5 Health Benefits of Natural Honey

5 Health Benefits of Natural Honey

5 Health Benefits of Natural Honey

Pure honey has been a natural medicine and delicious food source for hundreds of years. Research has proven that this sweet and tasty food may have more health benefits than previously believed.

Full of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are an essential part of a person’s health and well-being, and consuming honey has been linked to numerous antioxidant-related benefits that will help a person stay healthy and hardy.

Studies have shown that these antioxidants can have a plethora of different effects on a person. The antioxidants in honey “have been linked to reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer” (Healthline). The same antioxidants promote heart health in other ways, too. These antioxidants are linked to better arterial blood flow and more protection from oxidative stress. Natural honey also has the potential to lower blood pressure.

Lots of Nutritional Value

Though honey may taste like pure sugar, the nutritional value cannot be understated. Macronutrients are essential to a person’s everyday diet, and honey has plenty.

The nutritional value of natural honey is different in different regions and countries, as a bee’s honey is highly dependent on the species of plants with which they interact. Natural honey, in general, has plenty of important nutrients. This long list includes some of the most important daily nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. Beyond this, the sweetness in honey comes only in part from fructose. The rest of the sweetness is natural. With a variety of health problems linked to fructose, natural honey is less detrimental to a person’s health than alternative sweeteners.

Antibacterial Benefits

Honey has been proven to have medicinal effects beyond consumption. Honey battles many known strains of bacteria. CNN health expresses the cause for honey’s antimicrobic quality, and it starts with the bees. As bees gather pollen, “most bees deposit hydrogen peroxide into the honey” which only adds to the composition of already-acidic honey. This allows honey to be an effective substance in battling bacteria.

Soothes Sore Throats and Coughs

A widely known benefit of natural honey is the soothing effect it has on sore throats and coughs. This natural remedy both adds nutrition and substance to a sickened body while also improving sleep. Various studies have shown that compared to over-the-counter cough medicine, honey is a more effective solution. In children who are too young to consume over-the-counter medications, honey is a natural and effective strategy to reduce sore throat symptoms.

Burn and Wound Relief

The thick, sap-like substance of honey has the consistency of a sticky cream and can almost be mistaken for an ointment. This attribute of honey is not far from the truth. Honey is a common ingredient in many home remedies, and science backs up these healing myths.

Healthline claims that “26 studies on honey and wound care found honey most effective at healing partial-thickness burns and wounds that have become infected after surgery.”

It comes as no surprise that a naturally-occurring food source can have so many beneficial effects on the health and well-being of a person. The health benefits of natural honey are undeniable.