For some of us, breakfast isn’t complete without a hefty sprinkling of honey. The golden nectar transforms an ordinary bowl of oatmeal into something far more wonderful when it settles on our mouths. But here’s the thing: adding a spoonful of honey to your daily cup of tea or eating honey toast every morning could have a huge impact on your health.
Here Are The Health Benefits Of Eating A Spoonful Of Honey Every Day
A Sweet Delight
We don’t blame you if you’re addicted to honey. It’s lovely, sweet, and unbelievably tasty. Yes, we fully comprehend Winnie Pooh’s viewpoint! Get a pen if you’re not sure what kind of food works best with it. This is something you should be aware of.
A Sweet Delight
It Goes With Anything
Honey is a delicious topping for a stack of pancakes or a slice of toast, of course. This should be self-evident! It can, however, be used to sweeten porridge, yogurt, or even cereal. Honey is a healthier alternative to sugar in your morning mug if you can’t imagine starting your day without a cup of coffee.
It Goes With Anything
A Lot Of Varieties
To say honey is a versatile ingredient is an understatement. Another thing to consider is that there isn’t just one type accessible. According to the Indian company Dabur, which sells honey, there are currently over 300 types available. That isn’t a blunder!
A Lot Of Varieties
Everyone Loves It
Honey is also a common ingredient. In 2019, Americans spent over $620 million on the product, according to Statista. And it’s a global phenomenon. Honey’s global market was valued at almost $7 billion in the same year, and by 2027, it’s predicted to be worth more than $11 billion.
Everyone Loves It
How Honey Is Produced
Talk about mind-boggling numbers. People can’t get enough honey no matter where they are. We do, however, have another question: how is the substance made? In April 2019, a culinary specialist spoke to Time magazine and discussed the procedure in great detail to assist answer that issue.
How Honey Is Produced
How They Harvest It
Dana Hunnes works at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center as a staff member. According to the expert, “Bees collect the dilute-sugary nectar of flora plants, produce an enzymatic activity after ingestion, regurgitate it into honey cells and evaporate a high percentage of the water out of it. [That produces] a super-sweet viscous liquid known as honey.”
How They Harvest It
The Different Types Of Honey
It’s fascinating, don’t you think? However, it piques our interest. Is it true that different kinds of honey are produced in various ways? Is it what sets them apart? Time sat down with another food expert to clear things up. Jenny Friedman works as a registered dietician in Pennsylvania.
The Different Types Of Honey
The Reason For The Variety
According to Friedman, “The variety refers to where the honey comes from, basically, the types of flowers bees have fed on. The color, flavor, and major nutritional properties of honey all depend on the nectar that the bees used.” Someone else weighed in with some extra information as well.
The Reason For The Variety
The Key Difference
Yes, Anna Debenham discussed this with HuffPost Australia in September 2017. Based on her experience as a dietitian, she maintains The Biting Truth, a food nutrition website. Debenham, in any case, looked at the major differences between two varieties of honey: raw and normal. It may influence your selection on which type to buy.
The Key Difference
Raw Honey
According to a statement on Debenham’s website, “Raw honey is honey in its natural state, meaning it hasn’t been strained, filtered, or heated. It can be made from any type of flower or plant. The minimal processing of raw honey is often why it includes particles of wax, propolis [tree bud resin] and pollen.” In the standard option, the specks are always erased.
Raw Honey
Regular Honey
Regular honey is warmed and strained to remove any remaining pollen or wax throughout the production process. It also kills the yeast, preventing the honey from spoiling over time. As a result of all of this, these items have a velvety feel to them when you open a jar.
Regular Honey
The Best Variety
That’s a lot to take in. But, if you’re thinking about getting into honey, there’s one more thing to think about: which variety is the best? In this regard, manuka honey is frequently cited. It’s from New Zealand, and as Debenham’s Biting Truth partner explains, it’s got some very interesting content.
The Best Variety
Manuka Honey
HuffPost Australia’s Anna Parker shared the following with HuffPost Australia: “Manuka honey usually has a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) rating on the package which means it has been tested for antibacterial activity. This is similar to the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number you’d see on sunscreens. The higher the UMF, the greater the antibacterial effects.”
