will improve and straighten your immune system, especially during the cold, winter days. Keep in mind that different types will have different flavors and this factor will depend on the flower used for creating the honey. However, if you want to gain most of the health benefits from this list, you should opt for Manuka or buckwheat honey.
- It Can Treat An Acne Breakout
The antimicrobial characteristics of honey can easily reduce inflammation caused by an acne breakout. If you want to create a natural acne remedy at your home, you should make a mixture containing ground nutmeg and honey, leave it for 20 minutes on your face and then wash it off with lukewarm water. This is only one of the hundreds of recipes that contain honey used for alleviating acne
- Can Improve the Look and Feel of Your Skin
As mentioned in the previous benefit, honey has antimicrobial properties – however, you can also use it for nourishing and moisturizing your entire skin, not only your face. For example, a carrot/honey mixture is both easy to make and inexpensive. All you need is 2 carrots, 1 spoon of honey, 1 spoon of olive oil, and 1 lemon. Mix the ingredients together and apply it to the area you want to treat. You should be aware that this mixture can cost you from 40 to 140 dollars if you go to a spa center.
- It Can Increase The Performance of Athletes
In ancient Greece, Olympic athletes used to eat honey with dried figs to boost the performance levels. Modern studies confirmed that this actually worked for them, and showed that it was good for maintaining glucose amounts, as well as boosting the recovery time compared to some other ingredients and sweeteners.
Conclusion
Honey is one of the most beneficial ingredients created by nature. It will not only help you improve your health and overall wellbeing, but there are absolutely no risks in consuming honey. So, now that you know what health benefits honey can bring you, do not waste any more time and start creating a diet plan which includes this delicious yet super-healthy product!
