we love bees
Why does honey offer you so many health benefits? In the Bible (Old Testament), King Solomon said, “My son, eat thou honey, for it is good”, and there are a number of reasons why it may be good. Honey is jam-packed with all kinds of vitamins, minerals and other healthy contents that are beneficial to your overall health.
Consume honey responsibly and reap the numerous health benefits of this liquid gold.
1) Acid reflux
Professor Mahantayya V Math, from MGM Medical College, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, India, explained in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) that, as it is 125.9 more viscous than distilled water at 37 celsius (body temperature), honey may be helpful in preventing GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux).
2) Infantile gastroenteritis
E. Haffejee and A. Moosa reported in the BMJ on a clinical study in which they used honey in oral rehydration solution in children and infants with gastroenteritis. Their aim was twofold:
They found that honey shortens the duration of bacterial diarrhea in infants and young children. They added that honey does not prolong non-bacterial diarrhea duration, and “may safely be used as a substitute for glucose in oral rehydration solution containing electrolytes.”
3) Healing wounds and burns
There have been some cases in which people have reported positive effects of using honey in treating wounds. Hurlburt, a borderline diabetic, with recurring cellulitis and staph infections tried taking antibiotics for months. However, they failed to alleviate the symptoms. Hulburt’s physician, Jennifer Eddy of UW Health’s Eau Claire Family Medicine Clinic, suggested that she should try topically applying honey. Soon after applying the honey, she began to feel better.
4) Antibacterial Agents
When harmful bacteria enter your body they can often cause so many different kinds of illnesses and health issues, like an ear infection or an urinary tract infection. Antibacterial agents can fight off all kinds of harmful bacteria. Honey also works very well for treating skin abrasions and burns too.
5) Fighting infections
In 2010, scientists from the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam reported in FASEB Journal thathoney’s ability to kill bacteria lies in a protein called defensin-1. A study published in the journal Microbiology revealed that Manuka honey is effective at treating chronic wound infections and may even prevent them from developing in the first place. Dr. Rowena Jenkins and colleagues, from the University of Wales Institute, reported that Manuka honey kills bacteria by destroying key bacterial proteins.
“Manuka and other honeys have been known to have wound healing and anti-bacterial properties for some time. But the way in which they act is still not known. If we can discover exactly how Manuka honey inhibits MRSA it could be used more frequently as a first-line treatment for infections with bacteria that are resistant to many currently available antibiotics.”
Manuka honey may even help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s Spring Conference in Harrogate, UK.
6) Cold relief
The World Health Organization (WHO) and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend honey as a natural cough remedy. A 2007 study by Penn State College of Medicine suggested that honey reduced nighttime coughing and improved sleep quality in children with upper respiratory infection better than the cough medicine dextromethorphan or no treatment.
7) Vitamins and Minerals
Honey contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and C, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, sulfur, and sodium chloride. All of these are essential for good health and they can help to boost your immune system.
The many medical uses of honey of varied and they have helped many people over the centuries. So next time you need something to treat a skin problem or some other health issue think about using some helpful honey.
