The benefits of honey

The benefits of honey for health 

Honey is one food that is often associated with various health benefits. In various cultures over the centuries, this sweet liquid has been used for many medicinal purposes. One of the best known is the use of honey in Ayurvedic medicine in-between as a remedy for digestion and imbalance in the body

A finding published in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences in 2013 also showed that honey has been used by humans since 8,000 years ago. Even today, honey is still believed to have many benefits for the body. But, what are the benefits of honey that have been scientifically proven? 

1. Energy booster Honey is a thick, sweet liquid made by bees. 

Bees collect sugar from flower nectar in their environment. The end product is honey, which is a liquid that serves as a food reserve for the bees. Summarizing from Healthline, nutritionally, one tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar including fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose. This content makes honey a good source of energy. The glucose in honey can be absorbed by the body quickly and provides an immediate energy boost. Meanwhile, fructose provides sustainable energy because it is absorbed more slowly. Honey was also found to keep blood sugar levels fairly constant compared to other types of sugar.

2. Treat coughs 

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that consumption of two teaspoons of honey can help cure a persistent cough. This is known due to the anti-microbial properties in honey which can kill certain bacteria. Another study involving 139 children found that honey can relieve coughs at night and improve sleep quality compared to cough medicines for children. Summarizing from CNN, other studies in Italy and Israel also showed similar results even though they used different types of honey. Even so, honey should not be given to children under one year of age. This is because the baby's digestive system cannot handle the contamination in honey

3. Make sleep more soundly

 If you have trouble sleeping, there's nothing wrong with consuming honey. Launching from NDTV Food, honey can release serotonin. By the body, serotonin will be produced into melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates sleep quality. You can add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of warm milk or a cup of tea

4. Helps to heal wounds and burns.

 Topical honey treatment to heal wounds and burns has been practiced since ancient Egypt. This is also supported by 26 studies showing similar results. A review of 26 studies found that honey was most effective at healing burns and infected partial wounds after surgery. One study reported a 43.3 percent success rate with honey as wound care. In another study, topical honey healed 97 percent of patients with diabetic wounds

5. Lowering blood pressure 

Launching from Healthline, honey contains antioxidant compounds that have been linked to lowering blood pressure. Research conducted on mice and humans showed a slight decrease in blood pressure by consuming honey.

6. Maintain cholesterol levels 

Several studies have shown a link between honey consumption and cholesterol levels. Honey is known to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) while significantly increasing good cholesterol (HDL). A study conducted on 55 patients compared honey with sugar. As a result, honey caused a 5.8 percent reduction in LDL and an increase in HDL cholesterol by 3.3 percent. Not only that, consumption of honey also led to a modest weight loss of 1.3 percent

7. Lowering triglyceride levels

 Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. The increase in this type of fat is a risk factor for heart disease. Uniquely, many studies have linked the regular consumption of honey with lower triglyceride levels

8. Good for the heart 

The three previous benefits often make honey associated with better heart health. However, in addition to that, the content of phenols and other antioxidant compounds has also been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. Honey is known to help enlarge the arteries in the heart thereby increasing blood flow to the heart. In addition, honey can also prevent the formation of blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes.

9. Control weight

 A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2010 found that honey can help control appetite. Consumption of honey before bed makes the body burn more fat during the early hours of sleep.

10. Eliminate dandruff 

A study published in the European Journal of Medical Research in 2001 found honey can help get rid of dandruff. This study used honey diluted with warm water to problem areas and let it sit for three hours before rinsing it off. As a result, the respondents reported reduced itching and dandruff crusts within one week. Not only that, the clams on the scalp healed within two weeks and the patient even showed a reduction in hair loss.