Winnie the Pooh may need been on to one thing. There’s something undeniably enchanting about honey; the product of flower nectar reworked by bees. Honey is a thick, sticky and sweet-tasting liquid which is wealthy in minerals similar to iron, calcium and magnesium. Whereas honey is named a pure strategy to sweeten meals, it could have advantages in your physique.
Positive sufficient, fashionable science has proven honey’s effectiveness in therapy of ulcers, bedsores, burns, pores and skin sores and irritation. Honey has even been identified to heal wounds that don’t reply to antibiotics, though care have to be taken to make sure the honey itself is freed from contaminants.
AN HOMAGE TO THE GODS
Honey has lengthy been used for each vitamin and medicinal therapeutic. For hundreds of years, honey was used to pay homage to the gods and assist embalm the useless, in addition to for medical and beauty functions. As we speak, it’s a common, versatile sweetener that can be utilized as a substitute of white cane sugar in baking, sauces and sizzling drinks.
It really works properly in moist, dense, full-flavoured bakes. It’s sweeter than sugar, so you will have to make use of much less, and since honey is liquid, you will have much less fluid within the recipe. It caramelises faster than regular sugar and offers a darker end to your bake. It’s most frequently bought pasteurised, though you could find uncooked honey. As a rule, the darker the color, the stronger the flavour.
The well being advantages of honey rely on its processing in addition to the standard of the flowers the bees acquire pollen from. Uncooked honey is honey that has not been heated, pasteurised, clarified or filtered in any method, and this type usually retains extra of the health-promoting vitamins that may be misplaced to the usual processing strategies.
Honey, notably darker varieties, is a wealthy supply of chemical compounds similar to flavonoids. Flavonoids have been reported to have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties. As a result of flavonoid content material, some view honey as a more healthy different to sugar and a supply of antioxidants.
Honey has a decrease GI worth than sugar, which means that it doesn’t increase blood sugar ranges as shortly.
For diabetics, or these making an attempt to handle their blood sugar ranges, there isn’t any actual benefit to substituting sugar for honey as each will in the end have an effect on blood sugar ranges. It’s also value remembering that like different syrups, honey is classed as free sugars; the kind we’re suggested to chop again on. In case you do favor honey, strive to decide on a uncooked selection, which comprises extra nutritional vitamins, enzymes, antioxidants and vitamins than white sugar, and use it carefully.
AMAZING BENEFITS OF HONEY
1. NATURAL ENERGY BOOST
Ever observed how a sugar excessive results in a speedy power crash and burn most of the time? It’s time to ditch the power drinks and overlook your espresso repair. Use honey as a substitute of sugars and sweeteners in your tea, baked goodies or unfold to it on a sizzling toast. Its pure sugars even forestall fatigue throughout train, so additionally it is good for bettering athletic efficiency. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the physique shortly, giving an instantaneous power increase, whereas the fructose supplies sustained power since it’s absorbed extra slowly. Honey has additionally been discovered to maintain ranges of blood sugar pretty fixed compared to different sorts of sugar.
2. IMPROVES SLEEP
Do you lie awake all night time staring on the ceiling, tossing and turning? Use the well-known milk and honey treatment to go to sleep shortly. All you must do is add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of sizzling milk. Honey releases serotonin (a neurotransmitter that improves your temper), and the physique converts serotonin into melatonin (a chemical compound that regulates the size and high quality of sleep). You may as well add a teaspoon (or two) of honey to a cup of chamomile tea.
3. CURES HANGOVER
It’s a acquainted feeling … a heavy head, raging thirst, waves of nausea, oversensitivity to mild and noise. Sure, it’s the dreaded hangover! Fret not, honey is right here to rescue you. Only a few tablespoons of honey will assist pace up your physique’s metabolism and aid you fight that hangover, since fructose helps pace up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver.
4. HONEY FOR WEIGHT LOSS
It’s believed that ingesting heat water with honey and a splash of lime very first thing within the morning is an efficient anti-cellulite therapy, because it helps to extend physique metabolism. However with 64 energy per tablespoon, how can honey aid you shed these additional kilos? In case you eat honey earlier than mattress, the physique begins to burn extra fats throughout these early hours of sleep. You may even take a step additional and exchange all refined sugar in your food plan with honey in an effort to rebalance the mind sign that compels you to eat extra candy stuff.
5. HONEY FOR FABULOUS SKIN
Honey is a improbable moisturiser and works wonders on patches of dry pores and skin. You should use it to melt up your knees and elbows, even chapped lips. Through the chilly winter months, simply rub some honey on to your face and wash off after half-hour. You may even create a moisturising scrub – all you must do is add some sugar. It really works as a pure exfoliator. Give your pores and skin the advantage of honey’s highly effective antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and ultra-moisturising properties.
Supply: www.food.ndtv.com; www.bbcgoodfoo.com
