Bee honey is one of the healthiest foods and is recognized for the many benefits it brings to the body. We dedicate a complete article to it and teach you how to distinguish natural honey from that with synthetic ingredients.
More and more people are adopting a healthy lifestyle and choosing to consume honey frequently, according to US-Reviews.
Honey, food, and a remedy used for millennia
Bee honey is a food used by almost everyone for thousands of years. It is a viscous, sweet liquid produced by bees to feed. It was first used in religious rituals, but later it was used in food, cosmetics, and natural medicine.
Annually, over 1.5 million tons of bee honey are produced worldwide (1.78 million tons in 2016), the largest producers being China, Turkey, and the United States. Our country is among the first producers of bee honey in the European Union, with an average annual production of between 22,000 and 24,000 tons.
Although we produce a significant amount of honey, we are not big consumers of this product. Honey consumption in our country is 500-600 grams per capita per year, three times lower than the European average. Honey is one of the healthiest foods, its benefits being doubled by the sweet taste and the many ways it can be used.
Types of honey and how to obtain it
Honey can be of several types, depending on the origin, the flowers from which the nectar was collected, as well as the method of obtaining it. You can choose your favorite type of honey and also for a proper diet plan consulthealthy food recipes for diet plans. Depending on these aspects, bee honey can be:
After the flowers from which the nectar was collected:
- Polyflower honey;
- Acacia honey;
- Lime honey;
- Rapeseed honey;
- Manuka honey;
- Tualang honey.
By extraction mode:
- Extraction of honeycomb pieces;
- Free drain from the honeycomb;
- Extract by centrifugation;
- Honeycomb pressing;
- Melting combs.
The benefits of honey
People have used honey as a sweetener, but also for its antibacterial and antifungal properties since ancient times. The benefits of bee honey are due to its content of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals (calcium, iron, sodium chloride, magnesium, phosphate, and potassium).
Mitigates allergies
Honey has anti-inflammatory effects. It also has a calming effect on coughs. It also reduces seasonal allergic symptoms. Honey contains small amounts of pollen. If the body is exposed to moderate amounts, it can trigger an immune response that produces antibodies to pollen. After repeated exposure, these antibodies should be built up and the body should get used to their presence so that less histamine is released, resulting in a lower allergic response.
Natural source of energy
Honey is an excellent source of energy-containing only 17g of carbohydrates per tablespoon. This unprocessed natural sugar – fructose and glucose – enters the bloodstream directly and can provide a quick boost of energy. Raising blood sugar acts as a short-term source of energy for training, especially in longer endurance exercises.
Stimulates memory
The sweet nectar is rich in antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage and brain dysfunction. A study published in 2011 found that a tablespoon of honey a day can stimulate the memory of menopausal women and provide an alternative therapy for hormone-related intellectual decline. After four months of consuming 20g of honey a day, women had a better short-term memory than those who took hormone pills.
It has an antitussive effect
Honey can be a natural cure when you have a cold. A persistent cough can be easily combated with two teaspoons of honey, according to a study published in 2012 in the journal Pediatrics. Children aged 1 to 5 who coughed at night from a cold received two teaspoons of honey 30 minutes before bedtime.