Honey has been a traditional part of Indian cuisine, health practices, and religion for thousands of years. In Ayurvedic medicine, honey is not only used for its myriad health benefits but also in the preparation of various herbal remedies. In Ayurveda, honey is particularly noted for its ability to support the health of your lungs and to support respiratory balance. It is also used to address eye conditions, thirst, hiccups, phlegm, and cough. They strongly believe in the health benefits of honey.
According to modern research into the health benefits of honey, the claims made by Ayurvedic practitioners over the centuries have proven true. Moreover, due to its many beneficial properties, honey is increasingly used in the cosmetics, aromatherapy, supplement, and pharmaceutical industries.
So, what is it about honey that makes it imminently suitable for promoting health, and which health issues can it help address?
The Health Benefits Of Honey Result From Its Composition
The composition of honey makes it an excellent and delicious addition to your home remedy pantry. This is because it has strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. But what does this mean? Let us look at each of these properties.
Antioxidants: these compounds play a role in maintaining cellular health and preventing cell damage
Antibacterial: this means that it can kill and stop the growth of new bacteria from forming
Anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation, e.g., pain, swelling, and redness, resulting from your body’s immune response in certain situations
Most of our health issues, e.g. flu, heart health issues, arthritis, asthma, etc., are the result of inflammation, a bacterial infection, or a health issue that affects your body at a cellular level. Because of the strong health benefits of honey, this sweet liquid can prove useful in addressing many of these issues.
Which Conditions Can Take Advantage Of The Health Benefits Of Honey?
We can greatly improve many of the health conditions we suffer from when we expose ourselves to the health benefits of honey. We will touch on six of them.
Gastrointestinal Issues
A significant portion of the Indian population suffers from some form of gastrointestinal issue. Honey may help in addressing many of these conditions. It may, for example, have a balancing effect on your gut flora composition. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may also help address gastric ulcers and other gastrointestinal issues. Interestingly, honey also has rehydration abilities and could be used to reduce diarrhea, especially in children with gastroenteritis. Children tend to dehydrate quickly when suffering from this condition. Severe dehydration in children can lead to seizures, coma, or brain damage.
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. The many antioxidants in honey may help reduce your risk of heart disease. The beneficial antioxidants in honey include flavonoids, polyphenolics, Vitamin C, and monophenolics . Flavonoids, besides their work as strong antioxidants, also:
- Fights against blood clot formation
- Promotes oxygen flow to the heart
- Promotes relaxation and widening of the blood vessels
Polyphenolics prevent blood clots and reduce blood sugar levels. Vitamin C plays a role in artery formation. It also prevents damage to your good cholesterol, slows down the hardening of arteries, and reduces inflammation in the heart and veins. Monophenolics fight against viral and bacterial infections while having an anti-inflammatory effect.
Diabetes
Before looking at the potential health benefits of honey for people with diabetes, please note that diabetics should use caution when using honey. Although it is a healthier alternative to sugar, it still has a relatively high glucose content.
The strong antioxidants in honey may help people with diabetes as it can play a role in blood sugar control. It is much lower on the glycemic index than sugar or other sweeteners. It may also reduce your blood lipid count and your homocysteine and C-reactive protein contents. Elevated homocysteine increases your risks for dementia, heart disease and stroke. C-reactive protein is a protein found in the blood. Higher levels of this protein indicate inflammation in your body. Many people suffering from diabetes have other health issues as well. These include an increased risk of heart disease.
Asthma
Honey may help in the treatment of asthma and its symptoms. When treated orally, honey may help prevent an asthma attack. It may also help people with chronic bronchitis. Honey tends to have an anti-inflammatory effect on your airways which may help combat any health issues relating to them. If using honey as an inhaler, i.e., by adding it to a bowl of hot water and bending over the bowl and inhaling it, it may help reduce mucus. Mucus can also influence your airways.
Neurological Conditions
Besides the health benefits of honey already listed, we can add that it has neuroprotective properties. This is due to its strong antioxidant properties. Regarding neurological conditions, honey has antidepressant, anticonvulsant, antinociceptive, and anti-anxiety effects. Furthermore, the polyphenols in honey may help address the effect of toxins on your neurons while countering oxidative stress and reducing the incidence of neuroinflammation in your hippocampus. This part of the brain plays a key role in memory.
In other words, honey may protect brain health due to its myriad health benefits.
Cancer
Honey has several mechanisms that have an anticancer effect. It modifies your immune response and fights against the devastating effect of inflammation. Chronic inflammation increases your risk of certain types of cancer. Honey also induces apoptosis. This refers to your body’s process of getting rid of unwanted or unhealthy cells.
In Closing
Your body is a vast, interconnected highway consisting of muscle, tissue, organs, veins, blood, and bones. If something goes wrong with any of the highway components, it will influence the other components as well. Honey, however, seems to be a universal healer because it has so many health benefits. These benefits, starting at a cellular level, may help you on your road to recovery, no matter what your condition.
Please note that we do not say that honey is a cure-all. But when used with other medications, it may help speed up your recovery time while providing your body with the support it needs to battle your health issue.
