For thousands of years, honey has been used all over the world
and in just about every culture, mainly for its nutritional and
therapeutic purposes. Ancient Egyptians even used it as a form of
currency, like gold.
Honey consists of 70-80% of sugars, mainly fructose and glucose and has high nutritional value since it is absorbed directly by the human body. It is arguably the richest natural food in existence, with its positive effect on metabolism, growth and longevity. It has the ability to regulate and balance the functions of the body, oxygenates the cells and increases the resistance to external attacks, but also in internal abnormalities.
A Few Facts
• The honey color is characteristic of the origin of the honey. The dark colored honey is usually richer in minerals (potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium, iron, etc.)
• Honey yields about 4 kcal per gram, much less than of other corresponding fatty sugars such as chocolate, which yields about 9 kcal per gram.
• There is controversy about cooking with honey since if it is heated above 108 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes transformed into a glue-like substance which is difficult to digest.
• Even though honey has so many benefits to adults and children, avoid feeding honey to infants. It contains spores of a toxic bacteria called clostridium botulinum. For adults and children this bacteria is harmless, but the digestive and immune system in infants are not yet fully developed and may cause infant botulism.
• The crystallization of honey is a natural phenomenon that has no effect in its nutritional and biological status. A crystallized honey is neither damaged nor adulterated.
Main Health Benefits
1. Energy Booster - Honey is known for instantly boosting the performance and endurance of both the body and mind with its natural carbohydrates which are in the form of glucose and fructose. Honey can provide up to 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon, making it an inexpensive instant energy booster.
2. Can Heal Wounds and Burns - Research has shown that the topical application of honey on minor wounds may speed up healing. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and honeys anti-bacterial nature combine to create this effect. Its anti-bacterial properties prevent infection and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, limiting both swelling and pain, and helping in tissue regeneration.
3. Reduces Cough and Sore Throat - One of the most well-know health benefits of honey is that it has the ability to soothe a sore throat. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties it also kills certain bacteria that caused the sore throat in the first place.
Whenever I personally have a cough or a sore throat, I use 4-5 slices of lemon in a mug of warm water and let them saturate for about 2 minutes. Then squeezing the juice out of the same slices in the water, and adding 2 teaspoons of raw honey, I make my own cough and sore throat healing mix. It doesn't taste that great, but it works wonders.
4. For Hangovers - When you get a hangover from drinking too much alcohol, honey is a perfect ingredient that can be mixed with other ingredients to relieve the situation. Fructose and glucose which are found in honey speed up the oxidation of alcohol in the liver.
You can make yourself a banana milkshake and adding a few tablespoons of honey to fight against hangovers. Another "cocktail" would be to mix orange juice, natural yogurt and honey and blend them together to make an anti-hangover smoothie.
5. Weight Loss - Honey contains over 20 amino acids and a variety of minerals that help the metabolism, which reduces the risk of obesity. It is believed that drinking a mix of lemon juice and some honey, first thing in the morning, is an effective anti-cellulite treatment.
It must be noted that only raw unpasteurized honey contains so many beneficial nutrients. If you decide to use honey either for internal or external healing benefits, it is always wise to consult your local physician first as honey, like any other food can cause allergies or any other side effects.
Honey consists of 70-80% of sugars, mainly fructose and glucose and has high nutritional value since it is absorbed directly by the human body. It is arguably the richest natural food in existence, with its positive effect on metabolism, growth and longevity. It has the ability to regulate and balance the functions of the body, oxygenates the cells and increases the resistance to external attacks, but also in internal abnormalities.
A Few Facts
• The honey color is characteristic of the origin of the honey. The dark colored honey is usually richer in minerals (potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium, iron, etc.)
• Honey yields about 4 kcal per gram, much less than of other corresponding fatty sugars such as chocolate, which yields about 9 kcal per gram.
• There is controversy about cooking with honey since if it is heated above 108 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes transformed into a glue-like substance which is difficult to digest.
• Even though honey has so many benefits to adults and children, avoid feeding honey to infants. It contains spores of a toxic bacteria called clostridium botulinum. For adults and children this bacteria is harmless, but the digestive and immune system in infants are not yet fully developed and may cause infant botulism.
• The crystallization of honey is a natural phenomenon that has no effect in its nutritional and biological status. A crystallized honey is neither damaged nor adulterated.
Main Health Benefits
1. Energy Booster - Honey is known for instantly boosting the performance and endurance of both the body and mind with its natural carbohydrates which are in the form of glucose and fructose. Honey can provide up to 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon, making it an inexpensive instant energy booster.
2. Can Heal Wounds and Burns - Research has shown that the topical application of honey on minor wounds may speed up healing. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and honeys anti-bacterial nature combine to create this effect. Its anti-bacterial properties prevent infection and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, limiting both swelling and pain, and helping in tissue regeneration.
3. Reduces Cough and Sore Throat - One of the most well-know health benefits of honey is that it has the ability to soothe a sore throat. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties it also kills certain bacteria that caused the sore throat in the first place.
Whenever I personally have a cough or a sore throat, I use 4-5 slices of lemon in a mug of warm water and let them saturate for about 2 minutes. Then squeezing the juice out of the same slices in the water, and adding 2 teaspoons of raw honey, I make my own cough and sore throat healing mix. It doesn't taste that great, but it works wonders.
4. For Hangovers - When you get a hangover from drinking too much alcohol, honey is a perfect ingredient that can be mixed with other ingredients to relieve the situation. Fructose and glucose which are found in honey speed up the oxidation of alcohol in the liver.
You can make yourself a banana milkshake and adding a few tablespoons of honey to fight against hangovers. Another "cocktail" would be to mix orange juice, natural yogurt and honey and blend them together to make an anti-hangover smoothie.
5. Weight Loss - Honey contains over 20 amino acids and a variety of minerals that help the metabolism, which reduces the risk of obesity. It is believed that drinking a mix of lemon juice and some honey, first thing in the morning, is an effective anti-cellulite treatment.
It must be noted that only raw unpasteurized honey contains so many beneficial nutrients. If you decide to use honey either for internal or external healing benefits, it is always wise to consult your local physician first as honey, like any other food can cause allergies or any other side effects.
If today is the day that you want to change your lifestyle, then
do it today, because the more you put it off until "Next Week", the less
likely you are to ever start. Just take a quick look at this site today
to get some free tips at www.whatyoucanachieve.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Constantinos_K_Costa
No comments:
Post a Comment