About
The Superb Benefits of Honey
By: Uno Birawan
But the prominent benefit of honey is the health benefit. Almost every religion suggests the use of honey for the purpose of healing and health keeping. The Holy Qur’an for instance, stipulates the benefit of honey in Surah An-Nahl (The Honey Bee) as it says:
And your Lord inspired the bees, saying: "Take you habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)." There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color (honey) where in is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think (An-Nahl, ayat 68 – 69)
As is it says, honey is indeed much valuable to health. Countless research has proven various benefits to our health. And here are a few benefits to mention taken out from the long list of honey health and medical benefits.
Natural energy booster. Honey is an excellent source of carbohydrate which is the fuel to generate energy and strength of our body. Two major sugar components of a typical honey are fructose (38,2%) and Glucose (31.3%), Sucrose and Maltose about 8.4%, and water (17.2%).
Glucose is the form of sugar which will be
quickly absorbed by the cells hence it could provide an immediate energy
boosting effect. Fructose will be absorbed at a slower pace thus provide
sustained energy. Having those two forms of sugar in honey makes it a perfect fast
and sustainable energy booster. This benefit has been used by athletes to boost
their performance, increase endurance and to reduce muscle fatigue.
Anti-cancer
effect.
Some researches and reviews have clearly indicated that certain kinds of honey
polyphenols tested in laboratorial facilities showed to be a promising
anti-proliferative agent. However, it is suggested by other scientists that
such findings should be followed up by clinical trails for further validation before
it is applied in medical practices.
Anti-oxidant
effect.
Free radicals and reactive oxygen species have been associated to aging process
and disease in human beings. To overcome this humans try to protect themselves
by the means of taking high anti-oxidant food, where honey is one of the best
choice to fulfill this requirement.
A trial with two honey treatments showed
that the phenolic compound found in honey increased the antioxidant activity of
blood plasma. This may be speculated that this will enhance protection against
oxidative stress in healthy human therefore it could delay the aging process.
Anti-bacterial
and anti-septic effect. A study by Dr. M. Subrahmanyam (1991) indicates that
honey is effective for the prevention of infection because of its antibacterial
or bacteriostatic properties specifically through slowing down the growth of
both Gram- negative and Gram-positive bacteria. He isolated 9 bacteria species
found in burn wounds and apparently all the bacteria
failed to grow at a concentration of 30% honey in a Muller-Hinton (MH) medium.
Another study by Tumkur Ramachandriah Shamala and friends show that honey has
remarkable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli tested on honey
feeding animals under in vitro and in vivo conditions, and show
the potential health benefit after the animals have been fed with honey
regularly.
As a matter of fact honey was being used
for wounds healing in the past time due to its antibacterial properties. But
with the introduction of penicillin and other antibiotics in the twentieth
century, honey's wound healing qualities have been taken out. However, it is
still used as a traditional wound treatment on many communities.
Other anti-bacterial related benefits of honey
and is still used:
- Good
remedy of sore throats and cough
- Good
antiseptic dressing for burns and open wounds
- Anti-diarrheal
and promotes rehydration.
Other known benefits of honey includes:
support blood formation, skin moisturizing, insomnia (sleeplessness) cure,
heals stomach ulcers and for alcohol hangover recovery.
