Honey has been valued as a natural sweetener long before sugar became widely available in the 16th century. Honey production flourished in ancient Greece and Sicily, for instance, while animals other than humans – bears, badgers, and more – have long raided honeybee hives, risking stings for the sweet reward.1
Honey is truly a remarkable substance, made even more extraordinary by the process with which it is made. This blend of sugar, trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids is quite unlike any other sweetener on the planet.
And while honey is high in fructose, it has many health benefits when used in moderation.
1. Honey Improves Your Scalp
Honey diluted with a bit of warm water was shown to significantly improve seborrheic dermatitis, which is a scalp condition that causes dandruff and itching. After applying the solution every other day for four weeks, "all of the patients responded markedly." According to the researchers:9
"Itching was relieved and scaling was disappeared within one week. Skin lesions were healed and disappeared completely within 2 weeks. In addition, patients showed subjective improvement in hair loss."
2. Cancer fighter
"Crude honey is a promising candidate for colon cancer prevention thanks to its phenolic compounds," says honey researcher Professor Mahitosh Mandal. Phenols are potent antioxidants that appear to have protective effects on various types of cancer, as well rheumatoid diseases. Manuka honey is currently being trialled in New Zealand for its effects on skin cancer and, in Israel, dosing cancer patients with honey has alleviated the side effects of chemotherapy.
3.Anti-inflammatory
Mother always said honey was good for a sore throat, and she was right. For a sore throat, a spoonful of honey taken every few hours can alleviate symptoms. Apart from containing anti-bacterial substances, honey can also soothe all manner of other inflammations. "Research shows that the potent anti-inflammatory activity of honey can counteract gastritis, an inflammation in the stomach, as well as stomach ulcers," says Dr Molan.
4.Healthier Stomach
Honey is a strong antiseptic, so it’s recommended to eat a spoonful of honey on an empty stomach. This simple ritual helps to prevent various diseases associated with the digestive tract. Besides, while passing through the stomach, honey destroys germs and heals small wounds in the mucous membrane.
5. Cough remedy
A study at Penn State College of Medicine in the USA has demonstrated that honey is a far more effective remedy for coughs than over-the-counter cough medicines. Dr Ian Paul followed 105 children with respiratory tract infections, giving some honey and others dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in most cough medicines. The honey takers had fewer coughing fits, better sleep and none of the side effects associated with the medicine.
6. Honey Can Lower Triglycerides
Elevated blood triglycerides are another major risk factor for heart disease. They are also a key sign of insulin resistance, a major driver of type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels tend to increase on a diet that is high in sugar and refined carbs.
Interestingly, multiple studies have linked regular honey consumption with lower triglyceride levels, especially when it is used to replace sugar. For example, one study that compared honey and sugar found 11-19% lower triglyceride levels in the honey group.
BOTTOM LINE:
Elevated triglycerides are a risk factor for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Several studies show that honey can lower triglyceride levels, especially when it is being used to replace sugar.
7. Honey Promotes Burn and Wound Healing
Applying honey to the skin has been used to heal wounds and burns since ancient Egypt, and is still being used today. In one review from 2015, 26 studies on honey and wound care were evaluated.
This review found that it is most effective at healing partial thickness burns and wounds that have become infected after surgery. It is also an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, which are very serious complications and can lead to amputation.
One study reported a 43.3% success rate with honey as a wound treatment. In another study, topical honey healed a whopping 97% of patients being treated for their diabetic ulcers.
Researchers believe that its healing powers come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as its ability to nourish the surrounding tissue. What's more, it can help treat other skin conditions, including psoriasis, hemorrhoids and herpes lesions.
8. Germ killer
Studies show that wounds heal more rapidly when dressed with honey. It's thought the acid in honey retards bacterial growth, while its moisture-attracting properties dehydrate bacterial cells. Honey also releases hydrogen peroxide, the same antibacterial found in bleach. "Manuka honey is used in registered wound-care products in some hospitals, and certainly beats off-the-shelf antiseptic cream," says Dr Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato.
Source:bodyandsoul, brightside
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