Benefits of Raw Honey
The world of science is actively researching the benefits of raw honey and as a result, can now prove and explain the benefits honey holds. Stories of raw honey that were once considered 'folk lore' are now being scientifically validated. There is now no doubt - raw honey heals! Honey Helps You to Live Longer!Current Aging Science recently reported on a small study suggesting that those who regularly consume honey live longer. (no surprise to me!)Below is a summary of the report... Honey is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent which can enhance wound healing. A beneficial effect in cancer has been shown in cell cultures and in animal studies and a number of further nutritional and physiological effects of relevance to health and function have been shown for honey. 665 men within the Caerphilly Cohort kept a weighed dietary record for seven days. Risk factors for vascular and other diseases in 41 men who recorded eating honey suggest that these men were on the whole healthier than the 624 men who had not recorded honey consumption. Furthermore, all-cause mortality (the chance of dieing from anything) during 25 years of follow-up was considerably lower in the men who had consumed honey. One tablespoon of a day is what I suggest to obtain the many health benefits of raw honey. Raw Honey Kills Bacteria That Cause Chronic SinusitisDo you have chronic sinus issues?A new study from researchers at the University of Amsterdam shows honey to be effective in killing bacteria that cause chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis affects millions of people every year. In chronic sinusitis, the mucous membranes in the sinus cavities become inflamed, causing headaches, stuffy nose, and difficulty breathing. Though it can be caused by allergies, chronic sinusitis can also be caused by bacteria that colonize in the nose and sinuses. What I suggest for people suffering with sinus issues is to consume 1 to 2 tablespoons of quality raw honey per day on its own or in herbal tea. Use of Honey May Lower Cholesterol levelsScientists recently investigated the potential health benefits of raw honey as a substitute for refined sugars and demonstrated that compared to sugar, honey may produce lower blood triglycerides.The goal of the scientists was to determine the influence of honey versus sugar on fat accumulation and cholesterol in two groups of mice over 116 days. What they found was that total cholesterol tended to be lower in the honey fed mice. The results suggest that consuming raw honey may potentially promote lower cholesterol over a long term period. Details of the study can be found in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Benefits of Raw Honey Include Acne TreatmentDoctors recently found success using honey to treat a severe form of acne called Hydradenitis suppurativa (HS). It is a chronic, debilitating disorder that occurs deep in the skin where the sweat glands are located.Doctor's used a special honey dressing called Leptospermum honey on the wound. This type of honey’s antibacterial effect has been documented for many organisms found in chronic wounds, even those with antibiotic resistance. It displays significant antibacterial effects. In one particular case, a 17-year-old young man with a 3-year history of this type of acne and recurring episodes of painful abscess formation that required medical and surgical care (with no success), applied the honey dressing. With each dressing change, improvement was seen until there was full healing. As a result of this and other cases, this special honey dressing is now the dressing of choice for pediatric patients in this practitioner’s clinical practice. Science has clearly validated the benefits of raw honey for the skin. I highly recommend using skin care products that have raw honey in them. So Ho Mish is one of them. It is hand crafted in small batches and is truly a miracle cream from the hive. Honey Better Than NyQuil at Controlling Children's Cough
Not surprisingly, a recent clinical study revealed that the many raw honey benefits include being an effective cough medicine!The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study comparing the effect of Honey versus Dextromethorphan (used in Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, and Vicks), and Diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl, Nytol, Unisom, Tylenol PM, Midol PM and Advil PM) on the nightly cough and sleep quality of children and their parents. This was a clinical trial study in which 139 children aged 24–60 months suffering from coughing due to upper respiratory infections were selected and assigned randomly to 4 groups. The first group received honey, the second one DM, the third DPH, but the fourth group or control group was assigned to a supportive treatment. After approximately a 24-hour intervention, the 4 groups were reexamined and their cough frequency, cough severity, and sleep quality in children and their parents were recorded. The result of the study demonstrated that receiving a 2.5 mL dose of honey before sleep has a more alleviating effect on a cough than does a dose of these popular over-the-counter drugs. For those of you looking to use honey as a cough remedy, the dose used in this study is quite small. 2.5 ml is roughly a teaspoon of raw honey. I recommend taking closer to a full tablespoon to ensure maximum effectiveness. Raw Honey Speeds Recovery from Vomiting, DiarrheaThe many benefits of raw honey include its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Because gastroenteritis is an acute inflammation of the G.I. tract that may be caused by a variety of microbes (bacteria), the aim of the present study was to verify whether honey could help speed up the recovery from vomiting and diarrhea.One hundred infants and children with acute gastroenteritis were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, each consisting of 50 patients: Group I received a drink for re-hydration and Group II received the same drink with honey. In the honey-treated group the frequencies of vomiting and diarrhea were significantly reduced compared to the control group. Also, the recovery time was significantly shortened after honey ingestion. In conclusion, honey promoted re-hydration of the body and sped recovery from vomiting and diarrhea. The full details of this study can be found in the Journal of Medicinal Food, June 2010, 13(3): 605-609. Benefits of Raw Honey Include Promoting SleepHoney consumption before bed can contribute to longer, higher quality sessions of restorative sleep, according to a presentation by Mike McInnes, pharmacist, sports nutritionist, and author of The Hibernation Diet.“That honey may improve restorative sleep is extremely important to public health because poor sleep has been associated with everything from hypertension to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cognitive degeneration,” said McInnes. McInnes’ presentation was on the topic of the potentially positive role of honey in promoting restorative sleep,and the importance of the proverbial good night’s sleep. Citing the findings from a recent large, population basedepidemiological study out of Columbia University’s School of Public Health, McInnes shared data showing that sleeping less than five hours a night was significantly associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, decreased leptin (a fat regulating hormone), increased ghrelin (a hunger cue hormone) and appetite, and compromised insulin sensitivity – even when taking obesity and diabetes into account. McInnes concluded that honey’s potential role in restorative sleep may have implications for improving long-term health. He reviewed three possible mechanisms behind the recommendation of taking honey at bedtime: 1) honey provides enough glycogen (stored energy) for the liver over eight hours of sleep, which lessens the early morning release of cortisol and adrenalin (stress hormones); 2) honey stabilizes blood sugar levels; 3) honey contributes to the release of melatonin, the hormone required for recovery and rebuilding of body tissues during rest. Honey’s potential role in the suppression of the release of stress hormones and the promotion of restorative hormones has major health implications for a society suffering from a habit of inadequate sleep.
|
