Honey is a sweet, thick substance made from honeybees. Not only is it used as a natural sweetener, it also has a long history of profit. For centuries, people have used honey for several medicinal purposes in Ayurveda.
Bees make honey by sipping nectar from the flowers and returning it to the hive for processing. Other bees eat the nectar from the nest and mix with enzymes that partially digest the nectar into honey. The flavour of honey depends on flowers, such as wild flowers, avocados, or orange flowers.
Here’s what you need to know about honey, how it fits into your diet and its benefits:
Honey vs. Sugar
Honey is a natural sweetener, but it is not a low-calorie alternative to sugar. It is nutritionally similar to regular sugar:
For 1 tablespoon of honey:
61 calories 16 grams of sugar
One tablespoon of sugar contains:
48 calories, 12 grams of sugar
If you like honey, it can be used in place of sugar as it contains more beneficial nutrients (more details below). However, if you want a sugar substitute that has a low nutritional impact, you can try non-nutritional sweeteners, such as stevia and monk fruit extracts, which contain zero calories and zero sugar.
Benefits of honey
Honey mainly contains sugar and water. However, unlike regular sugar, it is reported to contain around 200 substances, including:
These substances are why honey has some additional benefits.
1. Contains antioxidants
Natural honey contains antioxidant-like compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. Antioxidants help to prevent cells from being damaged free radically.
Warning: Most antioxidants should be obtained from fruits and vegetables. However, if your current diet is high in sweeteners, switching to honey can increase your antioxidant intake.
2. It may support the immune system
A small number of small animal studies and cell culture studies have shown that honey can help support immune cell activity. In short, honey is not guaranteed to boost immunity, but it is promising. We still need to see more evidence.
3.May be supported with digestion
Honey has been used for a long time in Ayurvedic medicine to support the digestive tract. However, modern evidence is patchy. If you think you are suffering from a digestive condition, consult your doctor.
4. Can relieve sore throat
A spoonful of honey is widely known to help relieve sore throats. Try adding honey to the warm tea with a squeeze of lemon. Not only is it cozy and comfortable, but honey also covers your throat to relieve irritation.
Possible risks of honey
Normal honey is generally safe for people over a year. Microorganisms cannot grow in honey, but honey can contain botulinum spores that germinate after eating. The infant’s immune system may still be developed and not ready to promote infection. People who are sensitive or allergic to bee pollen should also be careful.
“Is it safe to eat raw honey?” Perhaps, but do not feed young infants, as it may still contain botulinum spores (the same as regular honey). Raw honey contains trace amounts of yeast, wax and pollen, so people with certain allergies should be on guard.
Raw honey is not filtered or heated, and the potential health benefits of raw honey is that it may retain more of the valuable substances described above.
