Honey is one of the sweetest and healthiest natural substances in the world. It is used for many purposes, ranging from healthcare to medicine. However, many do not know or understand one aspect of honey: honeycomb. The honeycomb is a natural structure created by bees to store honey and pollen, and it is an edible substance. In this post, we will discuss the health benefits of honeycomb and whether or not it is safe to eat.
Honey is the powerhouse of antioxidants, antiseptics, anti-bacterial, various minerals and almost all vitamins. This astounding rich golden liquid is an alternative to sugar and is used for several reasons. It revitalizes a person from within, especially in summer. It is an instant energy booster used in cooking, skincare, hair care and various health-related concerns. Discover below the 14 health benefits of honey that can treat you well.
Nutritious Benefits of The Honey Comb
Honeycomb is a storehouse of nutrients that are beneficial to our health. It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it an excellent supplement to our diets. One of the primary components of honeycomb is wax, which contains high levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, eyesight, and proper growth and development in children. Moreover, honeycomb contains essential amino acids crucial for building and maintaining muscles. It is also an excellent source of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, essential for healthy bone development.
Digestive Benefits of The Honey Comb
Honeycomb is rich in fibre, which is essential for healthy digestion. Fibre helps keep you feeling full for longer, reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and improves bowel movements. Honeycomb, thus, helps reduce the risk of constipation, diarrhoea, and other digestive disorders.
Skin Benefits of The Honey Comb
Honeycomb contains high levels of antioxidants, including flavonoids, that help to protect and nourish the skin. These antioxidants help fight free radicals, damaging skin cells and leading to premature aging. Additionally, the wax in honeycomb helps to soothe and hydrate dry, irritated, or sun-damaged skin.
Allergy Benefits of The Honey Comb
Honeycomb contains small amounts of pollen and propolis, which are known for being highly effective in reducing seasonal allergies. The propolis present in honeycomb contains antibacterial properties that help to fight off infections and strengthen the immune system.
Should You Eat Honeycomb?
While honeycomb is safe to eat, but not everyone’s favourite food; some people might find it too waxy, chewy, or challenging to swallow. However, eating honeycomb can provide many health benefits, like those discussed. One of the easiest ways to eat honeycomb is to use it as a sweetener in your tea. You can also spread it over toast or biscuits. However, if you are allergic to bee stings, it is best to avoid eating honeycomb altogether.
14 Health Benefits of Honey
1. Honey Prevents Thwarts Cancer and Heart Diseases
Being a rich source of flavonoids, and antioxidants, honey reduces the risk of cancer and heart diseases. Honey has a carcinogen compound, which possesses anti-tumour properties.
2. Honey Prevents Hay Fever
Eating local honey is an excellent home remedy to treat hay fever. Local honey is that honey that contains very minute amounts of the pollen found in your area. Honey reduces the symptoms of hay fever and boosts the immune system. If you have the option to buy bee pollen, that will have an even better effect on your hay fever and might entirely take it away.
3. Honey Boosts Athletic Performance
Honey reduces the risk of muscle fatigue and improves athletes’ performance and stamina. This is because of the perfect balance of glucose and fructose in honey. This combination also helps in regulating the blood sugar levels in the body.
4. Honey Eases Cough and Throat Irritation
A tablespoon of honey can ease a sore throat and constant coughing. When honey is combined with ginger or ginger juice, it can do wonders in treating throat irritation.
5. Honey Heals Wounds, Cuts and Burns
Honey is a natural antiseptic and an excellent first aid in curing cuts, burns and wounds. It reduces the growth of bacteria and keeps away infection from wounds. In case of cuts, burns or wounds, wash the affected area with normal water properly, and before dressing it with a bandage, apply a layer of honey. It will reduce pain, swelling and soreness.
7. Honey Cures Hangovers
The fructose in honey helps the body in collapsing alcohol into nontoxic spin-offs. Honey deals with the toxic effects of alcohol, relieving the effects of a hangover.
8. Honey Reduces Cholesterol
The antioxidants present in the honey are natural cholesterol fighter and hence, protects the heart, as well.
9. Honey Calms the Mind
The research have shown that honey has various compounds that can treat anxiety and depression.
10. Prevents Gingivitis
Honey prevents plaque build-up in the mouth and gums by killing the germs. Honey keeps the mouth germ-free, clean and fresh.
11. Honey Cures Ulcer
Honey can be applied directly to treat ulcers on the skin. For internal ulcers, you can imbibe honey. The antibacterial properties of honey make it an excellent cure for ulcers.
12. Honey is a Sleep-aid
Honey is great when a person is suffering from sleeplessness. It also treats nocturnal cough.
13. Honey Helps With Weight Loss
When honey is consumed with warm water, it helps digest the fat pre-accumulated in your body. Thus, it helps in reducing extra kilos.
14. And Natural Sweetener!
Honey is a natural sweetener that contains about 69% glucose and fructose. Honey can be used as a substitute for sugar and is better than regular white sugar for overall health.
Factors To Look For When Buying Honey
We hope this educated article about the 14 health benefits of honey has opened your eyes to its goodness. With many options on the shop shelves, it can be daunting to select a healthy brand. Here are some factors to remember during your search.
It’s Nearly Impossible For Honey To Be 100 Percent Organic
Organic foods are the best for your health as they’re not riddled with chemicals and pesticides. So why are we telling you to avoid them? On average, a bee will conduct one million flower visits to produce a single honey jar. Although beekeepers and farmers take practical steps to prevent any antibiotics and pesticides on their crops, it’s nearly impossible to ensure a bee hasn’t been exposed to synthetic fertilizers throughout its journey.
Purchase From Local Suppliers
Honey from other countries is more likely to be contaminated since it’s travelled farther and some countries have different regulations. Purchasing from a local beekeeper supports your local organizations and gives you peace of mind that you recognize the crops and flowers it’s been in contact with. You’ll also get to contact the supplier for additional information about the ingredients and creation.