Aside from being a sweet and tasty food, honey contains several amazing healing properties. Read this article to find out the various uses of honey.
Why is honey amazing?
Raw honey contains several essential minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and sulphur. It also contains small traces of copper, which is beneficial in the absorption of iron. Aside from the protein contents, honey contains several vitamins such as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and C. The amount of vitamins varies from the qualities of the pollen and nectar used in making the honey. However, the other components of honey are not easy to be identified. The active properties in honey come from an enzyme called glucose oxidase which is secreted by bees into the nectar as they convert it into honey. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by this enzyme when it is diluted with water. Hydrogen peroxide is an antibacterial chemical and the chemical that gives the jelly bush and Manuka honeys their healing properties.
What are the health benefits of honey?
Manuka honey is excellent in treating wounds, especially the ones that have become infected. It is directly applied to the wound and is covered with a bandage afterwards. This dressing is able to help reduce inflammation and pain, minimise scarring, fight infection, and stimulate new growth of skin. Then, the honey absorbs the moisture on the skin through the osmosis process which helps killing bacteria as the wound dries. It speeds up the healing process and stimulates the growth of new cell tissues, something that most traditional antibiotics are incapable of. Of all the raw honeys available, Manuka honey contains the most antibiotic properties and can be used for treating burns, cuts, abrasions, rashes, ulcerations, and skin infections.
It can be used to treat various skin conditions like allergies, eczema, insect bites, and psoriasis. Manuka honey can help improve digestion as the body easily absorbs honey. It is an effective treatment for gastroenteritis and stomach ulcers. Also, raw honey can act as a mild sedative and laxative. Honey is famously used to relieve sore throats, either by the spoonful or in a hot drink. This is because honey contains antimicrobial properties. The glucose and fructose found in honey is so easily absorbed, which is why it’s a great high energy food and good for softening the skin.
Honey is also a powerful booster immune system because of its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. A study has revealed that people who regularly eat honey have higher levels of antioxidants in their body. In fact, honey contains antioxidants as many as those found in apples, oranges, strawberries, or spinach, which gives it a protective effect on the body. Dark honey has higher levels of antioxidants than light honey. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, eating honey local to your area is beneficial in preventing seasonal allergies. This is because the pollen used by bees from local plants and eventually end up in the honey.
Honey is the ideal fuel for the liver as it contains a nearly 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Fructose is important as it unlocks the enzyme from the liver cell’s nucleus necessary for the incorporation of glucose into glycogen. An adequate glycogen stored in the liver is highly important to supply fuel to the brain while we are sleeping and during prolonged exercise.
Best type of honey for health and healing
Of all the types of honey, unprocessed or raw honey contains the greatest amount of healing properties, as pollen, which contains the most active components of the honey, is destroyed during exposure to light and heat processing. Therefore, using honey from the supermarket and putting it on a bandage will not work. Use honey that has a high level of antibacterial agents and that is as unprocessed and sterile as possible. In addition, you should look for honey marked as being 100 percent pure to use it in a medicinal way.
The types of flowers that bees used in pollination will greatly determine both the colour and the flavour of the honey. Darker shades of honey have more antioxidants. While all types of honey will have some form of healing properties, it is important to know the proper storage of honey. You should keep it in a cool dry place in an airtight container so that no moisture from the air will be absorbed. If it is stored properly, it will keep almost indefinitely.
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