Did you know that there were 2.80 million bee colonies making honey in 2018? This number seems high, but it’s true.
Honey tastes amazing, and we have all of these colonies to thank. But, how is honey good for you if it tastes so smooth? We’ve done our research and have the top ten benefits of honey that may well persuade you to go over to somewhere like Gold Bee and get some of their raw, organic, Fairtrade honey for yourself once you’ve finished reading.
Keep reading to find out more excuses to keep enjoying honey
1. Honey Has Antioxidants
Like many other unsuspecting foods, honey has many antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that have been found to prevent or slow the process of cell damage that is caused by free radicals. They do this by preventing oxidation.
Because they prevent cell damage, antioxidants have been linked to a reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and other poor health outcomes.
Honey has organic acids and phenolic compounds. One of these phenolic compounds by the name of flavinoids is particularly well-known for being found in honey. All of these substances together gives honey its antioxidant power.
2. Honey Has Vitamins and Minerals
Honey has several different vitamins and minerals. Vitamins in honey include ascorbic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin. Minerals in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
Vitamins and minerals are essential in any diet. Together, these essentials boost your immune system, heal wounds, and assist in running other bodily functions.
Without enough vitamins and minerals, the human body can develop skin disorders, digestive issues, bone stunting, dementia, or other similar issues.
3. Honey Can Lower Blood Pressure
Because of those wonderful antioxidants that have been found in honey, honey may lower blood pressure. Antioxidants have been found to lower blood pressure themselves.
Since honey has antioxidants, it may also lower blood pressure.
High blood pressure is linked to multiple cardiac issues like acute coronary syndrome and heart attacks. By lowering your blood pressure, you can avoid having cardiac and vessel issues like these.
4. Honey Can Lower Bad Cholesterol
Honey has been found to lower bad cholesterol, which is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. While doing this, it also increases good cholesterol, which is known as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
This kind of cholesterol has been linked to atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of fat in your arteries. If fat builds up too much, heart attacks or other cardiac issues can follow.
The most serious of these issues is heart disease, which is a long-term cardiac issue. Believe it or not, something as good as honey has been linked to preventing all of these issues.
5. Honey Can Lower Triglycerides
Many research studies have been done to explore honey as a replacement for sugar. Since it’s sweet, it can be a healthier replacement.
Scientists have found that people who regularly consume honey as a replacement for sugar have lower triglyceride levels.
High triglyceride levels are linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome. These put you at a higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.
6. Honey Can Promote Healing
If you apply honey to burns and cuts on your skin, it could help make the healing process move faster. This fact may not be new to you as this is a home remedy that has been used since the times of ancient Egypt.
Honey has been proven to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These advantageous properties are why honey as a topical treatment is so effective.
Next time you have a burn or wound, just slab on some honey. You’d be surprised what raw honey can do for it.
7. Honey Can Suppress Coughs
If your young child is coughing and you’re at a loss to do, just give them a spoonful of honey. Surprisingly, this great-tasting treat has been shown to suppress coughing and induce sleep.
This is a great solution for children who are too young to have actual cough medication or children who refuse to take traditional cough medication. The taste is great and it’s nutritious.
Honey will also help your children fall asleep naturally. Everyone knows how hard it is to get a sick child to lay down willingly. You don’t have to worry about this with honey.
This two-in-one remedy is bound to help parents when their sick children become too much to handle.
8. Honey Is Soothing and Smoothing
Many hair and skin products have honey in them. This is because honey is associated with soothing and smoothing properties.
Honey’s consistency is perfect for everything from lip balms to shampoos. Honey also helps the skin and hair absorb moisture.
The smell of honey also contributes to cosmetic companies’ uses of honey. The subtle sweet smell is perfect for hair and skin products, especially for the female-geared beauty industry.
9. Honey Prevents Acid Reflux
Honey has a thick consistency that is great for lining the esophagus and stomach as you’re digesting it. By doing this, honey prevents the regurgitation of acid by the stomach. This also prevents undigested food from coming back up.
Individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, struggle with acid reflux daily. These patients would see great positive changes by adding honey to their diet
If you’re beginning to feel nauseous or struggle with cyclic nausea, honey could be the answer for you. By simply swallowing honey, you can help reduce nausea and vomiting episodes.
10. Honey Helps Fight Infections
Honey has a protein by the name of defensin-1. Scientists have found that this protein assists in killing bacteria in different infections.
Certain types of honey have been found to fight off methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections as well as Clostridium difficile (C. diff.).
While much research has been done on this topic, much research is still left to be done. So far, honey seems very promising for fighting off and even reversing infections.
So, How Is Honey Good For You?
You may still be asking the question: how is honey good for you? To put it simply, honey is good for you in a variety of ways. From it’s nutrients to its antioxidants, honey has so many known health benefits.
If you’re interested in learning about other foods, feel free to peruse the rest of our blog.
