If you've ever been to a farmers' market or a natural foods store, you've probably seen honey on sale. But how much do you really know about this sweet treat? Does it have any health benefits? Does it cause weight gain, as sugar does? Is it better for allergies than other kinds of sugar? Read on to find out!
Honey can help you lose weight.
Honey is a low-glycemic index food, meaning it doesn't radically spike your blood sugar and cause weight gain. It also contains antioxidants that can help fight off cancer, improve liver function and reduce inflammation. The vitamins and minerals found in honey are essential for good health, especially when consumed regularly--and unlike refined sugars and artificial sweeteners which offer little nutritional value beyond calories (and sometimes even contribute to ill health), honey is loaded with vitamins like vitamin B6 (which helps with digestion), calcium (which strengthens bones) and magnesium (which relaxes muscles).
Honey also has a low-calorie count: 1 tablespoon only has 64 calories! This makes it an ideal sweetener for those trying to lose weight or maintain their current weight because it takes longer for your body to digest than refined sugar does; this means you'll feel full longer after having eaten something sweetened with honey rather than processed white sugar or corn syrup. You'll also find yourself less tempted by other high-calorie snacks throughout the day if they're preceded by something healthy like this natural substance from bees instead of processed junk foods such as cookies or brownies made with unnatural ingredients like hydrogenated oils which increase bad cholesterol levels over time leading up towards heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure later down the road when consumed regularly over long periods of time without watching out for signs early enough before symptoms become worse over time due lackadaisical attitudes towards eating habits."
Honey is a sleep aid.
Honey is a natural sleep aid.
It contains tryptophan, which is converted to serotonin in the brain. Serotonin helps you feel happy and relaxed--and it's also a neurotransmitter that helps you fall asleep! Honey has calcium and other minerals that help strengthen your bones, so eating honey before bedtime will help you get a good night's rest as well as keep those bones strong for years to come. Just remember: Don't overdo it on the sweetness; too much sugar can still cause health problems like obesity or diabetes (1). If you're going to eat honey before bedtime, keep it at just one teaspoon per day (2).
Honey improves bone health.
Honey is a good source of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients are important for bone health because they help build strong bones by increasing the amount of calcium your body absorbs from food. They also help prevent osteoporosis -- a condition that causes bones to become fragile and break easily -- by keeping them strong enough to support your body weight without breaking easily.
Luckily, honey contains antioxidants called flavonoids that protect against osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (OA). OA occurs when the cartilage that cushions joints begins to wear away over time due to aging or injury; this can cause joint pain or stiffness in addition to other symptoms like inflammation around tissues where tendons attach themselves onto bone surfaces within those joints.[1]
Honey fights allergies and asthma.
Honey is a good source of antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation. This makes honey useful for people with allergies and asthma, as well as those suffering from colds and flu. Honey may also be helpful in treating other respiratory problems such as sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, and cystic fibrosis.
Honey contains flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory effects on the body's tissues. In addition to reducing inflammation in your body (which can lead to weight loss), honey has been shown in some studies to lower cholesterol levels by up to 30%.
Honey also contains melatonin--the hormone responsible for regulating your circadian rhythm--making it an effective sleep aid when consumed before bedtime
Honey may keep you from getting diabetes.
Honey may help prevent diabetes, as well as lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Honey contains antioxidants that can help prevent diabetes, such as caffeic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol. These antioxidants are believed to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. In addition to the benefits of honey, it also contains nutrients such as manganese (which plays an important role in glucose metabolism) and potassium (which helps lower blood pressure).
Studies have shown that consuming honey regularly can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 35 percent compared to those who did not consume any form of natural sweetener at all for two years or longer during this period! Other studies have shown similar results: One found that women who ate about 1 tablespoon per day had an 18 percent lower risk than those who ate none at all; another showed men could reduce their risk by up.
Honey can prevent cavities, too!
Honey is acidic, which can help reduce plaque and tartar.
Honey is a natural sweetener that can help soothe dry mouth caused by medications or a dry climate.
Honey contains antioxidants that combat bad breath-causing bacteria in the mouth, keeping your breath fresh all day long!
If you're going to eat sugar, this is one of the better options, but you should still be careful with it.
You should still be careful with it.
Honey is better than sugar, but that doesn't mean you should eat as much of it as you want to. Honey has some health benefits and can be used as a natural sweetener in place of artificial sweeteners like Splenda (which are linked to cancer). However, honey does have a glycemic index of 55--meaning that it will raise your blood sugar levels faster than table sugar does--and if you consume too much over the long term, this could lead to weight gain or diabetes.
So what's the bottom line? If you're going to eat sugar, honey may be one of the better options out there--but moderation is key!
Conclusion
Honey is a great alternative to sugar, but it should still be used in moderation. There are many different types of honey available and each one has its own unique flavor and health benefits. Honey is also delicious on top of toast or pancakes!
