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1. Honey Contains Some Nutrients Honey is a sweet, thick liquid made by honeybees. The bees collect sugar — mainly the sugar-rich nectar of flowers — from their environment (1). Once inside the beehive, they repeatedly consume, digest and regurgitate the nectar. The end product is honey, a liquid that serves as stored food for bees. The smell, color and taste depend on the types of flowers visited. Nutritionally, 1 tablespoon of honey (21 grams) contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose. It contains virtually no fiber, fat or protein . It also contains trace amounts — under 1% of the RDI — of several vitamins and minerals, but you would have to eat many pounds to fulfill your daily requirements. Where honey shines is in its content of bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants. Darker types tend to be even higher in these compounds than lighter types. SUMMARY: Honey is thick, sweet liquid made by honeybees. It is low in vitamins and minerals but may be high in some plant compounds. 2. High-Quality Honey Is Rich in Antioxidants High-quality honey contains many important antioxidants. These include organic acids and phenolic compounds like flavonoids. Scientists believe that the combination of these compounds gives honey its antioxidant power. Interestingly, two studies have shown that buckwheat honey increases the antioxidant value of your blood. Antioxidants have been linked to reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer. They may also promote eye health. SUMMARY: Honey contains a number of antioxidants, including phenolic compounds like flavonoids. 3. The Antioxidants in It Can Help Lower Blood Pressure Blood pressure is an important risk factor for heart disease, and honey may help lower it. This is because it contains antioxidant compounds that have been linked to lower blood pressure . Studies in both rats and humans have shown modest reductions in blood pressure from consuming honey. SUMMARY: Eating honey may lead to modest reductions in blood pressure, an important risk factor for heart disease. 4. Honey Also Helps Improve Cholesterol High LDL cholesterol levels is a strong risk factor for heart disease. This type of cholesterol plays a major role in atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup in your arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Interestingly, several studies show that honey may improve your cholesterol levels. It reduces total and “bad” LDL cholesterol while significantly raising “good” HDL cholesterol. For example, one study in 55 patients compared honey to table sugar and found that honey caused a 5.8% reduction in LDL and a 3.3% increase in HDL cholesterol. It also led to modest weight loss of 1.3% SUMMARY: Honey seems to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. It leads to modest reductions in total and “bad” LDL cholesterol while raising “good” HDL cholesterol. 5. Honey Can Lower Triglycerides Elevated blood triglycerides are another risk factor for heart disease. They are also associated with insulin resistance, a major driver of type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels tend to increase on a diet high in sugar and refined carbs. Interestingly, multiple studies have linked regular honey consumption with lower triglyceride levels, especially when it is used to replace sugar . For example, one study comparing honey and sugar found 11–19% lower triglyceride levels in the honey group. SUMMARY: Elevated triglycerides are a risk factor for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Several studies show that honey can lower triglyceride levels, especially when used as a sugar substitute. 6. The Antioxidants Linked to Other Beneficial Effects on Heart Health Again, honey is a rich source of phenols and other antioxidant compounds. Many of these have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. They may help the arteries in your heart dilate, increasing blood flow to your heart. They may also help prevent blood clot formation, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes . Furthermore, one study in rats showed that honey protected the heart from oxidative stress. All told, there is no long-term human study available on honey and heart health. Take these results with a grain of salt. SUMMARY: The antioxidants in honey have been linked to beneficial effects on heart health, including increased blood flow to your heart and a reduced risk of blood clot formation. 7. Honey Promotes Burn and Wound Healing Topical honey treatment has been used to heal wounds and burns since ancient Egypt and is still common today. A review of 26 studies on honey and wound care found honey most effective at healing partial-thickness burns and wounds that have become infected after surgery. Honey is also an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, which are serious complications that can lead to amputation. One study reported a 43.3% success rate with honey as a wound treatment. In another study, topical honey healed a whopping 97% of patients’ diabetic ulcers. Researchers believe that honey’s healing powers come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects as well as its ability to nourish surrounding tissue. What's more, it can help treat other skin conditions, including psoriasis and herpes lesions. Manuka honey is considered especially effective for treating burn wounds. SUMMARY: When applied to the skin, honey can be part of an effective treatment plan for burns, wounds and many other skin conditions. It is particularly effective for diabetic foot ulcers. 8. Honey Can Help Suppress Coughs in Children Coughing is a common problem for children with upper respiratory infections. These infections can affect sleep and quality of life for both children and parents. However, mainstream medications for cough are not always effective and can have side effects. Interestingly, honey may be a better choice, and evidence indicates it is very effective. One study found that honey worked better than two common cough medications. Another study found that it reduced cough symptoms and improved sleep more than cough medication. Nevertheless, honey should never be given to children under one year of age due to the risk for botulism. SUMMARY; For children over one year of age, honey can act as a natural and safe cough suppressant. Some studies show that it is even more effective than cough medicine. 9. It's Delicious, But Still High in Calories and Sugar Honey is a delicious, healthier alternative to sugar. Make sure to choose a high-quality brand, because some lower-quality ones may be mixed with syrup. Keep in mind that honey should only be consumed in moderation, as it is still high in calories and sugar. The benefits of honey are most pronounced when it is replacing another, unhealthier sweetener. At the end of the day, honey is simply a "less bad" sweetener than sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Written by Kris Gunnars, BScon September 5, 2018 From Healthline: Since ancient times, honey has been used as both a food and a medicine. It's very high in beneficial plant compounds and offers several health benefits. Honey is particularly healthy when used instead of refined sugar, which is 100% empty calories. Here are the top 10 health benefits of honey.