Manuka Honey
The Benefits Of Honey
You probably didn’t expect that. There’s a lot to take in here, to be sure. But, while you’re pondering it, let’s return to where we began. What is the health benefit of a tablespoon of honey every day? What are the ramifications for us? In reality, having nectar in your diet has a lot of benefits. Let’s get this party started!
The Benefits Of Honey
Antibacterial Properties
Let’s start with one of the benefits that Parker mentioned. Honey, in fact, contains antibacterial qualities that can destroy hazardous bacteria and fungi. A 2011 study demonstrated the full strength of the manuka type in battling dangerous germs.
Antibacterial Properties
Amazing In Killing Bacteria
The Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicines published a report after doing many tests using manuka honey in Kolkata and shared their findings with the rest of the globe that spring. According to the findings, E. coli, H. pylori, and S. aureus can be killed by the tasty nectar. Isn’t that an impressive hit list?
Amazing In Killing Bacteria
What Honey Can Shield You From
E. coli, in case you didn’t know, is the source of food poisoning. H. pylori and S. aureus, though, are two bacteria that can cause stomach problems aureus, on the other hand, has the potential to cause gastrointestinal and skin issues. Who’d have guessed that a honey-like substance could protect you from all of this?
What Honey Can Shield You From
It Doesn’t Stop There
Honey’s incredible health benefits don’t end there. The tasty nectar also contains a variety of antioxidants, including ascorbic acid, phytochemicals, and flavonoids, according to the website Medical News Today. So, what does that mean exactly? These compounds, on the other hand, play an important role in preventing injury to the human body.
It Doesn’t Stop There
Oxidative Stress
It all comes down to oxidative stress. This is an internal “process” triggered by a difference in antioxidants and free radicals, in layman’s terms. Your tissue and cells are at risk of being damaged if the latter outnumber the former. And trust us when we tell you that this isn’t good news. No, not by a long shot.
Oxidative Stress
Where The Antioxidants Come In
According to Medical News Today, too much oxidative stress over a long period can make you vulnerable to catastrophic illnesses. Free radical damage has been linked to heart disease and cancer, for example. According to the website, diabetes is also on the list. Antioxidants, on the other hand, come into play here.
Where The Antioxidants Come In
Eating Antioxidants
Eating foods high in antioxidants can significantly reduce your oxidative stress levels. As a result, you’ll have a lower chance of developing the issues we just discussed. As a result, it’s not unreasonable to believe that honey can help you avoid cancer and serious heart problems.
Eating Antioxidants
Not All Honey Are The Same
It’s possible, however, that not all types of honey have the same effect. Regular products may lose their antioxidant properties during the manufacturing process, whereas raw honey retains them. It turns out that when certain foods are heated, antioxidants dissipate. That’s something to keep in mind the next time you go shopping.
Not All Honey Are The Same
What Else Can Honey Do?
In any case, how can a spoonful of honey be of any other use to the human body? Take a look at what raw nectar has to offer in terms of nutrition. It’s a veritable Who’s Who of health-promoting ingredients! Do you require any examples? That’s all there is to it. They contain calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, and manganese, among other nutrients. There’s also riboflavin and phosphorus in there.
What Else Can Honey Do?
Good For The Bones
A few of those nutrients can be found in lavender nectar, which is particularly effective. Yes, according to the website AlBeeNa, it makes a difference for people who have bone problems, teeth problems, or a significant calcium deficiency in their skeletal system. Best of all, it’s ideal for people who are trying to lose weight.
Good For The Bones
It Can Help With High Cholesterol
Another important benefit of honey is that it can assist you in lowering your cholesterol levels. Isn’t it fascinating to learn about? If you have a problem with high cholesterol levels, it is a good idea to start incorporating the sweet treat into your diet. But did you know that honey can assist you in a variety of other ways?
It Can Help With High Cholesterol
It Could Help With Diarrhea
If you are suffering from diarrhea, honey may be of assistance. Indeed, a group of researchers decided to investigate the use of honey to treat diarrhea, and their findings were published in the Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science. Over 150 children with acute gastroenteritis participated in the series of tests.
