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| Health Benefits of Honey |
NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: Despite its high sugar content, honey has many healthy properties. Here are some of the Health Benefits of Honey.
- Skin ailments: Everything from burns and scrapes to surgical incisions and radiation-associated ulcers have been shown to respond to “honey dressings.” That’s thanks to the hydrogen peroxide that naturally exists in honey, which is produced from an enzyme that bees have.
- Mosquito bite relief: Honey’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a good option to help reduce the itch and irritation of mosquito bites.
- It’s an immune booster: Honey is chock full of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that helps to protect cells from free radical damage. It can also contribute to heart health as well as protect against cancer.
- Digestive aid: In a 2006 study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers found that substituting honey for sugar in processed foods improved the gut microflora of male mice.
- Acne treatment: According to preliminary research, Manuka, and Kanuka types of honey can effectively treat Acne vulgaris, the skin condition that is caused by inflammation and infection of the pilosebaceous follicle on the face, back, and chest.
- It contains antioxidants: Some types of honey have been found to contain antioxidants (the darker the honey the more antioxidants it typically contains), which can help fight cell damage that may increase the risk for diseases like cancer, heart disease, etc. However, in order to really pack an antioxidant punch, you’d have to consume more than a teaspoon or two of honey; the American Heart Association recommends that most women consume no more than 25 grams or (6 teaspoons) of total added sugar per day (that’s about 100 calories worth). While a teaspoon used here and there can provide a small antioxidant bonus, we’d recommend getting antioxidants from more nutritious sources, like fruits and veggies.
- It may help fight cancer: Preliminary studies on mice show that some types of honey may inhibit cancer cell growth. So far, studies have only been done in mice, so that can’t be translated with certainty to humans.
- help with weight control: We almost always recommend that people buy the plain version of foods and sweeten them themselves using a natural sweetener, so they’re able to control the amount of added sugar. But be sure to consume no more than 6 teaspoons (2 tablespoons) of honey per day, and that’s if it’s the ONLY added sugar you’re eating. If you’re getting sugar from other sources, make sure your total sugar intake does not top 6 teaspoons.
