6 Health Benefits of Honey

Honey is a sweet, delicious food that has also been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Honey contains several nutrients and health benefits, especially when used in the place of refined sugar.

If you’re thinking of incorporating honey into your diet, here are some of the reasons this could be a good idea.

Honey is Packed with Nutrients

Honey is made by bees. The bees collect flower nectar from their surroundings. When the bees get into their hives, they eat, digest, and regurgitate the flower nectar. This process produces honey. The color, taste, and smell of the honey depend on the types of flowers the bees extracted nectar from.

One tablespoon of honey has 17 grams of sugar and 64 calories. The sugars in honey include maltose, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. Honey has little to no protein or fat.

Honey also has trace amounts of minerals and vitamins, but you’d have to eat a lot to reach your daily nutrition requirements.

Quality Honey Is Antioxidant-Rich

High-quality honey has several antioxidants like flavonoids and organic acids. According to two studies, buckwheat honey boosts the antioxidant value of the blood. Antioxidants can lower the risk of stroke and heart attack, as well as some forms of cancer. Research also indicates that honey could improve eye health.

Honey Is A Healthier Alternative to Sugar for Diabetics

Research on the health benefits of honey for diabetics is mixed. However, studies doe show that honey can reduce certain heart disease factors prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes. Studies have also found that honey can spike blood sugar levels, but the effects of consuming honey are not as severe as glucose spikes from refined sugar.

This is why it’s best for diabetics to eat honey in moderation and to avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates.

The Antioxidants In Honey Can Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure could be a risk factor for heart disease, and consuming honey could reduce heart disease risk by lowering blood pressure. The antioxidants in honey have been linked to reduced blood pressure according to studies conducted on both rats and humans. Eating a spoonful or so of honey a day or using it as a sweetener for tea can help you reap the benefits.

Honey Can Lower Cholesterol

If your LDL cholesterol levels are high, you may be at risk for heart disease. LDL cholesterol plays a huge role in atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fat in your arteries that can lead to stroke and heart attack. Studies also show that honey can improve cholesterol levels by lowering LDL cholesterol levels and raising “good” or HDL cholesterol. A study involving 55 patients compared honey to refined sugar and discovered that honey caused a 3.3% boost in HDL cholesterol and a 5.8% reduction in LDL cholesterol. Study participants also showed a modest weight loss of 1.3%. Eating a little honey daily, especially in foods for which you would normally add sugar, could help you take advantage of these health benefits.

Honey Lowers Triglyceride Levels

High triglyceride levels are another health issue that could lead to heart disease. Elevated triglycerides in the blood are also present in individuals with insulin resistance, which is a risk favor for type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels are more likely to increase in individuals who eat a diet high in refined carbs and sugars.

Several studies have linked routine honey consumption with low triglyceride levels, specifically when honey is used as a sugar replacement. One study comparing sugar and honey revealed that people in the honey group experienced an 11-19% decrease in triglycerides. This is why it may be a good idea to use honey for baking or to sweeten beverages, in addition to following a low-carb diet.

Keep these tips in mind when you’re searching for the best honey to add to your diet. Be sure to choose a quality type of honey, such as the best orange blossom honey. Some lower-quality kinds of honey are likely mixed with syrup which makes them higher in sugar.

Even though honey is a healthier alternative to sugar, it should still be consumed in moderation, especially if you’re trying to follow a low-sugar, low-calorie diet. Remember that honey is most beneficial when it is used as a replacer for another sweetener.