The magical element called honey needs no introduction. You should know that while there are multiple uses of honey, it is widely regarded as a superfood in its own right. Honey is made by honeybees from plant nectar. It is a global delicacy for its flavours and taste while being used in several dishes at the same time. The colour and smell often vary along with the taste as well. Interestingly, it requires around 60,000 bees that travel a whopping 55,000 miles and cover 2 million flowers, to accumulate sufficient nectar for creating a pound of honey. If you were thinking what is honey, then your question has probably been answered by now.
Learn more about its benefits in this article.Â
Nutritional Value of Honey
You may choose regular honey or organic honey, depending on their nutritional levels. A teaspoon of 20 grams will have 61 honey calories. Besides, honey contains the following nutrients:
- Carbohydrates
- Copper
- Riboflavin
- Sugar
It is pure sugar with trace fiber and protein along with some honey vitamins and other minerals. It also comes with polyphenols.
Healthstory: 10 Unique Health Benefits Of Honey – Healthstory (livlong.com)
Top 12 Benefits of Honey
Here is a list of the biggest health benefits of honey that you should know more about:
1. Helps Manage Weight
One of the biggest benefits of eating honey is that it helps considerably with weight management. Honey burns fat even during sleep. It is great for long-term weight loss while you can try consuming it with warm water on an empty stomach regularly for this purpose.
Honey stimulates the metabolism which helps the body burn fat swiftly.
2. Boosts Immunity
Honey comes with various medicinal attributes which help in curing cough, cold and sore throats. It also contains anti-bacterial agents and antioxidants which help in tackling several kinds of infections. The antioxidant count is the highest for buckwheat honey and it can enhance immunity greatly for the future.Â
3. Good for the Face and Skin
Honey has been used for skin health over decades now. It is known for its nourishing and moisturizing features. It helps in tackling dry skin while helping unclog blocked skin pores. It also helps in curing chapped or cracked lips in the winter season. It also helps in correcting skin tone and treats bruises, wounds, burns and cuts.Â
4. Good for Memory
Honey is one of the magical foods that help in boosting overall concentration and memory. Honey scales up brain power considerably while keeping metabolic stress away as well. It has several antioxidants and healing attributes which enable prevention of memory loss for the long haul.Â
5. Reduces Cough
Honey is one of the best natural and home elements for reducing dry and wet cough alike. A tablespoon will help in lowering throat irritation considerably while enabling good sleep simultaneously.Â
6. Lowers Dandruff
Honey is an excellent solution for dandruff issues. It nourishes dry hair while ensuring smoothness and softness alike. This is one of the biggest advantages of using honey.Â
7. Heals Wounds
Honey has antiseptic and antifungal attributes which help in quicker wound healing. Honey eliminates bacteria thriving at sites of wounds and infections. So, this is another amazing benefit of using honey. Â
8. Helps You Sleep Naturally
Also note that honey eliminates sleeping troubles, enabling easier and more comfortable sleep. Try a combination of honey and warm milk just before going to bed and you will experience the results for yourself.Â
9. Tackles Sinus Related Issues
Honey helps in safeguarding the respiratory system from various types of infections and allergies. Honey helps in working as a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent which combats infections and lowers overall inflammation levels considerably. It helps in soothing the throat and lowering overall cough and cold. It also works as an immunity booster.Â
10. Reduces Gum Disease
Honey comes with healing attributes for infections and several anti-bacterial properties. It also helps in curing gum and tooth disorders such as bleeding, gingivitis and plaque. It also helps in the release of antiseptic hydrogen peroxide which helps in limiting bacterial growth.Â
11. Gives You Energy
Honey is a great natural energy source and contains unprocessed sugar which can directly get into the bloodstream, giving you a massive energy boost, enabling higher endurance simultaneously.Â
12. Controls and Combats Eczema
Eczema is a condition that is characterized by flaky and itchy skin which leads to major discomfort for people. Honey can help in tackling the issue, naturally cleansing the skin of impurities and smoothening it considerably. It also helps with skin exfoliation and keeps eczema from recurring once again.Â
Honey Side Effects
Honey has several side effects for people in rare cases:Â
- Infant BotulismÂ
- Wheezing
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fainting
- High Perspiration
- Weakness
- Arrhythmia
The Bottom Line
Honey comes with several health benefits that make it an excellent natural healer and immunity booster. Honey comes with several attributes including better hair and skin health along with enabling weight loss as well. You should consume honey on a regular basis in order to get these benefits and strengthen your immune system.Â
FAQs
What are the benefits of honey?
Honey has several benefits, containing rich antioxidants and offering anti-fungal and anti-bacterial attributes in tandem with contributing towards wound healing and soothing cough and sore throat alike.Â
How much honey can I eat a day?
You can take a maximum of nine teaspoons of honey each day if you are a man. Women and children should consume a maximum of six teaspoons daily. This works out to roughly 36 grams and 24 grams respectively.Â
When should I take honey?
You should take it on an empty stomach in the morning for weight loss, energy and other benefits. You can consume it with some warm water as a healthy habit each day. You can also consume it with warm milk or consume a spoonful just before going to sleep every night.Â
What are the negative effects of honey?
Honey does have some side effects owing to its high sugar content. Some other side effects include resistance to insulin, obesity, heart ailments, liver ailments and the like. These are however rare and only affect some individuals.Â
What happens if we eat honey daily?
Eating a couple of tablespoons of honey each day will naturally ensure health advantages galore. You will get an immunity boost along with help with weight loss along with improved hair and skin health. Honey also comes with wound healing properties.Â