Here’s What You Need To Know About Honey

Honey has been around for centuries, and many people used it in their daily routines due to its impressive healing benefits. Still, there are some people that argue that honey might not be so beneficial as you might think. And if you are interested in this alternative sweetener with a zero-calorie low-glycemic sugar index, this article is for you. Up next, we’ve discussed everything you need to know about honey.

Is honey healthy?

As for today, several studies back up the health benefits of honey. And, of course, even though some people argue that honey becomes toxic when mixed with hot water, some experts believe that is not the case. As such, when you add honey to your tea, it merely loses some of its nutritional content. This is the main reason why it is always best to consume honey raw if you aim to receive the following health benefits.

#1 Honey heals wounds or damaged skin

One of the main benefits of honey is that it has the power to heal your skin from a cellular level. Some studies suggest that using honey as a topical treatment can speed up the healing process of wounds.

#2 Honey fights infections

Recently, many researchers attempted to prove that pure honey has the power to fight infections. Indeed, there is a need for additional research on the topic, but the initial findings are rather promising. Hence, honey has the power to help the body fight illnesses, as it increases the efficacy of the immune system.

#3 Honey aids the respiratory system

Another interesting benefit of honey, which you can access from almost all types of honey, is that it can be your ally in fighting respiratory issues. Some studies suggest that ingesting a small spoon of honey shortly before bed can diminish nigh-time coughing and can boost sleep quality. 

#4 Honey is the go-to ingredient in ayurvedic medicine

According to ayurvedic medicine, pure honey can aid with a wide array of ailments, including stress, sleep disturbance, vision problems, bad breath, hiccups, high blood pressure, or eczema. And many people advocate and affirm that honey helped them overcome such health issues. Keep in mind that those health benefits of honey vary from individual to individual, and, of course, you should consume it with caution.

What’s the nutritional intake of pure honey?

When it comes to the nutritional intake of honey, you should know that carbs in honey for 100g of product reach up to 80g. Also, honey calories reach the 65 mark, while there are several other compounds you might find in it based on the type of honey you purchase. As such, pure honey can have:

- Fructose: 38.2 percent

- Glucose: 31.3 percent

- Maltose: 7.1 percent

- Sucrose: 1.3 percent

- Water: 17.2 percent

- Higher sugars: 1.5 percent

- Ash: 0.2 percent

- Other: 3.2 percent

So, the idea here is that pure honey comes up with several important nutrients, including iron, calcium, phosphate, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. But you should know that you can access such nutritional intake and honey health benefits only if you purchase the product from reliable sources. Hence, you should buy a type of honey that was harvested with sustainable and organic practices. Also, the manner in which honey is stored can have a direct impact on its nutritional intake. This is the fastest way to accessing honey’s antioxidant, antimicrobial, and soothing effects. 

What types of honey exist on the market?

Did you know there are a wide array of honey varieties? Well, based on the area in which the bees travel and harvest the pollen, honey can take distinct flavors. And, of course, can provide several health benefits. Overall, these are the main types of honey you will discover on the market:

- White honey

- Sage honey

- Manuka honey

- Eucalyptus honey

- Elvish honey

- Dandelion honey

- Clover honey

- Buckwheat honey

- Basswood Honey

- Jarrah Honey

- Leatherwood Honey

- Linden Honey

- Macadamia Honey

- Pinetree Honey

The verdict: is honey healthy?

So, if you consume honey with moderation, it can turn out to be your ally in keeping up your wellbeing. Keep in mind that honey is still a type of sugar, meaning that you shouldn’t consume too much on a day. The standard recommended intake per day should not exceed 100 calories from honey. This means that women should consume up to two tablespoons of honey, while men can consume three tablespoons of honey. Also, specialists advise that children should not consume honey if they are younger than two years old. It might cause severe side effects.