What is honey
Honey is a sweet, sticky natural food substance produced by bees. Bees produce honey from sugary plant secretions (flower nectar) through organized processes and special enzymatic activity, and it obtains its final shape after the evaporation of water. Honey is stored in waxy structures called honeycombs. Bees produce a variety of honey that varies in color, taste, and smell (depending on the bee food source). Because of human demand and consumption worldwide, honey is collected in commercial quantities from wild bee colonies or domesticated beehives, a practice known as (beekeeping). Many archaeological discoveries and excavations have indicated that man has known and benefited from honey's nutritional and medicinal properties since about eight thousand years ago.
Honey properties:
- Honey gets its sweetness from monosaccharides such as fructose and glucose, and it has the same relative sweetness as sucrose (known as cane sugar).
- Most microorganisms do not grow in honey; Therefore, it can be stored for long periods.
- The consistency of honey varies with sugar, temperature, and water content.
The nutritional value of honey:
Honey provides 46 calories in one tablespoon (15 ml) serving equivalent to 1272 kilojoules per 100 grams. Honey contains natural minerals and vitamins that help metabolize unwanted cholesterol and fatty acids, thus preventing obesity and promoting better health. It also contains a high percentage of vitamins B6, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and some amino acids.
Minerals in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Honey is also one of the richest natural materials in phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are a source of natural antioxidants free of fat and cholesterol.
honey classification:
In general, honey is classified from the source of the flower nectar that bees feed on. The honey can be made from certain types of flower nectar, or it can be mixed after being collected. The pollen grains in honey can indicate the source of the flowers and thus the region of origin.
Mixed honey:
The beekeeper mixes more than one type of honey, which differs in the source of the flowers, color, flavor, density, or geographical origin.
Multifloral honey:
Polyfloral honey or (polyfloral), also known as (wild plant honey), is derived from the nectar of many types of flowers, and the taste may vary from year to year, and the smell and flavor can be more or less intense, depending on the appendages scattered.
Mono-flowered honey:
Monochromatic honey is made primarily from the nectar of one type of flower, and different types of monochromatic honey have a distinct flavor and color; Because of the differences between the primary nectar sources. To produce monochromatic honey, the beekeeper maintains beehives in an area where bees can only cross for one type of flower. From a practical point of view; Because of the difficulties in containing bees, a small percentage of any honey will be from additional nectar from other types of flowers.
Honey from the honeydew:
Instead of eating nectar, bees eat the sweet secretions that form on the bark of some trees. Honeydew honey is characterized by the following:
- Very dark brown in color.
- The rich aroma is similar to cooked fruit or fig jam.
- Less sweet than nectarine honey.
For more: Natural recipes with honey
Honey benefits and medicinal uses
- Pure honey speeds up the healing process of wounds and burns as it renews skin cells, and quickly relieves pain.
- Reducing the duration of diarrhea.
- It prevents stomach acidity.
- Infection control.
- Reducing cold and cough symptoms.
- Replacing artificial sugar in the diet.
- Honey helps lower venous blood pressure.
- Honey has shown antitumor activity in bladder cancer.
- Natural honey can play an important role in treating chest pain, fatigue, and dizziness. This is probably due to the high nutritional energy content of honey, which provides immediately available calories after consumption.
- The benefits of honey have also been seen in tooth extraction pain and infection or cavities due to dry mouth caused by radiation.
- It has been found that honey is a very effective factor for the success of skin transplantation operations.
- In a study conducted in central Burkina Faso, it was found that local people use honey to treat respiratory diseases, measles, menstrual pain, postpartum disorders, and male impotence.
- Pharyngitis due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. In one study, daily consumption of honey showed a variety of beneficial effects on blood parameters, blood levels of minerals, enzymes, and the endocrine system.
- Honey is sometimes touted as a cosmetic solution for cracked and dry skin. More: Benefits of honey for the skin.
- Honey may be used to treat a wide range of diseases, ailments, and injuries, and it can be used to overcome liver, cardiovascular, and digestive problems.
More: the benefits of honey
Ophthalmology and honey
Honey is used all over the world to treat various eye diseases such as blepharitis, keratitis, conjunctivitis, corneal injuries, and chemical and thermal burns to the eyes.
More: honey for pregnant women
honey and sugar
The use of honey in type 1 and type 2 diabetes was associated with a significantly lower glycemic index than glucose or sucrose. Compared with dextrose, honey caused a much smaller decrease in plasma glucose levels, and also caused a lower
Honey for inflammation
Honey reduces inflammation, promotes healing, reduces scar size, and stimulates tissue regeneration.
- It has been proven that honey treats eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff.
- And in colitis, honey was as effective as a Zulon Bread treatment.
Anti-inflammatory drugs have serious damage, for example, corticosteroids inhibit tissue growth and suppress the immune response, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are harmful to cells, especially in the stomach.
But honey has an anti-inflammatory action that is free from harmful side effects. The newly established laboratory data indicate that honey can inhibit inflammation and the generation of damaged vessels in addition to showing effective inhibitory activities against inflammatory chain reactions.
Benefits of Honey: Recent Studies
Honey, a natural sweetener produced by honeybees, has gained significant attention for its potential health benefits. Recent studies have explored various aspects of honey's therapeutic properties, demonstrating its role as a valuable natural remedy.
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties
Numerous studies have highlighted honey's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A review article published in the journal Antioxidants 1 suggests that honey may have a therapeutic role in the treatment of diseases due to its phytochemical, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. The flavonoids and phenolic compounds present in honey contribute to its potent antioxidant activity.
Wound Healing and Antibacterial Effects
Honey has been investigated for its potential in wound healing and antibacterial applications. A study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 5 indicates that honey may stimulate immune responses and possess anti-inflammatory activity within wounds. Additionally, research has shown that honey can improve wound healing through its antioxidant response and activation of specific cellular pathways. 3
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health
Several studies have explored the potential benefits of honey on cardiovascular and metabolic health. A recent study published in the journal ScienceDaily 6 suggests that honey may reduce cardiometabolic risks by improving markers such as blood sugar levels and lipid profiles. Another review 8 highlights that honey may help maintain blood sugar concentration and benefit individuals with diabetes.
Other Potential Benefits
Honey has been studied for various other therapeutic applications, including respiratory health, digestive issues, and oral health. A systematic review 15 investigated the effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections. Additionally, some research suggests that Manuka honey may help prevent gingivitis and other periodontal diseases by reducing plaque buildup. 7
While promising, it's important to note that more extensive human studies are still needed to fully understand the therapeutic potential of honey and its specific mechanisms of action.