When was the last time you tasted honey and thought of the benefits you were just blessed with? Not anytime recently, right? We savor honey and enjoy its taste, but rarely we understand what we had consumed is going to give us enormous health and vitality!
And coming to the greatness of honey, did you know that the honey we buy in jars is not real honey? Yes, you read that right! The honey we usually consume is a synthesized and processed look alike. On the other hand, bee farmers harvest honeybees and produce raw, unprocessed honey – the real thing.
Not only is raw honey sweet and tasty, but its medicinal benefits make it an important ingredient to many people all over the world. Want to know what raw honey’s many benefits are? Then this post is what you should read!
Honey boasts of many antimicrobial, antibiotic and antiviral characteristics. It acts as an expectorant, clearing cough and alleviating sore throat. A tablespoon of honey with warm water or tea (lemon, ginger, basil) reduces cough and eases the throat. If tea or warm water doesn’t sound good, simply lick it off the spoon.
Raw honey helps heal wounds and scrapes. Due to its many antibiotic characteristics, it reduces inflammation and protects the wound from dirt and bacteria. Spread the honey evenly over a wound to heal minor cuts, wounds, and burns.
Honey is quite good for the hair. As an emollient, it smoothes the texture of hair and softens it. Honey helps avert hair loss, and fortifies hair follicles too. Due to its many antibacterial qualities, honey helps keep the scalp bacteria free. It is also useful for treating an itchy scalp.
Raw honey benefits skin by acting as an wonderful anti-agent. It helps moisturize dry skin, unclogs pores, and reduces blemishes. Its anti-inflammatory characteristics also make it an effective anti-aging agent, one that won’t help you turn the clock back, but certainly slow it down. Try some honey-based facials for lovely skin and hair.
One of the most effective raw honey benefits is to keep gastrointestinal problems at bay. The viscosity of raw honey makes it an effective agent to curb gastroesophageal reflux, also known as acid reflux. Raw honey can also alleviate bacterial diarrhea in babies.
A little honey before you hit the bed can help you get a good night’s sleep! And you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to face the world! Honey contains high levels of fructose and glucose. It is a good source of blood glucose. Blood sugar balance is critical for good sleep, and honey provides the balance.
The National Honey Board says “honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins and minerals, including niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.” The presence of so many minerals makes honey a treasure trove of nutrients.
Many controlled studies have found that honey can even eliminate food-borne pathogens like Salmonella and E Coli. Scientists at ACMC in the University of Amsterdam noted that honey contains a protein defensin-1 that kills bacterial protein, protecting us from a number of diseases.
For those of you who like to hit the gym or that exercise bike, honey can help eliminate the need for energy drinks. Energy drinks like Gatorade contain glucose and fructose, found in large quantities in honey. Honey provides 17g carbohydrates for every tablespoon. It can be a brilliant replacement to energy drinks.
Honey contains many antioxidant properties. Research shows that consuming honey switches on the detoxification genes in the body. Honey helps you improve the quality of sleep and provides antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral properties that protect you from a number of diseases.
Hippocrates said: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Honey, with so many benefits, has earned the title of ‘liquid gold’. But you need to consume ‘real’ honey to get all these benefits!
Do you know of any other benefits of raw honey? Leave a comment below!