Honey has been made for millions of years. Raw unprocessed honey has so many health benefits. A simple spoonful or two a day is all that you need to consume. It is incredible that bees can produce something that is so beneficial to the world. Honey will never spoil if kept in an airtight container. It is the only food product that contains all of the necessary ingredients to keep you alive and healthy. Honey contains vitamins, water, enzymes, and minerals essential to the human body. In the history of humans; honey has been both used as a food and a medicine.
There are many benefits of honey, especially in its raw form. Unfortunately, Most honey today is processed. Processed honey has been filtered, heated, and sometimes ingredients or chemicals are added.
Raw honey is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and pure. Straight from the bee hive. In this way it maintains its health benefits.
These health benefits are provided when raw honey is eaten consistently. You do not need to eat a lot of honey to experience its benefits. Actually, honey can give you negative side effects if consumed too much. You can experience weight gain, sugar spikes in your blood, and even allergies. Make sure you are consuming no more than one to two teaspoons a day.
Raw honey has antioxidant properties. What exactly are antioxidants? We hear that word so many times. From your favorite sports drink to green tea. Antioxidants stop oxidants in the body. Oxidation occurs from free radicals in our environments. Antioxidants include; flavanols (found in chocolate), resveratrol (found in wine), and lycopene (found in tomatoes). Other popular antioxidants include vitamins A, C, and E. Raw honey contains antioxidants known as polyphenols. Polyphenols have been shown to reduce the chance of heart disease. Polyphenols are a complicated group of plant-based chemicals. They’re found in everyday food including honey. Honey is also rich in the antioxidant flavonoids. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits. Diets rich in flavonoid-containing foods are sometimes associated with cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease prevention.
Raw honey may also reduce the risk of developing diabetes. It has also been used to treat diabetes. When you think of diabetes you probably think that sugar is bad for your condition. Which, almost all forms of sugar really is bad for the condition. Honey in large doses would have a negative effect. Though, around a teaspoon a day has been shown to help diabetes sufferers. A helpful combination is raw honey and cinnamon for diabetes. The honey and cinnamon mixture is beneficial for healthy blood sugar levels. Raw honey can also benefit insulin levels and decrease hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycaemia is an excess of glucose in the bloodstream.
Honey has been found to cause a lower elevation of plasma glucose(a simple sugar) levels in diabetics when it is compared to sucrose and dextrose(other forms of sugar). Raw honey is a great source of natural energy. It contains natural sugars, vitamins, and minerals. Honey, because it is a natural sugar, is an easily absorbed energy form for the body. Many people consume it before their workouts, competitions, or in the morning before work.
Honey helps with weight loss. Doctors recommend excluding all sugar based foods and beverages when attempting to lose weight. The one sugary food they say you can still have is honey. That is because natural sugars boost your metabolism while processed sugars do not. Honey contains helpful vitamins, minerals, protein, and water. One way raw honey helps with weight loss is by lowering triglycerides in the body. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that is formed when you consume more calories than you need. Your body uses these fats for energy in between meals, storing them in your fat cells until they are needed.
Another way is that honey naturally suppresses appetite and helps hormone functions. Do not over eat honey as it can have the opposite effect and start increasing your weight.
Consuming raw honey can promote sleep. It provides sleep that is restorative for your body and brain. It helps you wake up more rejuvenated. Raw honey does this by stimulating the release of tryptophan which converts into serotonin, leading to the release of melatonin. Melatonin is great for promoting restorative sleep. It boosts immunity and also helps rebuild tissue while you sleep. People who take one spoonful of honey before bed call it “Golden Medicine”. Claiming that this has given them increased restoration during the night making them feel much more awake when it’s time to get up for the day. Consuming honey before bed can also work to restock the liver’s glycogen supply. Glycogen is a substance deposited in the liver as a store of carbohydrates.
Honey can also improve stomach health. Honey is a strong anti-septic. It is recommended to eat a spoonful on an empty stomach. It can also soothe the stomach in situations of feeling full or over consumption. Take one spoonful before over consumption to ease a future bloated stomach. If you are trying to recover from indigestion after you have eaten too much, drink warm water with honey and lemon to recover quicker.
Honey has anti-bacterial properties, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory properties. It Can help treat a cough. It has long been considered a natural cure for the common cold, a sore throat, or a cough that is difficult to get rid of. If you have a persistent cough, try a couple of teaspoons of honey. This helps coat the throat with the antibacterial honey which gives the throat a chance to heal.
Raw honey can help improve the complexion of your skin. Many sugary things can actually make your skin much worse. Honey is one of the only sweet foods that actually promotes healthy clear skin. This can happen when consumed but is more beneficial when it is applied directly to your skin. Make sure you are using pure organic honey before putting on your skin. If you use a processed honey, it could give no results or make your skin worse. When applying to your skin make sure you dilute it with water before. Let it set on your skin for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water until you are no longer feeling sticky. Replacing your chemical based face wash with natural raw honey will be much healthier for your skin.
For acne; apply drops of honey to the affected area. It’s anti-bacterial properties will help do the work. This is an especially helpful to let it set overnight so the honey has time to do its work.
Honey is a great stress relief substance. It helps to soothe your nerves and reduce stress. Honey contains properties that help the function of neurons in your brain, which furthers relaxation.
Honey lowers your cholesterol level and improves heart health. Cholesterol is essential to your body but not in high amounts. In high amounts it leads to fatal heart disease. Daily consumption of raw honey in small amounts can help fight excess cholesterol. Honey can prevent arteries from narrowing. Drinking a glass of water with a few drops of honey can prevent arteries from narrowing. Dark honey has the most amounts of antioxidants.
Honey can improve memory. A study that lasted from 2003 to 2008 consisting of elderly participants showed that honey significantly lowered the chance of developing the condition of dementia. To get a stronger memory and fight off dementia, eat one or two teaspoons of honey before bed. This will boost your metabolism and help your body rest and heal throughout the night.
Honey is definitely one of the world’s best super foods for your body. If you aren’t taking advantage of this food that provides so many health benefits you really need to start now. The hardest part is finding a pure, organic, and raw honey. Once you find the perfect honey, your body and mind will thank you.