Raw Honey: Wonderful Benefits and Uses

Not just health but beauty benefits, too. And there are no less than 15 of them. That’s what raw honey gives you. And no wonder, because this nectar-derived liquid sweetener is not just all sugary. Unlike sugar, it’s packed with vitamins and minerals. Consuming honey then results to

Health Benefits

1. Energy Boost. Instead of taking energy drinks that contain nothing but sugar and caffeine, taking honey is a better and really healthy alternative. It can effectively boost your energy level having 64 calories if you take a tablespoon of honey or 1.031 calories in a cupful of honey. And that’s including a lot of natural vitamins and minerals like Vitamins C, E, and B, riboflavin, thiamin, iron, calcium, and selenium, to name a few benefits from raw honey.
2. Quick Healing Properties. Due to its high anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties, applying honey topically on wounds is noted to cause quick healing. It even deodorizes open wounds and initiates healing action in wounds that have remained open for a certain time.
3. Antioxidant Action. Antioxidants boost the immune system and help the body detoxify. Since fruit and vegetable flowers contain the powerful antioxidant polyphenol and since honey is extracted from these flowers by working bees, honey has varying concentrations of it. Polyphenols are known to help lessen the incidence of heart problems and cancer.

Moreover, since sugar and other artificial sweeteners wreck the liver, honey as a substitute can prevent this occurrence.

1. Reduced Allergies. Some people are allergic to pollens. Honey contains some of these pollens in small amounts. So, as you consume honey your body gets used to taking pollen and starts building a defense against it. Just make sure it’s raw honey from a local producer.
2. Better Digestion. The natural enzymes found in honey are said to aid in digestion, although not all honey experts believe these benefits from raw honey. However, Ayurvedic medicine includes the use of honey in treating digestive problems. Ayurvedic medicine is an alternative medicine that originated in India.
3. Cough Suppressor and Sore Throat Relief. If the cough or sore throat is bacterial in nature, honey’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties may do the trick. But if it’s viral (which often it is), then honey can relieve the symptoms. It provides a coating on the throat walls to soothe a cough and relieve sore throat irritation.
4. Better Sleep. Honey releases the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain. This then is turned into a compound that makes us sleep a lot better.
5. Improves Memory. Antioxidants found in honey can help improve memory. Taking honey either reduces or eliminates the effects of metabolic stress so your sleep at night improves. That in turn improves memory. Additionally, polyphenols present in honey are anti-oxidative stress and protect our cell defense system, protecting our neurons and may help dementia patients. In fact, one study found that honey consumption may help prevent dementia.
6. Gets Rid of Hangover. Suffering from hangover? Too much wine the night before can give you a lot of headaches in the morning. Knowing Honey can make quick relief. Together with tea, they can act to hasten detoxification in the body and get rid of the effects of liquor.

Beauty Benefits

1. Heals Acne and Scars. Acne happens when there is clogging of the skin pores, infection, and inflammation. But honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial action plus an anti-inflammatory property. Together, they can work to eliminate redness and bulging caused by cystic acne. Honey also unclogs pores for easier cleaning. Synthetic acne remedies can dry up the skin, but not honey. It keeps skin moisture intact and even gets rid of the scar.
2. Moisturizes Skin. As mentioned, honey helps keep skin moisture intact. Ancient beauty practices often involved milk and honey. Honey can be added to shampoos and conditioners as well as moisturizers. Or it can work alone for facial, scalp, and body applications. Being a known natural humectant, it can attract moisture and help keep it in the deeper layers of the skin.
3. Anti-Hair Loss. Talking of scalp application, the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of honey can help get rid of dandruff fungus. It also relieves itching and redness of the scalp. The European Journal of Medical Research featured a study on how honey remedies hair loss.
4. Anti-Heat and Pollution. Raw honey protects the skin from UV rays, heat, and pollution due to its flavonoids content, another antioxidant. A study in Brazil found honey to protect the DNA against oxidative damage. It also cleans the skin of small particles and dust from pollution.
5. Skin Glow. Honey has gluconic acid that helps remove dead skin cells.
6. Smoother lips. It gets rid of chapped lip skin and helps soften line marks.

Just a heads up! Remember to check honey purity before using. These days, several fake honey brands are being sold in the market.

So, are you ready to get started on the habit of putting raw honey in your tea and other drinks starting now?