Benefits of Honey

Honey has been valued for thousands of years as both a food and a medicine. There is evidence of beekeeping as far back as 700 BC. In some cultures, honey was regarded as a sacred substance, and used in religious rituals. Honey can be used both internally and externally for a wide variety of purposes.

Health Benefits of Honey

The intensely sweet flavor of honey makes it an excellent, healthy alternative to refined white sugar for use as a sweetener in foods. Honey mainly consists of carbohydrates and water, and also contains a small amount of protein, amino acids, and enzymes as well as minerals including potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, selenium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper. In addition, honey contains vitamin C, folate, and several B vitamins. Beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, are found in some varieties of honey, along with prebiotics, which are substances that foster the growth of friendly bacteria.

Phytonutrients including caffeic acid and its derivatives in raw honey have cancer-fighting and anti-tumor properties. Processing and heating the honey inactivates these compounds, so for maximum health benefits, make sure the honey is raw and unprocessed.

Honey also contains antioxidants. The composition of honey varies depending on the type of flowers that the bees use as their source of nectar. Honey ranges in color from water white through yellow to dark amber. The darker colored honey contains higher amounts of antioxidants.

Honey has long been used as an effective treatment for coughs and sore throats. Buckwheat honey is especially good for this purpose. To calm a cough or soothe a sore throat, take a spoonful of honey undiluted, or mix it into a cup of tea or warm water.

Honey may be helpful to regulate blood sugar and glucose metabolism. Individuals who are mildly diabetic or who have impaired glucose tolerance have been shown to tolerate honey better than other types of sweeteners. For athletes, honey is an excellent carbohydrate source, helping to maintain blood sugar levels at an optimal level during exercise.

Honey Helps to Heal Wounds

Externally, honey has many healing properties that make it beneficial for treating skin wounds. According to a research paper published in the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, honey has antibacterial properties that clear up existing infections and prevent wounds from becoming infected, it debrides wounds (removes dead or damaged tissue), it has anti-inflammatory activity that reduces swelling, it minimizes scarring, and it promotes growth of new tissue. It is beneficial for slow-healing skin ulcers as well as burns.

Precautions

Honey should never be fed to infants under 1 year of age (some doctors recommend waiting until 18 months or 2 years) because it may contain spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a potentially fatal disease. Honey is safe for adults and older children, but the digestive system is not yet fully developed in infants, making them susceptible to the disease.

Sources:

Molan, P.C. (2006). The evidence supporting the use of honey as a wound dressing. International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds 5(1), 40 54.
http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/contents.shtml
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=96
http://www.honey.com/nhb/about-honey/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17887941