Honey is one of Mother Nature’s best products. With its delicious and distinct flavor it’s hard to believe the laundry list of health benefits that go along with it. This sweetener seems almost too good to be true, but when used or consumed in its raw form, we can benefit from a number of honey’s healthful uses.
Health benefits of honey include:
Folate — Folate is important to the human body because it aids in healthy cell growth and in DNA repair. Folate also encourages the growth of healthy red blood cells which help us to avoid anemia.
Riboflavin — This antioxidant plays a key role in the human body’s ability to metabolize fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Consuming the daily recommended amount of riboflavin can also help in keeping your skin healthy. Individuals with a deficiency can suffer from dry flakey skin, chapped lips, and mouth ulcers.
Vitamin C — Also an antioxidant, vitamin C helps the body and enables healthy immune system function. Having a strong and healthy immune system helps our bodies to fight off viruses and disease.
Cold Symptoms — Honey is an old time remedy that is still just as relevant today as it was when it was first used. Adding honey to hot tea or simply taking a spoonful of honey during a cold can help to sooth soar throats and ease coughing.
Blood Count — In a small study, participants who were known to have issues with low blood count during chemotherapy were given a regimen of a very specific kind of honey made in Israel. After beginning the regimen, 40 percent of the participants had no further issues with low blood count.
Bacterial Infection — Several specific types of specially prepared honey have been shown to kill all types of bacteria that are found in wounds. Topical application of these types of honey have shown significant improvement in sterilizing wounds.
While honey should not be your first course of action in treating illness or wounds, it is certainly a very useful and delicious supplement. Speak to your holistic healthcare professional or your primary care physician to learn about the many health benefits of honey.
