About the Honey

What is Honey: Honey is a sweet, syrupy fluid made by honeybees using the nectar of flowering plants.

Loved worldwide for its sweetness and depth of flavor, it’s used in many foods and recipes. There are about 320 different varieties of honey, which vary in color, odor and flavor, based on the type of flowers it’s made from.

Raw, unfiltered honey comes straight from the beehive. Some honey producers pass the substance through a coarse filter to remove foreign matter, but it remains unprocessed food. Most of the honey sold in stores goes through a heating process to make it less sticky and easier to filter, and this pasteurizes the honey.

Honey contains mostly sugar, as well as a mix of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc and antioxidants. In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is also used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and to boost the immune system, and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.

Research and Evidence on Honey for Specific Conditions Include:

Cardiovascular Disease

Antioxidants in honey might be associated with reduced risk of heart disease. According to one review, honey may help lower blood pressure, improve blood fat levels, regulate your heartbeat, and prevent the death of healthy cells — all factors that can improve your heart function and health.

Additionally, raw honey typically contains propolis, a type of resin that bees produce from sap-producing trees and similar plants. Propolis may improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Cough /Sore Throat

Studies suggest that honey can act as a reliable cough suppressant for some people with upper respiratory infections, and acute nighttime cough. Common cough medications are not always effective and can have side effects. Interestingly, honey may be a good alternative, with evidence indicating that it’s an effective treatment option. One review of several studies on honey and cough found that honey appears to be more effective than diphenhydramine for cough symptoms. It may also help reduce cough duration.

*However, never give honey to children under 1 year of age due to the risk of botulism

Gastrointestinal Disease

Evidence suggests honey might help relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis, and in rehydration therapy.

Neurological Disease

Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits, as well as in preventing memory disorders.

Wound Care

Topical use of medical-grade honey has been shown to promote wound healing, particularly in burns. A review of 26 studies on honey and wound care found it most effective at healing partial-thickness burns, as well as wounds that have become infected after surgery. Honey is also an effective treatment for diabetes-related foot ulcers, which are serious complications that can lead to amputation.  Researchers theorize that honey’s healing powers come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.  Manuka honey is considered especially effective at treating burns.

Health Benefits of Honey include:

Nutritional Content

One tablespoon (20 grams) of honey contains:

• Calories: 61
• Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Carbs: 17 grams
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Riboflavin: 1% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Copper: 1% of the DV

Honey contains vitamins and minerals in trace quantities, including small amounts of:

• Iron

• Zinc

• Potassium

Rich in Antioxidants (Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids)

High quality honey, which is minimally processed, unheated, and fresh, contains many important bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. Darker varieties tend to offer more antioxidants than lighter varieties.

Antioxidants protect the body from inflammation by helping to neutralize reactive oxygen species in your body (ROS), which can build up in cells and cause damage. This damage can contribute to conditions like premature aging, type 2 diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disease, and heart disease.  One study discovered that antioxidants in buckwheat honey were detectable in blood plasma, showing that eating honey could enhance antioxidant activity in the body.

Better for Blood Sugar Levels

When it comes to blood sugar management, honey may offer some slight benefits over regular sugar. Although honey raises your blood sugar level just like other types of sugar do, the antioxidants it contains may help protect against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers have found that honey may increase levels of adiponectin, a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation. There’s also some evidence that daily honey intake may improve fasting blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

However, while honey may be slightly better than refined sugar, it should still be consumed in moderation

*It’s also important to know that certain types of honey, including those commercially produced, could be diluted with plain syrup. Although honey adulteration is illegal in most countries, it remains a widespread problem.

Honey is Easy to Add to Your Diet and Routine

To get a small boost of antioxidants from honey, you can use it any way that you’d typically use sugar. It’s excellent for sweetening plain yogurt, coffee, tea, or anything really!  You can also use it in cooking and baking.

As a home remedy, it can be applied directly to minor burns or wounds or given orally for coughs.

Keep in mind that honey is a type of sugar, so consuming it will cause your blood sugar levels to rise, and will impact your total caloric intake.