More Than A Sweet: The Health Benefits Of Honey
By Selahattin Dönmez for Daily Sabah
While we know that honey is a delicious natural sweetener, fewer people are aware that it is also one of the oldest known medicinal substances. Additionally, there are many little-known facts about this versatile food such as the multiple health-related uses it possesses.
With the natural sugar it contains, honey has antibacterial properties and also provides natural protection against winter illnesses and is used as a remedy for coughing and throat infections. The most important feature of honey is that it kills bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites in our body. Thanks to the high number of osmoles in honey, honey causes the body to lower the pH level and produce hydrogen peroxide, which acts as an antibacterial.
Honey pollen is also rich in catalase enzyme, which eliminates disease-causing bacteria in natural ways, such as with the Gluconic acid that is produced by the phosphate and chloride in honey that acts as a powerful antioxidant when it is consumed. Moreover, when honey is heated, such as when it is added to hot beverages, cakes or cookies instead of sugar, the components of this natural wonder do not spoil.
Do Not Mix It With Sugar
Honey is usually mixed with sucrose, commonly known as table sugar. Although both sucrose and honey are composed of two types of sugar called glucose and fructose, table sugar is a chemical product produced from sugar beet and sugar cane. On the other hand, honey is made from the nectar of flowers and turned into something edible. It is a healthy source of carbohydrates and when it comes to health, honey is very different from sucrose because honey is composed of crucial nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and polyphenol in addition to glucose and fructose.
Studies have revealed that while sucrose activates hormones that control appetite when it is consumed, honey does not activate these hormones; instead, it demonstrates therapeutic effects thanks to its natural and healthy components. Additionally, honey does not raise your blood sugar and it reduces the amount of homocysteines, which pose as a risk for cardiac diseases, as well as the level of CPR (C-reactive protein), which is a sign of inflammation. Other experiments that focus on hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal in honey show that these components treat various infections. On the other hand, studies conducted on children suggested that honey is more effective than some of the medicine used to treat coughing. Also, if you want to enjoy an illness-free winter or get better without spending money on medicines, honey is the solution. As honey can be used by itself, it can also be mixed with spices to create special medicinal formulas.
You can eat honey after mixing it with fresh ginger and milled pepper or nutmeg. Adults should consume 60 to 80 grams a day while children should eat three teaspoons. You can also prevent digestive problems, bloating and inflammation in the stomach by consuming honey since it eliminates microorganisms called helicobacter pylori.
Little-Known Facts About Honey
1. Honey is a natural sweetener and it does not cause tooth decay.
2. As the color of honey becomes darker, the amount of minerals and polyphenol it contains increases.
3. Unless it comes into direct contact with heat for a long time, honey's components do not spoil – even if honey is added to hot beverages or meals.
4. Honey's antioxidant properties are enhanced when it is consumed with black or herbal teas.
5. If you sweeten fresh fruits with honey after slicing them, you can prevent the loss of vitamins.
6. When honey is plastered on wounds or small burns, it accelerates the recovery process as it increases lymphocytic and phagocytic activities.
7. Studies have shown that regular honey consumption can prevent myocardial infarction (heart attack), and boost the performance of heart muscles.
8. When honey is consumed after prebiotic activity, it becomes a natural antibiotic.
9. Honey decreases the growth speed of cancerous cells and protects against colon, prostate and breast cancers.
THE TIP OF THE DAY
I would like to clarify a point about honey that is frequently repeated concerning whether crystalized honey is real or not. It is common to see crystallization in honey, depending on the amount of nectar of flowering plants it was produced from. Honey crystallization is a natural phenomenon by which honey turns from liquid to a semi-solid state and it does not mean it is fake or spoiled. To delay crystallization, it is recommended to put honey in a dark place below room temperature.