11 Incredible Health Benefits of Honey

11 Benefits of Honey

Honey is healthier than sugar yet 25% sweeter than it. These “11 INCREDIBLE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEY” give you a perfect reason why you should replace your sugar with honey. 8 Promising Health Benefits of Tulsi

Brief About Honey

Honey is a natural insect-derived product which has therapeutic, nutritional, cosmetic and industrial significance. It has been used since ancient times, nearly 5,500 years ago but evidence from Stone Age paintings show that honey’s usage originated from 8,000 years ago.

Honey is a natural sweetener which has a high level of fructose (sugar) and possesses various health benefits, bioactive compounds and minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, chlorine and so on.

Honey possesses antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anticarcinogenic, and antimetastatic properties and exerts protective effects on diseases like diabetes, dizziness, throat infections, tuberculosis, etc.

11 Incredible Health Benefits of Honey

(1) Benefits of Honey for Skin

Honey is massively filled with antioxidants, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties which makes the skin healthy, beautiful and helps to deal with various skin disorders.

In in vivo study, topical application of a diluted crude honey remarkably improved symptoms in 30 seborrheic dermatitis patients. 10 Mind-Boggling Health Benefits of Turmeric

(2) Benefits of Honey for Weight Loss

Honey exerts anti-obesity effects which were proven in a Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT), in which human subjects receiving 70 gm honey per day for 1 month showed a decrement in body fat percentage, fat weight, body weight and BMI.

However, more research is required to establish this as it is one of its promising health benefits.  How to lose weight? The Perfect Guide

(3) Helps Diabetic People

Honey possesses hypoglycemic effect as a result it helps to reduce blood sugar levels and tackle diabetes.

A Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) reported that Tualang honey supplementation reduced fasting blood glucose in 100 postmenopausal women who consumed 20 gm Tualang honey for 12 months. Moreover, a reduction in diastolic blood pressure was also noticed.

Another study showed that oral administration of honey solution (90 gm honey+250 ml water) in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients, remarkably reduced blood glucose elevation. 10 Scientifically-Proven Health Benefits Of Sugarcane Juice

(4) Cancer Prevention

Evidence has indicated that honey prevents several types of cancer like cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, etc, by (i) preventing cell proliferation, (ii) inducing apoptosis and (iii) modifying cell cycle progression.

A research showed that usage of serial concentrations of Arabic honey reduced the levels of IL-6 in the prostate cancer cell line. However, more research is needed in this regard.

(5) Promotes Heart Health

Honey helps to improve cholesterol and blood pressure levels and also prevents multiple Cardiovascular Disorders (CVDs) which boosts heart health.

An Ischemia and reperfusion cycle myocardial injury model, containing 50-70 male Wistar rats examined the effect of intake of 1, 2, and 4% (v/v) honey added in drinking water for 45 days.

It showed that honey reduced the number of VT (Ventricular Tachycardia), VEBs(Ventricular Ectopic Beats), incidence of VT, total VF(Ventricular Fibrillation) incidence and duration of reversible VF following reperfusion cycle. Top 10 Evidence-Based Benefits of Coffee

(6) Controls Cholesterol Levels

The hypolipidemic properties of honey have been demonstrated in various research and studies, therefore, it helps to improve the lipid profile.

A Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) evaluated the effects of 70 gm of oral natural honey dissolved in 250 ml tap water in 60 healthy male Iranian students for 6 weeks.

The honey consumption reduced TC (Total Cholesterol) and increased TGs (Triglycerides) and HDL (High Density Lipoprotein).

Another study also reported that ingestion of 70 gm honey by 38 overweight individuals reduced TC, LDL-C (Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol), TG and CRP (C-reactive Protein). 

(7) Boost Dental and Oral Health

Honey possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, antimicrobial and antifungal properties due to which it is perfect for tackling oral and dental problems and acts as an anti-plague agent.

In a pilot clinical study, a significant reduction in the plaque score after a 21-day trial period was observed in 15 individuals who consumed Manuka honey (Unique Manuka Factor) chewing gums whereas no changes were observed in the control group.

Another single-blind study showed that Manuka honey and chlorhexidine mouthwash remarkably reduced plaque formation in 15 subjects after 3 days of use as compared to the xylitol chewing gum group.

(8) Ensures Healthy Brain Functioning

Honey exerts neuroprotective properties because of which it helps to protect the brain from neurological disorders and boosts memory and cognitive function.

A 5-year pilot study investigated 2290 cognitively intact subjects and 603 with mild cognitive impairment aged 65 and older who daily received either 1 tbsp of Middle East honey or placebo. 

It showed that 95 honey consuming subjects did not develop dementia as compared to 394 placebo subjects, which proved honey as a natural preventive therapy for dementia and cognitive decline.

A recent clinical trial reported that honey consumption for 8 weeks enhanced overall learning across domains in short-term memory in schizophrenia patients. However, no effects were observed in the long term. 7 Health Benefits Of Almonds, Backed By Science

(9) Makes Gut Healthy

Honey consumption helps in tackling various gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea, ulcers and etc and has a prebiotic effect on the body.

A study revealed that oral pretreatment of honey at a dose of 2 gm/kg, prevented indomethacin-induced gastric lesions, myeloperoxidase activity and microvascular permeability of the stomach.

Another study also indicated a reduction in chronic gastric ulcer in Wister rats with 2.5 gm/kg dosage of Manuka honey. How To Improve Digestion? The Perfect Guide 101

(10) Strengthens Bone

Studies have provided evidence that honey helps to increase the bone density and helps in tackling bone diseases like osteoporosis.

A study revealed that daily consumption of 20 mg Tualang honey for 4 months resulted in similar bone densitometry findings as in hormone replacement therapy postmenopausal women.

Daily intake of Kelulut honey (A type of Malaysian honey) at a dosage of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg for 2 months alleviated glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats, a study reported.

(11) Prevents Diseases

Honey is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which helps to curb the free-radicals inside the body and limit oxidative stress, which induces diseases in the body.

Honey is used to prevent and treat a variety of ailments including cough, vertigo, chest pain, fatigue, period pain, measles, eye disorders like conjunctivitis, respiratory diseases like asthma and many more.

Takeaway

Honey is the only food whose composition is close to human blood’s composition. Regular honey consumption has numerous health benefits and these above mentioned are “11 INCREDIBLE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEY”. 8 Evidence-Based Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds