Honey is one of the most commonly used food items in our Indian kitchen and rightly so! Often called yellow gold, this miracle liquid offers a wide range of health and beauty benefits to people who eat it or use it topically. Let us take a look at these benefits and find out how you can use them to get advantage:
Health Benefits of Honey:
Honey has been in use for centuries and its medicinal value still makes it a potent ingredient to tackle many health concerns. A few of the benefits are as followed:
1. Helps in Suppressing Cough:
It is a widely known fact that honey helps in cases of prolonged cough attacks. The thick consistency of honey helps coat the throat and soothes it. According to a study published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), honey is as effective as dextromethorphan which is an effective cough suppressant. It can also treat upper respiratory tract infections as well.
2. Boosts Memory:
Honey is a rich source of antioxidants. It helps in preventing cellular loss and damage within the brain. There are many cases of hormone related intellectual decline in postmenopausal women and women who consume honey are more likely to have better short-term memory. Honey can be a good substitute to hormone pills in this regard.
Moreover, it is not only women who gets benefit from honey. The brain needs calcium to think and make decisions and honey helps the body absorb calcium in people of all ages. It improves the cognitive skills and helps people concentrate more.
3. Great Source of Energy:
The unprocessed sugar present in honey makes it a great source of energy. It is known to contain high levels of natural fructose and glucose, which enters the bloodstream, enhancing your energy levels. Consuming honey before a workout or any longer endurance activity can help you perform well and gives you immediate energy.
4. Heals Wounds and Burns:
Honey is a natural antibiotic and can help treat mild burns and wounds. It disinfects wounds and sores and heals the affected area quickly. Applying honey helps in healing leg ulcers as well. Honey releases antiseptic hydrogen peroxide, which helps in preventing the growth of bacteria. It cures gum disease, bleeding and plaque formation in teeth as well.
5. Improves Your Sleep:
Like sugar, honey can cause a rise in Insulin. Insulin releases a neurotransmitter called Serotonin, which improves mood and happiness. This in turn gets converted to melatonin, the hormone that regulates the length and quality of sleep. The steady rise in insulin makes the amino acid Tryptophan which enter the brain and triggers the process of enabling you to have a good sleep.
6. Reduces the Risk of Cancer:
Honey contains high amount of flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids and antioxidants, which helps in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer. Evidences show that honey is an anti-cancer agent. The possible mechanisms of honey that help in preventing cancer is its apoptotic, antitumor necrosis factor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic and immunomodulatory activities.
7. Helps Improve Cholesterol and Lowers Blood Pressure:
Honey helps in improving the cholesterol levels by reducing bad LDL cholesterol but significantly increasing your good HDL cholesterol. Consuming honey also cause modest reduction in blood pressure. Both cholesterol and blood pressure are major risk factors for heart attacks and by controlling them one can reduce the risk of heart related issues.
8. It Improves Your Hair:
Honey is widely used in herbal hair care products. It stops dandruff formation on the scalp and relieves itching and scaling. It also improves the quality of hair by making it lustrous and strong. Continuous use of honey also shows a considerable improvement in hair loss. Due to the antibacterial and antifungal properties of honey, you can use it to cure seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.
9. Helps in Weight Loss:
Honey is a great weight management ingredient and is extensively used for the same. Honey burns fat quickly. Consuming it in the morning increases your metabolism and thus burns your fat. It burns fat even in your sleep, thus consuming it before going to sleep is equally beneficial.
10. Skincare:
Honey is a natural cleanser and helps to make the skin soft with a natural glow. It can help in curing eczema. It stops the formation of red, patchy skin and gives back smooth skin to the affected person. It is also used for exfoliation as it removes the dead cells and keeps the skin fresh.
Conclusion:
Honey is used significantly for its medicinal benefits. The use of honey is increasing due to its antibacterial, antifungal and antibiotic properties. It can help treat wounds and injuries and is great for hair and skin care. It helps boost your memory and cognitive skills. It also helps in weight loss by burning fat quickly. It is a great source of energy as well. Yet, it is important to understand that excess use of honey has many side effects. You should avoid raw, unpasteurized honey as it can cause allergies, cardiovascular problems, food poisoning, abdominal pain, etc.
It is important to consume good quality pasteurized honey in the right proportions. Wellnest Natural Farms Shop provides top quality honey products that best suit your health needs and aid you in getting the results you want. All you need to do is download the app and enjoy the health benefits of honey.