Honey Health Benefits

Honey is a sweet food made by bees from nectar of various flowers.It is a 100% natural sweetener,a miracle food which never goes bad. Bacteria cannot survive in honey because of its low water content and high acidic PH.

Honey is widely available and its health benefits are as numerous as its colours and tastes.

Honey has sugar mainly in the form of Fructose & Glucose.Because of the fructose, honey is sweeter than sugar. It has antioxidants,is fat & cholesterol free. It has minerals, vitamins and protein.

1 Tbsp honey has 64 calories . It has a lower Glycemic Index of 55 to the Glycemic Index of Sugar which is 61, which means it is absorbed into the blood slower than sugar and maintains a lower blood sugar level. This way the Pancreas are less stimulated to produce insulin. This in turn helps the immune system. Also a higher blood sugar level as triggered by sugar consumption leads to higher cholesterol levels, heart disease and obesity.

Honey, therefore, gives energy for a longer time as the sugar in honey is more slowly absorbed than in Sugar.

Honey kills bacteria because of the potassium in it. Hence it is very beneficial in Typhoid, Bronchopneumonia, and other bacterial diseases.

It has high Iron content thus cures anaemia. It has many minerals and elements like manganese, silica, calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sulohur, iodine, carotene etc.

Thus honey is a tonic and medicine both. Many times honey is used as a carrier for other medicines. Thus the health benefits of honey are numerous.

Serving Size 1 Tbsp (21grams)

Amounts per serving

Calories 64                                                                                             % Daily Values

Fat                                                             0 Grams                                          0%

Sodium                                                     0 mg                                                0 %

Total Carbohydrates                               17 grams                                        6%

Sugars 16 grams

Three main benefits of honey are:

1. It is a natural energy booster.

2. It builds immunity because of its antioxidant & antibacterial properties.

3. It is naturally beneficial in many ailments.

Precaution :

Honey should not be given to infants below the of 24 months as some honey contains low levels of naturally occurring Botulism spores, which bees collect along with the nectar. The spores are neither detectable nor removable during processing. The infant's digestive system is immature and not acidic enough to inhibit the toxins produced by these spores. Hence the caution.

However, Honey is safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers as their digestive system is capable of rendering the spores harmless by killing them in the intestines.

1. Put a few drops of honey in water. If the drops remain as they are and do not mix with water on their own it is pure. If the drops mix with water the honey is adulterated.

2. A cotton wick dipped in honey and lighted, stays alight.

3.If honey is poured on a honeybee so much the the bee is submerged by it, the honeybee comes out of it without the honey sticking to its wings and flies away.

4. A drop of honey poured on paper leaves no spot on the paper.

5. Pure honey solidifies in winter and liquifies in summer.

Store honey at a temperature of 70 degrees F to 80 degrees F in a dry place away from sunlight. Do not store in a refrigerator as cold temperature speeds up the process of granulation of the sugar in it.

Crystallisation or granulation of honey is not a sign of bad quality as over a period of  time all honey does so. Reheating the honey at a temperature of 50 deg F to 60 deg F liquifies it . Never boil honey.                                      

1. Asthma

Regular intake gives strength to the lungs, cures cough, dryness of the throat and removes phlegm.

2. Cough

Licking 12 gms honey 3 times a day removes phlegm and reduces cough.

3. Frost Bite

Applying and lightly rubbing honey on frost bitten body parts removes pain there in.

4. Burns and Injuries

Applied on burns and injuries it heals faster and does not leave scars.

5. Gout and Rheumatism

Consume honey regularly. It helps control pain.

6. Tiredness

Drinking water in which 2 spoons honey and juice of 1 lemon has been added removes tiredness and gives energy.

7. One sided Headache

Put a drop of honey in the nostril which is opposite to the side of the head pain is to relieve pain.

8. Migraine

Take 2 spoons honey with food everytime. It controls migraine pains. Anytime one has migraine pain take 2 spoons honey. It relieves pain.

9. Heart Tonic

Honey gives strength to the heart. Shortage of glycogen in the blood can cause fainting, in such cases 2 spoons honey can prevent one from fainting.

Due to cold or weakness if the heartbeat increases it can cause suffocation. Taking 2 spoons of honey gives strength to the heart.

Taking 1 spoon honey everyday strengthens the heart.

10. Insomnia

If insomnia is due to tension or tiredness then consumption of a concoction of juice of 1 lemon and 2 spoons honey in a glass of water brings on sleep.

If lemon is not available, just add 1 spoon of honey in a glass of water. It acts as a sedative bringing on sleep.

11. Obesity

To reduce weight, drink a glass of hot water to which a spoon of honey has been added.

12. To Increase Weight

Drink milk to which 2 spoons of honey has been added.

13. Cramps

2 spoons honey in water is beneficial in cramps.

14. Paralysis

In paralysis give the patient extra calcium. Boil 1 oz water, add 2 spoons honey to this. Drinking this after cooling makes enough calcium available to the patient. Continuing this for 3 to 4 weeks is helpful in paralysis.

15. Anaemia

Drink water with 1 spoon honey 3 times a day.

16. Blood Purifier

In eczema, boils, pruritus and other skin diseases add 40 gms honey to 300 ml water and drink this early morning for some months. It purifies blood and clears skin diseases.

17. Skin Diseases

Tying a a bandage on which honey has been applied, on the affected area relieves itching.

18. Hiccups

Add 2 spoons onion juice to 2 spoons honey and lick this. Relieves hiccups. In fact licking just honey too stops hiccups.

19. Pregnancy

Anaemia which is common in pregnancy is avoided by consuming 2 spoons honey daily. It also gives the much needed strength.

20. Teething Troubles

Massaging honey on the gums of infants who are teething makes dentition easier.

21. Cold & Influenza

Mix 30 gms honey and 2 spoons ginger juice in some hot water. Consume this to relieve cold.

In flu consuming honey kills the cough causing bacteria and reduces fever & headache.

As can be seen from some of the health benefits of honey mentioned here, it should be made a part of one's daily food.

Honey can be taken with milk, water, curd, tea, toast, vegetables, fruit juices, lemon etc. in fact it can be added to anything. In winter, add it to hot beverages and in summer to cold beverages and in the rainy season it can be taken as it is.

Never heat honey directly on fire. Also, adding honey to extremely hot things nullifies its benefits. Therefore honey must be taken with warm milk or water.

Caution :

Never consume honey with Ghee,oil , butter or oily things as in combination with them it literally becomes a poison.

Make honey a part of your daily diet, to derive the health benefits of honey.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this hub is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements.