Due to a health problem from which one of my family members suffered, I’ve stumbled upon a great natural treatment. I love natural treatments as opposed to manufactured drugs.
Don’t get me wrong: I know the importance of medications and I would never discount them; however, finding a natural approach to help with specific problems makes me happy!
I’ve always known honey treats a variety of illnesses and diseases, but I didn’t realize this included peptic ulcers. But, it seems like it helps there, too. Below are a few facts I found on honey that may be can help you now or will in the future.
Nutrition: Honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins and minerals, including niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, copper, iodine, and zinc. Honey contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5, and B3 and several kinds of hormones in amounts that change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen.
Antioxidant: Research indicates that honey contains abundant antioxidants, depending on the floral source of the honey. Darker honeys usually contain more antioxidant content than lighter honeys and have been shown to be similar in antioxidant capacity to many fruits and vegetables on a dry weight basis.
Skin and beauty: Honey is loaded with moisture binding humectants containing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. These are excellent aids for nourishing the hair and skin.
Weight loss: If you’re trying to lose weight, honey can be a great help. Common refined dietary sugars in our food supply lack minerals and vitamins, and are called empty calories for this reason. They need nutrients from our bodies in order to metabolize our cholesterol and fats. When our bodies lack these nutrients, metabolism is impeded. On the contrary, honey contains 22 amino acids and a variety of minerals essential for its metabolism, and therefore helps you in reducing weight.
Insomnia: Having trouble sleeping? Eating honey raises your blood sugar level slightly, which results in a controlled increase of insulin, which then causes the amino acid trytophan to enter your brain. The trytophan is converted into serotonin, which promotes relaxation. Finally, in the pineal gland, with the aid of darkness, the serotonin is converted into melatonin, a well know cure for sleeping disorders. Honey also contains the ideal 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose, making it a super food for glycogen storage. Sufficient glycogen storage is necessary for restful sleep. When your liver runs out of glycogen at night, your brain starts to trigger stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenalin to convert protein muscle into glucose.
Coughs: Honey is remedial in cases of persistent coughs and sore throats. The strong antibiotic properties it contains coats the throat and reduces irritation. Note: Pediatricians do not recommend giving honey to children under 1 year of age because of the risk of botulism spores.
Wound healing: Raw honey makes a sterile, painless and effective wound dressing. Apply it directly to open cuts, abrasions and burns, and cover it with a piece of gauze. The results will occur quicker than with conventional alternatives, such as salves and creams.
Stomach and digestion: The difference between common sugar and honey is that the sugars contained in honey are predigested by the bees and can be quickly and easily absorbed in the human digestive tract; thus, it is quite useful for digestive disorders. Honey can help to heal ulcers and upset stomachs. It has also been proven to regulate intestinal function, alleviating both constipation and diarrhea.
Improve athletic performance: Honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting performance and endurance, and reducing muscle fatigue. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.
Bee happy!
Some information from Squidoo.com.