Honey is a syrupy liquid that bees make from plant nectar. Loved around the world for its sweetness and depth of flavor, it is used in many foods and recipes.
The smell, color, and taste of honey vary depending on the type of flowers it is made from, which is why there are countless varieties available. Honey has a number of potential health benefits and plays a role in many home remedies and alternative medicine treatments.
How is honey formed?
We assume this food is generated by bees, but we're sure you don't know how it's actually produced. It is logical to think that it is natural, since it is formed from the nectar of flowers. Bees visit hundreds of flowers and ingest their nectar in the "stomachs" intended for honey. There digestive enzymes act on the sucrose in the nectar to break it down into glucose and fructose.
Attention to this process: each bee will regurgitate this nectar and spit it out into another bee's mouth and the process will be repeated separately (for about 20 minutes) until the nectar is fully digested into raw honey. The bees spit the raw honey into the cells of the comb, flap their wings to dry it, and then seal the product with wax. Chemically speaking, between 17 and 20% of honey is made of water, but the rest of its flavor and color depends on the flower it comes from.
The composition of honey has been studied with great care and it is thought that there are more than 200 compounds. About 90-95% is sugar, followed by water, organic acids and mineral compounds. The sugars present include monosaccharides (fructose and glucose); disaccharides: maltose, sucrose, maltose, turanose, isomaltose, laminaribiose, nigerose, kojibiose, gentiobiose and B-trehalose; and trisaccharides (maltotriose, erose, melezitose, centose 3-a5, isomaltosylglucose, l-kestose, isomaltotriose, panose, isopanose, and theanderose). All of these are present regardless of the type of honey we consume.
In addition, honey also contains between 4 and 5% of fructo-oligosaccharides. Fructooligosaccharides are non-digestible substances that can help support digestive health, as they are a good source of prebiotics. Other compounds found are amino acids, Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6 and C), calcium, iron, zinc, and potassium, among many others.
Nutrients
The nutritional content of raw honey varies depending on its origin and other factors. It also contains smaller amounts of calcium, magnesium, manganese, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc. Additionally, raw honey is a source of variable amounts of amino acids, enzymes, and other beneficial compounds.
One tablespoon (20 grams) of honey contains:
- Energy: 61 calories
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 17 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Riboflavin: 1% of the daily value
- Copper: 1%
Honey is essentially pure sugar, with no fat and only trace amounts of protein and fiber. It contains small amounts of some nutrients, but most people do not normally consume enough honey to make it an important dietary source of vitamins and minerals. Still, it's worth noting that honey is rich in health-promoting plant compounds known as polyphenols.
Services
The mouth and the rest of the body have always been taken as two different systems; that is, dentistry focuses on some problems and medicine on different ones. Actually, even though they are different, they are very influential with each other.
Our mouth is the beginning of the digestive system, although it also has functions such as speaking and chewing; so it is important to enjoy good oral health. Some studies confirm that honey can be a good ally against any oral problem.
Rich in antioxidants
Raw honey contains a variety of plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. Some types of honey have as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals.
Free radicals contribute to the aging process and can also contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Antioxidant compounds in raw honey called polyphenols have anti-inflammatory effects that could be beneficial in protecting against a number of conditions associated with oxidative stress.
Mitigates Streptococcus mutans infections
According to some observations, there are between 500 and 700 different microbial species on different surfaces of our oral cavity, which depends on each person's oral health and hygiene. Healthy mouths tend to have more Gram-positive bacteria and simpler colonies; mouths with poor health tend to have more anaerobic, gram-negative, and complex colony bacteria.
Studies have shown that honey was effective in fighting nearly 60 species of bacteria gram positive, gram negative, anaerobic and aerobic. One of these is Streptococcus mutans, which is a pathogen involved in dental caries. Unlike antibiotics, science has found that so far bacteria do not become resistant to honey. So it is very useful to know what infections honey can be used against. This food stops the growth of microbes due to its high sugar content and low pH, in addition to killing bacteria through its antibacterial factors.
for dental plaque
Dental plaque is a fine biofilm, which accumulates on the surface of the teeth. The bacteria in plaque (particularly streptococcus mutans) metabolize fermentable carbohydrates (such as sucrose) in food and produce acids. These acids are responsible for demineralizing and disintegrating the dental structure. This prevents cleaning actions and the remineralization of saliva, thus favoring the initiation and progression of dental caries.
Contains simple sugar
When looking for mid-race fuel, you want to go with simple carbohydrates, which are quickly broken down by the body and immediately available for use as energy. Honey, whether in a pot of raw honey or as the key ingredient in a chew, bar, or gel, is considered a combination of carbohydrates. It contains the sugars fructose and glucose, making it an excellent source of the simple sugar your body needs while on the move and during recovery, which is just when muscle glycogen stores are depleted.
Ideally, you would want to consume approximately 100 calories, or about 30-60 grams of carbohydrates, per hour for runs that are longer than 60 minutes. Honey has around 17 grams of carbs per tablespoon. This fueling strategy will keep glycogen in the muscles at maximum, which will delay fatigue.
When we think about longer workouts, you'll probably be moving a bit faster than you would while walking. That means you can extend those refueling intervals.
Honey alone does not offer electrolytes, which are necessary to promote muscle function. For that, you'll need to supplement with a sports drink or foods with electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium.
Soothes sore throat and cough
Honey is an ancient sore throat remedy that relieves pain and can help with coughing. It can be added to hot tea with lemon when a cold virus hits. Although more research is needed, one study suggested that honey might be superior to other forms of care in improving upper respiratory tract infections.
