From time immemorial, people have used honey in both diet and medicine. Drawings on the walls of ancient caves show that medicinal honey was used in food as far back as 8,000 years ago, although there is no evidence that humans kept and raised bees until 2,400 BC. The healing benefits of honey have been known to humans since ancient times.
Bees collect nectar from flowers from their environment, bring it to the hive, consume it, digest it and regurgitate it several times. The end product is honey, a liquid that serves as stored food for bees. The smell, color and taste depend on the type of flowers planted.
The healing benefits of honey in health and medicine are especially related to raw honey. This medicinal honey is bottled directly from the hive, without heat treatment or pasteurization. As such, this type of honey retains all the nutrients as well as all the plant compounds collected from different types of flowers.
These are just some of the healing benefits of honey:
1. Nutrients of honey
Medicinal honey has been used in human nutrition since ancient times. Thanks to the large amount of sugar it contains, it was a rich source of energy.
Nutritionally, one tablespoon of honey (21 grams) contains 64 calories and 17.3 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose, and 0 grams of fiber, fat and protein. It also contains trace amounts – below 1% RDI – of several vitamins and minerals, but you would have to eat a lot of pounds to meet your daily needs.
Use honey to sweeten toppings or marinades. Stir honey into coffee or tea. Use honey as a spread on toast or pancakes. Stir honey into yogurt, cereals or oatmeal as a natural sweetener.
Keep in mind that this sweet medicine is still a form of sugar, so the intake should be moderate. The US Heart Agency (AHA) does not recommend intake of more than two tablespoons per day for women and three tablespoons per day for men. It is recommended that children younger than one year do not consume honey due to the possibility of severe botulism.
2. Honey is less bad than sugar for diabetics
The evidence for honey and diabetes is mixed. On the one hand, it can reduce several risk factors for heart disease that are common in people with type 2 diabetes. For example, it can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and inflammation, while raising “good” HDL cholesterol. However, some studies have found that it can also increase blood sugar levels – just not as much as refined sugar. Although honey may be slightly better than refined sugar for people with diabetes, it should still be consumed with caution. In fact, people with diabetes can best achieve it by minimizing all foods with a high percentage of carbohydrates.
After all, medicinal honey is simply a “less bad” sweetener than sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
3. A good source of antioxidants
High-quality honey contains a number of plant compounds that act as antioxidants, including organic acids and phenolic compounds such as flavonoids. Research by scientists indicates that the combination of these compounds gives honey its antioxidant power. Some types of honey contain as many antioxidants as there are in fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, two studies have shown that buckwheat honey increases the antioxidant value in your blood.
Antioxidants in our body help protect against cell damage due to the action of free radicals that contribute to the aging process and can contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. They can also promote eye health.
4. Lowers high blood pressure, regulates cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Blood pressure is an important risk factor for heart disease, and the compounds in honey can lower it and have a beneficial effect on heart health. The antioxidants present in honey can help the arteries in your heart to dilate, increasing blood flow to your heart. They can also prevent blood clots from forming, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Honey also helps regulate high levels of LDL cholesterol, which is a strong risk factor for heart disease. This type of cholesterol plays a big role in atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat in your arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Interestingly, several studies show that honey can improve cholesterol levels. It reduces total and “bad” LDL cholesterol, while significantly increasing “good” HDL cholesterol.
Elevated blood triglycerides are another risk factor for heart disease. They are also associated with insulin resistance, the main driver of type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels increase with a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. Interestingly, several studies have linked regular honey consumption to lower triglyceride levels, especially when used to replace sugar. For example, one study comparing honey and sugar found 11–19% lower triglyceride levels in the honey group.
5. Healing wounds and burns
The healing effect of honey has been determined in the treatment of wounds and burns. Topical treatments with honey have been used to heal wounds and burns since ancient Egypt, and are still common today.
A review of numerous scientific studies on honey and wound care has shown that honey is most effective in healing burns and wounds of partial thickness that became infected after surgery. Research has shown that raw honey can kill unwanted bacteria and fungi because it naturally contains hydrogen peroxide which is an antiseptic. Its effectiveness as an antibacterial or antifungal drug varies depending on the honey.
Medicinal honey is also an effective remedy for diabetic foot ulcers, which are serious complications that can lead to leg amputation. One study found that as many as 97% of patients with diabetic ulcers were cured.
Researchers believe that the healing benefits of honey come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as from its ability to nourish the surrounding tissue. Moreover, honey can help treat other skin conditions, including psoriasis and herpes lesions.
When applied to the skin, honey can be part of an effective plan to treat burns, wounds and many other skin conditions.
Keep in mind that honey used in hospital conditions is medical, which means that it is examined and sterile. It is not a good idea to treat the injury with honey that you buy in the store.
6. Help with digestive problems
Honey is sometimes used to treat digestive problems such as diarrhea, although there are not many studies that have shown that it works. According to some research, it has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea. Honey also stimulates an increased intake of potassium and water, which is especially useful for diarrhea. Research conducted in Lagos, Nigeria shows that honey has also shown the ability to block the action of pathogens that usually cause diarrhea.
The healing benefits of honey are reflected in the fact that it is also a powerful probiotic, which means that it nourishes the good bacteria that live in the intestines, which are crucial not only for digestion, but also for overall health.
7. Prevention of acid reflux
Recent research has shown that honey can reduce the flow of stomach acid and undigested food by coating the esophagus and stomach with a protective film. This helped reduce the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can cause inflammation, acid reflux and heartburn.
Medicinal honey has been proven to be effective as a remedy for the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which is the main cause of the secretion of excessive amounts of stomach acid and inflammation of the gastric mucosa.
To alleviate the symptoms of heartburn, mix one tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water and drink it two hours after a meal.
8. Relieves the symptoms of colds and coughs
If you catch a cold, try a spoonful of medicinal honey. The healing benefits of honey are effective in colds and coughs. Honey is an old remedy for sore throat and relieves the symptoms of colds and coughs.
Add one tablespoon of honey to not too hot lemon tea when you catch the cold virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends honey as a natural cough medicine. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recognizes honey as a cough medicine, but advises that honey is not suitable for children younger than one year due to the possibility of botulism. Honey reduces night cough and improves sleep quality in children with an upper respiratory infection to a greater extent than the cough medicine dextrometorphan.
The main cough medicines are not always effective and can have side effects. It is interesting that honey could have been a better choice, and the evidence shows that it is very effective. One study found that honey works better than two common cough medicines. Another study found that it reduced cough symptoms and improved sleep more than cough medicines.
9. Brain protection and better memory
Honey can have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers that can benefit the brain. An animal study found that animals that consume honey have protection against brain damage caused by exposure to lead. In addition, it is stated that raw honey may contain ingredients that help fight inflammation of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that participates in memory.
Honey is rich in antioxidants that can prevent damage and loss of memory cells in the brain. A 2011 study published in Menopause found that postmenopausal women who took a teaspoon (20g) of Malaysian honey a day strengthened their memory, which could be used as an alternative therapy to reduce the intellectual decline of hormones.
10. Increase athletic performance
The healing benefits of honey were well known to the old Olympic athletes who used honey and dried figs to improve their performance. This is now confirmed by modern studies, which show that honey is superior in maintaining glycogen levels and improving the recovery time of athletes than other sweeteners. Recent research has shown that this sweet gold as some call it helps boost athletic performance. Honey helps maintain a stable amount of blood sugar, facilitates muscle recovery and glycogen recovery after exercise, and also regulates the amount of insulin in the body.
