How Honey helps in Winter

Honey is a remarkable substance which is not only a natural sweetener but also contains enzymes, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, antioxidants and amino acids. The benefits of honey are also exceptional which are useful for healing purposes which is in addition to its great taste and natural energy. Bees make it for themselves and their brood, to live on through the winter. Honey consumption is useful in all seasons but especially in winters, the use of honey is very beneficial.

1. Health benefits of honey

Honey is not only used to improve eyesight but it is also effective in curing cough problems, asthma, high blood pressure, blood purification as well as strengthening the heart. Some varieties of honey possess large amounts of friendly bacteria hence it is a good source of probiotic. Honey contains flavonoids and antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease. Some research also shows that honey treatment may help disorders such as ulcers and bacterial gastroenteritis.

2. Healing burns

Honey acts as a natural wound sealant and makes the body believe that the burnt area is covered with healthy skin. This dramatically reduces pain and the body then heals the wound from the inside out, rather than scabbing over to heal from the outside (which can trap infection).

3. Coughs and colds

A spoonful of honey is more effective at soothing coughs. The World Health Organization lists honey as a demulcent, which is a substance that relieves irritation in the mouth or throat by forming a protective film. Certain researches have also shown that honey works as well as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in cough medications, to soothe cough and related sleeping difficulties due to upper respiratory tract infections in children. This is especially handy during the winter months as there is usually an increase in cough and colds due to the season.

4. Antiseptic ointment

Honey has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties that keep the wound clean (without using petroleum-based jellies). These cleansing properties are triggered when the honey is diluted by plasma from the wound, which causes the glucose oxidase (an enzyme) in honey to create hydrogen peroxide.

5. Skin care

Honey is a remarkable moisturizer, and can be applied straight on dry or chapped skin, or mixed into a homemade lotion. It’s also a safe, effective and delicious lip balm. This is especially important during winters as the cold and dry weather usually makes the skin very dry and crack lips. Instead of spending money on buying expensive moisturizers and lip balms, one can use honey as a natural moisturizer. It even protects the skin from tanning and fights skin cancer. It is also used in various sunscreens for protection against ultraviolet rays.

6. Acne treatment

Honey’s antibacterial properties help clear up acne too. Honey is a natural cleanser which exfoliates skin from the inside to bring the radiant and clear skin on the outside. It is also recommended to wash face with honey to keep skin soft and blemish –free.

7. Honey in fitness regime

Honey is also one of the most effective forms of carbohydrates to ingest just prior to exercise since it is easily digested and released into the body at a steady rate for use during exercise. Honey taken after workout helps muscles to recuperate.

8. Honey as a sweetener

Honey is a natural sweetener which does not increase the blood sugar level. Honey when taken with warm water and lemon juice in the morning, helps to shed extra weight from the body.

9. Reduce allergy symptoms

If we consume locally produced honey, it may contain pollen spores picked up by the bees from local plants, which will introduce a small amount of allergen into our system. Theoretically, this can activate our immune system and over time can build up natural immunity against the pollen spores which are a leading cause of allergy in people.

10. Strengthen the immune system

Honey has been found to stimulate the production of immune cells and it should be a part of every winter medicine cabinet because it is high in antioxidants and it has a lot of immune boosting properties.