One study also suggested that the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are effective in relieving a sore throat. Coughing is a common problem for children with upper respiratory tract infections. These infections can affect sleep and quality of life for both children and parents.
However, common cough medicines are not always effective and can have side effects. Interestingly, honey may be a good alternative, with evidence indicating that it is an effective treatment option. A review of several studies on honey and coughs in children found that honey appears to be more effective than diphenhydramine for cough symptoms. It can also help reduce the duration of coughing.
Improves wounds and burns
Topical honey treatment has been used to heal wounds and burns since ancient Egypt. The practice is still common today. Some studies found it to be more effective for healing partial-thickness burns and wounds that became infected after surgery.
Honey is also an effective treatment for diabetes-related foot ulcers, which are serious complications that can lead to amputation. Researchers theorize that the healing powers of honey come from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Additionally, it can help treat other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and herpes lesions. Manuka honey is considered especially effective in treating burns. However, if you have a serious burn, we must seek medical attention immediately.
Easily absorbed
In addition to being able to break down quickly, honey is absorbed by the body more efficiently than other sugars. A 2011 study, published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, found that products containing mixtures of different carbohydrates could maximize carbohydrate absorption. Honey, which is made up of two different types of sugar, fits the bill perfectly.
Since honey is made up of glucose, fructose, and water, it's perfect to be digested as soon as you put it in your mouth. This kind of efficiency ensures that your body gets the fuel it needs as soon as possible.
Help in sports recovery
Once the sugar from honey, or any carbohydrate source, is used for immediate energy needs and to replenish muscle glycogen stores, the excess sugar is stored as fat. This means that honey and honey-based products can feed your body to aid recovery and provide energy.
Additionally, at least one study found that athletes who consumed glucose-fructose mixed drinks during recovery were able to run approximately 30% longer compared to runners who consumed glucose-only drinks to recover.
A proper recovery snack or meal should also include protein. A good option is toast with nut butter and a little honey.
Solution for gum disease
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gingival tissues in response to the presence of bacteria in the plaque biofilm. It is characterized by pain and bleeding in the gums, which are generally inflamed by the edge of the teeth. Gingivitis is reversible if we follow good oral hygiene practices, but if it is not corrected, it can progress to irreversible tooth loss.
This inflammation is similar to that found in inflamed wounds; coincidentally, for many years, honey has been used to rapidly kill bacteria from wounds. There was a study involving 20 orthodontic patients to find out how honey influenced pH, bacteria count and bacterial growth compared to sucrose. It was shown that the pH did not drop below the pH threshold of 5.5, reduced bacterial counts and inhibited bacterial growth. With only 20 patients, the scientists acknowledged that the study was limited and that additional studies would need to be done to learn the real potential of honey.
Eliminates bad mouth odor
The bad smell in the mouth (halitosis) is usually detected when a person speaks and has an unpleasant odor. Inside the mouth, the anterior part of the dorsum of the tongue, the subgingival areas, poorly made restorations (crowns and bridges with leaks), dental implants or dental prostheses, are the most prone to presenting halitosis.
In these cases, honey can combat the odor, although it may not be effective on silver-coated pieces. According to studies, honey combats bacterial colonization in wounds and provides nutrients for bacteria, so that they produce lactic acid during metabolism instead of foul-smelling gases.
Prevents cancer
Honey has been studied for its anti-cancer properties. Some have shown that treatment of carcinomas with various concentrations of Tualang honey was effective in causing a dose- and time-dependent cell death. The 50% inhibitory concentration was observed to be at 4% and the maximum inhibition of cell growth was at 15%.
Studies also showed that honey promoted a dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effect. More research is still needed to understand honey as an anticancer agent.
Mitigates the harmful effects of cancer treatment
Radiation is a very useful tool to treat different types of cancer, it is even often used after surgery or chemotherapy. This therapy has been shown to be effective in increasing survival rates up to 5 years, but it has significant side effects. When side effects cause a need to discontinue treatment, the therapeutic benefit of radiation is also reduced.
Some research looks at the effects of honey in preventing or improving mucositis, xerostomia, and wound healing, and it appears to have benefits in this area.
How is it taken?
Honey is easy to add to the diet. To get a little boost of antioxidants from honey, we can use it the way we would normally use sugar. It is excellent to sweeten natural yogurt, coffee or tea. We can also use it for cooking and baking.
Experimentation is key when substituting sugar for honey. Baking with honey can cause excess browning and moisture. As a general rule, we will use ¾ cup of honey for each cup of sugar, reduce the liquid in the recipe by two tablespoons and lower the oven temperature by 3ºC.
As a home remedy, it can be applied directly to minor burns or wounds or taken orally for coughs. However, we must remember that we should not give honey to babies under one year of age due to the risk of botulism.
In addition, we must bear in mind that honey is a type of sugar, so consuming it will increase blood sugar levels. Even eating large amounts of honey, especially consistently over a long period of time, can contribute to weight gain and increase your risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. Therefore, it is recommended to consume at a low to moderate amount.
How to choose the best honey?
Raw honey will have a label that says "raw honey" If the label doesn't include the word "raw," or it doesn't come directly from a farmer or beekeeper who can confirm it's raw, the manufacturer likely pasteurized it.
The label can also describe the kind of flowers that bees pollinated to make that honey. The type of flower determines the flavor, color and antioxidant and vitamin content of honey.
many kinds of honey pasteurized They have labels that say "pure honey." Others may say "clover honey" or may claim to come from a local area. Even products labeled "organic honey" may not be raw, as some manufacturers pasteurize organic honey.
Some processed honey products contain corn syrup with high fructose content or other additives. Check the label to make sure the honey is pure.