Is Honey Really Good For You?

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Monday, 03 January 2011 18:56

Most Everywhere, January 2011 — Honey, which has been around forever, or at least since honey bees were invented, has been said to be the “food of the gods” and a cure-all elixir. But is honey really good for you? Yes, if you go easy and consume it in moderation. Its primary feature is that people who have problems digesting regular cane sugar can more easily metabolize honey because it comes pre-digested by bees. It also provides a natural energy, so in that way, it’s pretty special. The manufacture of honey has gone unchanged since the first beekeepers took the nectar collected by the bees and consumed it – but causing no harm to the bees themselves, who continued to go about their business of collecting, regurgitating and storing the finished product inside a bunch of little boxes they call honeycombs, which they keep inside their beehives. Honey is composed of two main sugars, levulose and dextrose. These sugars do not need to be broken down by the digestive process, so honey is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, giving a quick energy boost to the body. It also contains protein, vitamins and minerals, but no cholesterol. Honey also contains certain potassium salts that make it an excellent moisture absorber and a great killer of germs and bacteria. In fact, honey is more effective at killing bacteria than some antibiotics. Honey also helps draw excess fluid from the blood stream, lowering blood pressure. If taken on an empty stomach with water and lemon, it can reduce obesity and weight. Beauticians recommend using it liberally for a glowing complexion and silky hair. If taken at night with hot milk, it is known to cure constipation. Besides containing essential minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc as well as several different amino acids, honey has less than 2% sodium. And dark honey has more nutrients than lighter varieties. Because of its antibacterial properties, pure honey can be preserved indefinitely. Single varietal honeys are creating interest in the gourmet foods arena, but this trend is nothing new to beekeepers. Honey is a natural product that has always been highly dependent on the local environment in which the bees gather their nectar. Much like wine regions and coffee regions, different honey regions also exist. SOURCES: Several < Prev   Next >