Honey
Honey is a sweet, viscous food substance made by honey bees and some other bees.Bees produce honey from the sugary secretions of plants (floral nectar) or from secretions of other insects (such as honeydew), by regurgitation, enzymatic activity, and water evaporation. Honey bees store honey in wax structures called honeycombs, whereas stingless bees store honey in pots made of wax and resin.
The variety of honey produced by honey bees (the genus Apis) is the best-known, due to its worldwide commercial production and human consumption. It gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose,
The smell, color, and taste of honey vary based on the type of flowers it’s made from, so there are countless varieties available.
Nutrients –
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
It is essentially pure sugar, with no fat and only trace amounts of protein and fiber.
Properties –
• Antioxidant
• Antibacterial
• Antifungal
• Digestive
• Healing
Best time to have Honey –
Honey has amino acids, mineral and vitamins that help in absorption of cholesterol and fat, thereby preventing weight gain. Drink a mixture of honey and warm water as soon as you wake up in the morning on empty stomach for best results. It helps you remain energised and alkalised.
Advantages –
It has a number of potential health benefits and plays a role in many home remedies and alternative medicine treatments.
• Weight Management
It is one of the best foods for losing weight. Doctors recommend to have a spoonful of honey before going to bed. You can also consume a little honey with warm water on empty stomach early in the morning. Having it first thing in the morning, helps increase the metabolism, which in turn helps reduce weight faster. It is also good for improving your overall health.
• Strengthens immune system
It has countless medicinal properties that naturally help in curing a sore throat. Its antioxidants and bacteria-fighting assets also help against fighting infections that are caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi thus make immune system healthier and stronger.
• Nourishes skin and face
It is the best natural moisturizer, especially for your dry skin. Raw honey not only unclogs pores but it also helps moisturize parched skin. It also helps curing cracked lips during winters. Many people also use it’s masks for skin tone correction. Also being a natural antiseptic, it is useful for treatment of wounds, bruises, cuts, burns and other infections.
• Cough remedy
It is known to be one of the best home remedies for dry cough as well as wet cough. Drinking a tablespoon of honey can reduce irritation in the throat. It is the preferred natural remedy for cough, especially for kids, as it helps to relieve nocturnal cough, allowing proper sleep.
• Boosts memory
It not only increases brain power and memory but also makes you a healthier person altogether. Its consumption prevents metabolic stress and helps calm and soothe the brain, which helps in augmenting memory in the long run.
• Healing wounds
After any skin injury, bacteria that live on your skin can infect and penetrate the wound site. It has been found to destroy these bacteria.
• Gastrointestinal disease
Honey might help relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis. It might also be effective as part of oral rehydration therapy.
• Helps prevent and control eczema
Those suffering can make a mixture of raw honey and cold-pressed olive oil and apply on the skin to get rid of the problem. It acts as a natural cleanser by removing dirt and making the skin smooth and soft.
• Helps in gum diseases
Teeth and gum diseases like gingivitis, bleeding and plaque can be treated to a great extent with the regular use of honey. It is known to release antiseptic hydrogen peroxide which acts as anti-microbial agent that prevents the growth of bacteria. Raw honey mixed with water to be used as mouthwash. Also rubbing honey directly on affected gums gives instant relief from pain and inflammation and other periodontal diseases.
• Cardiovascular disease
Antioxidants in it might be associated with reduced risk of heart disease.
Side Effects –
In addition to beneficial prebiotics and nutrients, raw honey can also carry harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum. This is particularly dangerous for babies. Raw honey should never be given to an infant less than a year old.
Symptoms of botulism poisoning in infants may include:
• constipation
• slow breathing
• sagging eyelids
• absence of gagging
• loss of head control
• paralysis that spreads downward
• poor feeding
• lethargy
• weak cry
In adults, symptoms can include an initial short period of diarrhea and vomiting, followed by constipation and more severe symptoms, such as blurred vision and muscle weakness.
For more informative articles on Ayurvedic medicine and other health related issues, please visit our website www.santripty.com and also feel free to consult.