Sweet and Sticky: The Benefits of Honey
By Gary Picariello
Honey! Not only is it Mother Nature’s original sweetener, but honey is an all-natural, oh-so-good-for-you energy drink that is also getting its due as an allergy remedy, memory booster, sleeping aide and a whole lot more!
Say Goodbye to Sneezing and Allergies
Sure, hot tea and honey go together like bacon and eggs (but healthier and less greasy) but studies show that honey’s cough-soothing ability supports the belief that it can also reduce allergy symptoms.
An article in the e-journal Medical Daily points out that, "Honey acts like a natural vaccine." Why? Because honey contains small amounts of pollen! If the body is continually exposed to pollen over time it produces antibodies to the pollen. So what happens? After repeated exposure, these antibodies increase and the body becomes used to their presence. As a result, less histamine is released, which means less allergic response for you!
Memory Booster
Maybe Winnie the Pooh was onto something after all: Research shows that honey is stocked full of antioxidants that may help prevent cell damage and memory loss. A 2011 study published in Menopause found that "A daily spoonful of Tualang honey showed improvement in the immediate memory of menopausal women." Just 20 grams of honey a day improved the women's short-term memory compared to those who took hormone pills.
Cough
The common cold doesn’t stand a chance when honey is added to the mix! That annoying dry cough can be easily brought to bay with two teaspoons of honey -- this according to a 2012 study published in the journal Pediatrics. The study focused on kids ages 5 and under suffering from nighttime coughs due to colds. The children coughed less frequently when they received two teaspoons of honey 30 minutes before bed.
Honey's thick comportment helps coat the throat while the sweet taste triggers nerve endings that protect the throat from that constant cough. The Pediatrics article goes on to say that, “Honey is believed to be as effective as the common cough suppressant ingredient dextromethorphan."
Honey has other medicinal properties as well: When honey is used on burns, points out Medical Daily, “It also prevents inflammation from progressing and leading to more damage beyond that caused by the heat.”
Honey has been used for centuries as a deity fast food and health aide. You don't need to wait nearly as long. Why not take advantage of everything honey has to offer!