Honey is a miracle substance with a laundry list of beneficial uses and properties. For thousands of years, people have used this natural sweetener as an ingredient in food to sweeten things up and also as a means to heal wounds and remedy other common ailments.
With so many different applications, you’ll easily find a way to utilize this miracle substance to better your life!
Continue reading for 21 amazing honey benefits:
1. It may prevent cancer
Found in this wonder ingredient are various antioxidants and flavonoids that can help reduce or prevent the occurrence of many different types of cancer!
A recent study observed its role in making a positive impact on the progression and development of cancer and tumors. Researchers identified phenolic acids and flavonoids present in this ingredient as the primary compounds accounting for its anti-cancer effects.
2. Reduces ulcers and other gastrointestinal conditions
Recent studies found that people treated with honey experienced beneficial effects from bacterial gastroenteritis and ulcers!
3. Increases athletic performance
Honey was consumed by the original Olympic Athletes in order to achieve enhanced performance! Modern science has verified their anecdotal results, finding that its consumption resulted in a heightened ability to maintain glycogen levels in muscles while also improving recovery times!
4. Reduces cough and throat irritation
Honey also helps calm a sore throat or annoying cough. In a recent study, a single dose of honey worked just as well at calming a cough as the common OTC cough medicine dextromethorphan.
It is especially effective when used on children that are kept up at night due to coughing; a spoonful before bed has been shown to stop coughing and keep children asleep throughout the night!
5. Probiotic
There are some types that contain friendly bacteria in large amounts, including 4 species of bifidobacteria and 6 of lactobacilli. This might help explain the many therapeutic honey benefits attributed to the substance.
6. Offers blood sugar regulation
When compared to other sweeteners, this miracle substance has a lower glycemic index. Therefore, eating it won’t cause such a strong insulin response. This is great news for diabetics as it offers up a better alternative to sugar! This lower insulin response is attributed to its different carbohydrate makeup, containing a combination of fructose and glucose.
7. Heals wound
When applied topically to a wound, this substance has proven very effective at promoting wound healing. It can be as effective even as traditional treatments with silver sulfadiazine! These results are typically attributed to the substance’s antibacterial properties in combination with the simple sugars drying out the affected area. This well-researched result serves as a proven method of healing a wound!
8. It is rich in antioxidants
When consumed in its unrefined and raw form, it contains a variety of essential nutrients and antioxidants. These all have many benefits of their own.
Studies looked at different varieties and found that some have a profound impact on antioxidant values in your blood! These antioxidants have been tied to a reduction in strokes, some types of cancer, and heart attacks!
9. Strengthens the immune system
The Manuka variety has been discovered to promote the creation of new immune cells, which is good news come winter!
10. Lowers blood pressure
Some of the antioxidants contained in this wonder ingredient have the ability to lower your blood sugar! Both human and animal studies have concluded that regular consumption results in a slight reduction in blood pressure!
11. Improves cholesterol
It can have a positive impact on your cholesterol levels! Research proves that regular consumption resulted in a marked reduction in “bad” cholesterol while greatly increasing “good” cholesterol!
Cholesterol plays a large role in the fatty buildup in your veins and arteries that can result in strokes and heart attack.
12. Improves heart health
Aside from its positive effects on blood pressure and cholesterol levels, its regular use results in improved blood flow as a result of the dilation of arteries in your heart. This can help to reduce your risk of having blood clots form. It also helps protect your heart from the condition known as oxidative stress!
13. It can lower triglycerides
Through the regular consumption of this wonder substance as an alternative to table sugar, lower blood triglyceride levels were achieved. High levels of blood triglycerides have been linked to heart disease, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes!
14. It promotes burn healing
Its application to a wound or partial-thickness burn results in improved healing times and a marked reduction in pain! It is believed that these results come from the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties available as well as the substances ability to provide nourishment to the tissues surrounding the infection.
The Manuka variety is considered the best for this application though more affordable options offer similar benefits.
15. It promotes healthy weight management
Studies show that regular consumption of this substance may result in noticeable weight loss! When used instead of sugar, lower blood sugar levels resulted and weight gain either slowed, halted, or reversed!
Another study found that its consumption may result in hormones activating which act as appetite suppressants! In the study, researchers measured the glycemic responses and appetite hormones of participants in order to come to this conclusion.
16. It is a natural energy source
It acts as an easy and immediate form of energy for the body, making it “the perfect running fuel.” Made up of 80% sugar, 18% water, and vitamins, minerals, pollen, and protein, this mix results in a great energy supplement to replenish lost glycogen.
Research on the substance concluded that honey probably serves as the best option for a carbohydrate to eat right before working out. Its performance-enhancing abilities are on par with, if not better than those of glucose, the sugar most commonly found in sports energy drinks.
17. It counteracts pollen allergies
It can act as an antibiotic of sorts against pollen allergies due to it containing bee pollen. Bee pollen can fight off infection, boost your immune system overall, and provide a natural reduction in allergy symptoms.
This is all achieved through a process known as immunotherapy. By consuming honey sourced locally to you, you are taking in small amounts of the pollen responsible for your allergy symptoms. By exposing yourself to the pollen in small amounts, your body builds up a sort of immunity to it, resulting in those susceptible to allergies experiencing reduced symptoms!
18. It is a sleep promoter
The wonder substance is known to promote better sleep in multiple ways. By consuming a small amount right before bed, your liver’s glycogen stores are restored and your brain is prevented from going into crisis mode searching for fuel, which often results in you being awoken from a good night’s sleep!
Also, this regular nightly consumption induces your body to release the hormone melatonin by slightly spiking your insulin levels, which then goes on to stimulate the brain’s release of tryptophan. Through the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin, then on to melatonin, these effects are achieved.
Aside from promoting healthy sleep, melatonin can also boost your immune system and will help in rebuilding damaged tissues during sleep.
By improving your sleep, your risk factor for such conditions as obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and heart disease go way down!
19. It can heal ulcers
The application of honey-infused bandages has proven an effective treatment for ulcers and wound healing in general. In numerous studies, it was found that this substance is a great natural antibacterial agent with awesome wound-healing properties! When this substance reacts with the other fluids in your body, hydrogen peroxide results, which creates an environment non-conducive to bacterial life!
Due to a much lower level of hydrogen peroxide concentrations at the wound site, when compared to other wound treatments, the chances of cytotoxic damage reduces substantially.
To treat a wound or burn, apply directly to the afflicted area or in bandages changed on a daily or 48-hour frequency. Sometimes, these treatments may remain in place for up to 25 days. Another effective treatment, honey and ghee together has been suggested and used to dress infected wounds in hospitals in Mumbai since 1991!
20. It can cure acne
It is very gentle on your skin. Use it as an excellent, all-natural, and affordable face cleanser in order to fight off signs of acne! To use, take half a teaspoon, rub it between your hands in order to warm it up and then spread it gently over your face. Let stand for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Pat your face dry and enjoy the honey benefits!
Honey is an effective and natural acne remedy.
21. Use it as a hair mask
Utilize it to significantly increase the shine of your hear by way of increasing hydration. By simply mixing 1 teaspoon of raw, unfiltered honey with 5 cups of warm water and then applying said mixture to your hair, you can enjoy this great benefit! After letting the mixture sit for a little while, rinse it out thoroughly and let your hair air dry before styling it.
You really can call honey a wonder substance. With so many amazing uses and healthy honey benefits, choose it as an alternative sweetener to table sugar. With a whole host of research available on its benefits to your health and well-being, and results matching up with claims, you’d make a huge mistake by not taking it up as a part of your daily beauty and cooking routine!
