Raw honey is one of the richest foods in nature. It also has many protective properties. It is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral.
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Raw honey also promotes many bodily functions including the digestive system.
It is a also a very powerful antioxidant that helps make the immune system stronger, fights allergies, and heals wounds faster.
There are so many more reasons of taking raw honey regularly. It helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar. It gives relief from pain, eliminates ulcers, and calms nerves.
It has anti-inflammatory properties and works as an expectorant. This makes it a great cure for respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis.
In this article, you will learn about the health benefits of taking raw honey and the different types of honey which are available in the market.
1. Lose Weight
Take honey in warm water and it will burn the fat stored around your abdomen and thighs. You can take it with lemon juice in warm water and its weight-loss benefits will increase further.
2. Antimicrobial Benefits
Raw honey is a natural antiseptic. It has been used so for centuries in traditional medicines in different parts of the world.
This is because it has powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties.
3. Powerful Antioxidant & Cancer-Killer
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of raw honey also make it a powerful cancer killer. It also helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Make sure to choose raw honey because it has special types of antioxidants called nutraceuticals that eliminate free radicals that can damage your cells.
The antioxidants in raw honey also boost your immune system.
4. Boost Your Memory
The antioxidants in raw honey have another big health benefits. Scientists believe that they help in preventing cellular loss and damage in the brain.
In a 2011 study, Malaysian honey was given to postmenopausal women to see its effects on their memory. The study has been published in the journal Menopause.
The subjects were given 20g honey daily for 4 months. They were found to improve their short-term memory by a big margin compared to the group that took hormone pills.
This study showed that taking honey can be a great cure for hormone-related decline in memory.
5. Sleep Better
If you are facing problems with sleep, you should take raw honey. Honey raises insulin levels and also promotes serotonin release. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter related to improving mood.
Serotonin is converted to melatonin in the body, which is responsible for regulating sleep duration and quality. So take a little honey daily and you will fall asleep faster and for longer.
6. Fighting Aging
With aging, your body gradually suffers depletion of certain enzymes.
Raw honey is a rare type of food that helps in inhibiting enzyme depletion. It works by providing the enzyme amylase, which is responsible for breaking down carbs and sugars.
This helps in healing damaged skin cells, making you look younger.
PubMed reports that over 4,350 medical research studies have been conducted to study the healing benefits of honey. There are almost 1,200 studies that focus on its treatment benefits. Around 130 studies are related to the antioxidants present in honey.
Types of Honey
Honey has been used for thousands of years for healing so many types of health disorders. When looking for raw honey, make sure to choose organic and local. Local farmers follow organic farming practices.
You will come across different types of honey, most of which have some unique properties and benefits:
- Manuka Honey – It has very powerful antibacterial benefits. It can be used for treating different types of conditions, ranging from colds to stomach ulcers to sore throat and acne.
- Buckwheat Honey – It is identified by its dark color and strong taste. It has exceptional antioxidant properties. It is too rare and difficult to find in the US.
- Eucalyptus Honey – This type of honey is effective in preventing headaches and colds.
- Acacia Honey – It helps in cleansing your liver and boosting the intestine’s functioning. It is also effective in improving inflammation of the respiratory tract.
Heather honey, linden honey and neem honey are some of the other highly valued types of honey.
References:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/liquid-gold-7-health-benefits-honey-could-heal-your-whole-body-325932
http://www.naturalnews.com/035493_raw_honey_health_benefits_antibacterial.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/health-benefits-of-honey.html
http://wakeup-world.com/2012/07/23/the-health-benefits-of-raw-honey/