According to experts, 5 benefits of honey you must know

Have you heard a lot about the benefits or harms of raising blood sugar if using honey regularly? So how to verify this information? Let’s find this out through some research.

Honey is known by experts as “liquid gold” because of the benefits that this food brings to the body. Not only does it bring high nutritional value, but honey is also effective against upper respiratory tract (oropharynx) infections. Besides having a natural aroma and sweetness, this food has many benefits.

1. Honey can help treat upper respiratory tract infections (URIs)

In a new paper in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Oxford researchers referenced 14 previously published studies related to honey’s effectiveness in reducing symptoms of urinary tract infections. upper respiratory. They found that compared with conventional treatments (such as over-the-counter medications and antibiotics), honey improved both the frequency and severity of coughs, which could be used as an alternative to antibiotics.

However, the above results are quite dependent on antibiotics being misused when treating infections. Therefore, the above research team proposes that a few more studies are needed to clarify some issues.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called antibiotic resistance one of the most pressing public health concerns in the world, and another 2017 study found that honey can is the key to solving this problem. Scientists from the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA have discovered that an antibacterial compound produced by honey bees could become the basis for new antibiotics.

2. Helps Fight Metabolic Syndrome

A 2018 article published in the journal Nutrients demonstrated the effects of honey on metabolic syndrome (MetS), which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes in one-third of people. Mature America. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you must have at least three of the five conditions: large waist circumference (over 90cm for women and over 100cm for men), high blood pressure, harmful triglycerides and high blood sugar, low HDL (good cholesterol) cholesterol.

In the article, the researchers give a reason why honey can help improve these conditions. First, honey has a low glycemic index. So it doesn’t raise blood sugar and insulin levels too high, and it also enhances insulin sensitivity. Honey has also been shown to prevent excessive weight gain and improve lipid metabolism by reducing triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL cholesterol.

In particular, honey also has antioxidant effects, one of the important mechanisms of metabolic syndrome. For these reasons, the researchers conclude that this food holds great promise to be integrated into the management and limitation of metabolic syndrome in terms of prevention and treatment.

>>> See more: 4 benefits of propolis surprise many people

3. Helps prevent hardening of the arteries

A recent study also found that honey has the ability to fight hardening of the arteries, the leading cause of death in the world. Research published in 2019, also in the journal Nutrients, the authors indicate that honey contains more than 180 substances including natural sugars as well as a plethora of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. The researchers concluded that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds also exist in bile and are important factors contributing to the health benefits of users.

Honey also has antioxidant effects in the blood and replaces sugar to help increase antioxidant capacity in the elderly.

4. Helps support a healthy gut

A recent study, published in the journal Integrative Medicine Insights, states that honey is a type of prebiotics. This is a mechanism that helps ferment beneficial bacteria in the gut, including bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. This mechanism can boost immune function and improve mental health.

5. Provides nutrients

In addition to natural sugars and antioxidants, honey also contains a number of nutrients. Just a small amount of honey can contain 31 minerals including phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium and about 600 other compounds that are good for health.

How to enjoy honey

Honey can be enjoyed directly or incorporated into many recipes. You can use honey to flavor teas, coffees and smoothies or sauces.

A little honey on oatmeal, crepes, fresh fruit, chia seeds or cookies is also a great choice. Sweets “believers” should use this honey to dip chips or carrots, beets, walnuts or cashews to limit the use of refined sugar. You can also use honey in place of sugar in some baked goods at a ratio of 1/2 or 2/3 of the recipe.

Reference source

5 Health Benefits of Honey, According to a Nutritionist https://www.health.com/food/health-benefits-honey Accessed August 31, 2020