It Could Help With Diarrhea
The Experiment
The children were split into two groups, one of which received an “oral rehydration solution” and honey mixture and the other of which received a placebo. The others, on the other hand, lacked nectar. The researchers came to the conclusion that the first group had an easier time recovering from their diarrhea. They also recovered more quickly from gastroenteritis.
The Experiment
Some Honey Are Better For Certain Jobs
Furthermore, certain types of honey are extremely effective in treating stomach problems. Take dandelion honey, for example. According to AlBeeNa, it is said to help with stomach problems like gastritis and colitis. It can also help with a variety of other issues, such as cholelithiasis and cirrhosis. That’s a long list. The benefits of the sticky spread don’t end there.
Some Honey Are Better For Certain Jobs
Good For The Brain
Honey, according to Medical News Today, may be beneficial to maintaining brain function. So, how are things going? Two reports were published on the subject, one in the fall of 2015 and the other in the spring of 2016. The research was published in the Metabolic Brain Disease journal.
Good For The Brain
Experiment With Rats
As part of the experiment, a group of rats would be exposed to lead. Honey, on the other hand, was given to some of them to see if it could protect their brains from hazardous metal. The following was written at the end of the report: “It can be concluded that honey has neuroprotective effects against the lead-induced cognitive deficit, probably by enhancing antioxidant activities.”
Experiment With Rats
Good For Your Hippocampus
A few years later, the second paper was published in Pharmacognosy Research. According to that source, raw honey can help your hippocampus if it becomes inflamed. Why not try a tablespoon of it every day because that area is so important for memory? It’s got to be worth a try.
Good For Your Hippocampus
It Can Lessen Your Coughs
Honey, according to Medical News Today, can also help you get rid of pesky coughs. With that in mind, it’s hard to argue that the nectar isn’t beneficial to your health. However, we’re wondering if there are any risks to consuming the sweetener on a daily basis.
It Can Lessen Your Coughs
Don’t Take Too Much
Let’s start with the weight gain implications. A single tablespoon, it turns out, has exactly 64 calories. On its own, that doesn’t appear to be too bad. If you eat four or five helpings throughout the day, however, the numbers start to add up. To put it another way, you should avoid overindulging.
Don’t Take Too Much
Not A Natural Sugar
Honey’s high sugar content is one of the most serious health risks associated with it. As it turns out, the nectar’s sweetness isn’t considered a “natural sugar.” Instead, it’s an “added sugar,” and those numbers in your diet should be kept low. If you don’t, your heart could suffer serious consequences.
Not A Natural Sugar
The Daily Recommended Sugar Intake
Males are allowed to consume 37.5 grams of added sugars per day, according to the American Heart Association. Ladies are a little smaller, weighing in at around 25 grams. A single spoonful of honey weighs exactly 17.3 grams for the sake of comparison. Are you starting to see the issue?
The Daily Recommended Sugar Intake
Just Like White Sugar
That’s a sizable chunk of the daily allowance. During her interview with Time magazine, Friedman brought up an interesting point about sugar. In her opinion, some people can’t help but believe honey isn’t as toxic as white sugar. It’s almost as if I’m going through a mental stumbling block.
Just Like White Sugar
In The Long Run
Friedman said, “A lot of people feel better when they read a food label and see honey instead of sugar. However, in the long run, the nuance is more meaningful to the mind than the body. The body pretty much perceives sugar and honey added to foods the same way.”
In The Long Run
Still A Form Of Added Sugar
Parker agreed with that viewpoint in an interview with HuffPost Australia. The dietitian, however, had something else to say. She stated, “Honey is still a form of ‘added’ sugar and is processed by the body in a similar way to other types of sugar. The good news is that honey takes longer to digest than table sugar, providing more sustainable energy.”
Still A Form Of Added Sugar
The Benefits Are Worth It
There’s a lot to take in here, both literally and metaphorically! While the risks must be taken into account, the benefits are far too great to completely eliminate honey from your diet. As long as you don’t consume too much honey every day, honey will provide your body with more benefits than drawbacks.
The Benefits Are Worth It