9 Surprising Health Benefits of Honey
Discover the truth about honey with our comprehensive guide, "Myths & Facts About Honey." Uncover common misconceptions, explore honey's health benefits, and learn about its diverse varieties. Dive into the science and history behind this natural sweetener at Cotton Lane Citrus Honey. Sent to us by a fellow beekeeper and we thought a good amount of info to share with our customers 1. Crystallized honey is spoiled honey Myth There’s a lot of misconception when it comes to crystallization, also known as granulation. Crystallization is honey’s natural process of preserving itself. The main reason for this phenomenon is honey’s composition. Typically, honey contains natural sugars and around 20% water. Because this is saturated, the glucose may separate from the water and form crystals. However, the honey is largely unchanged and remains just as tasty. If your honey is crystallized, follow our three simple steps for decrystallizing your prized sweet. 2. Honey is a great alternative to artificial sweeteners and table sugar Fact Honey contains nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that artificial sugars don’t have. And because honey is sweeter than table sugar, you can use less to achieve the same effect. See exactly how honey and sugar compare in our sweetener showdown. 3. Darker honey or white “foam” means the honey has gone bad Myth Honey comes in all colors and flavors. The color, taste and even scent can vary widely depending on the source of the flower nectar, region, soil and climate. Warmer temperatures, storage and age also tend to darken the honey and change the flavor. The white “foam” that appears at the top of honey is simply air. This “foam” is a result of tiny air bubbles in the honey escaping to the top of the bottle. So next time you see this, don’t throw out your honey! 4. Honey can be used for skin care Fact Honey can be a great ingredient in homemade skin care products. In fact, here are six homemade skin products made with honey you can whip up. 5. Honey is gluten free Fact Honey is naturally free of gluten. It contains no wheat, barley, rye or oats or their byproducts. No gluten-containing products are stored or used in Sue Bee® honey facilities. 6. It’s dangerous to use metal spoons with honey Myth This is an old wives’ tale that won’t go away. While honey is acidic, scooping your honey with a metal spoon is such a quick movement that corrosion of the metal is unlikely. However, we do not recommend storing a metal spoon within your honey for long periods of time. 7. Honey can be used on wounds Fact Up until the early 20th century, honey was used as a conventional therapy in fighting infection. 8. All bees produce honey Myth There are nearly 20,000 known bee species in the world. From this number, only 5% make edible honey. Only honeybees and stingless bees produce enough honey to make harvesting worth it. Bumblebees produce a small amount of honey for their own survival. 9. Honey is the only food source produced by an insect that humans eat Fact Out of the more than 950,000 known insect species in the world, honeybees are the only insect to produce edible food for humans. 10. Honey can help soothe a sore throat Fact The next time your throat is aching, grab your honey bottle. Honey has been known to help aide the symptoms of sore throats. A recent study by a Penn State College of Medicine team also found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative to other cough suppressants. If your throat is starting to feel scratchy, try these four cough drops made with honey. 11. Honey is a great source of natural energy Fact Honey’s composition of carbohydrates and glucose levels can help provide longer-lasting energy. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel we use for our energy and are necessary in our diet to help maintain muscle glycogen. If you’re looking for long-lasting energy, check out these 14 energy bites with honey. 12. Honey never goes bad Fact We repeatedly state that honey never spoils. However, honey can lose its aroma and flavor if it’s not stored properly. Because of honey’s composition, it absorbs moisture like a sponge. Properly preserved honey retains its quality for much longer than the “best by date” printed on bottles. So save your honey and discover the best practices for storing your favorite sweetener.
Myths & Facts About Honey
Facts About Honey Bees
1. Honeybees are super-important pollinators for flowers, fruits and vegetables. This means that they help other plants grow! Bees transfer pollen between the male and female parts, allowing plants to grow seeds and fruit. 2. Honeybees live in hives (or colonies). The members of the hive are divided into three types: Queen: One queen runs the whole hive. Her job is to lay the eggs that will spawn the hive’s next generation of bees. The queen also produces chemicals that guide the behavior of the other bees. Workers: these are all female and their roles are to forage for food (pollen and nectar from flowers), build and protect the hive, clean and circulate air by beating their wings. Workers are the only bees most people ever see flying around outside the hive. Drones: These are the male bees, and their purpose is to mate with the new queen. Several hundred live in each hive during the spring and summer. But come winter, when the hive goes into survival mode, the drones are kicked out! 3. What are these buzzing bugs most famous for? Delicious honey! But did you know they produce honey as food stores for the hive during winter? Luckily for us, these efficient little workers produce 2-3 time more honey than they need, so we get to enjoy the tasty treat, too! 4. If the queen bee dies, workers will create a new queen by selecting a young larva (the newly hatched baby insects) and feeding it a special food called “royal jelly “. This enables the larva to develop into a fertile queen. 5. Honeybees are fab flyers. They fly at a speed of around 25km per hour and beat their wings 200 times per second! 6. Each bee has 170 odorant receptors, which means they have one serious sense of smell! They use this to communicate within the hive and to recognize different types of flowers when looking for food. 7. The average worker bee lives for just five to six weeks. During this time, she’ll produce around a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey. 8. The queen can live up to five years. She is busiest in the summer months, when she can lay up to 2,500 eggs a day! 9. Honeybees are also brilliant boogiers! To share information about the best food sources, they perform their ‘waggle dance’. When the worker returns to the hive, it moves in a figure-of-eight and waggles its body to indicate the direction of the food source. Cool, huh? 10. Sadly, over the past 15 years, colonies of bees have been disappearing, and the reason remains unknown. Referred to as ‘colony collapse disorder’, billions of Honeybees across the world are leaving their hives, never to return. In some regions, up to 90% of bees have disappeared!
