Benefits of Honey

In addition to being used as a natural sweetener, honey can also be used to strengthen the immune system, improve digestive capacity and even alleviate constipation. In addition, honey is considered antiseptic, antioxidant, antirheumatic, diuretic, digestive, expectorant and soothing.

However, honey can get fat because it is sweet and has almost the same calories as white sugar. One tablespoon of sugar has about 60 calories and the same measure of honey has 55 calories.

Despite this, it is the only naturally sweet food that contains proteins and minerals, which are important for health, bringing the following benefits:

1. Fight constipation as it helps the bowel to move;
2. Combat maldigestion and gastric ulcers, because it has enzymes that facilitate digestion;
3. Relieve bronchitis, asthma and sore throat, due to its antibiotic and antiseptic characteristics;
4. Honey with propolis : relieves symptoms of pharyngitis, tonsillitis, flu and cold. Propolis works as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, immune system stimulator, healing and tissue regenerator;
5. Honey with cinnamon : combats poor digestion, which can occur after a meal rich in fats. A good tip is to make a tea and add a teaspoon of honey with cinnamon to facilitate digestion.
6. Honey with lemon : prevents the appearance of colds and flu, because lemon has vitamin C that strengthens the immune system.

Thus, honey should be consumed in small amounts and should be avoided in cases of diabetes. Also know the agave syrup, a type of natural honey that fattens less than sugar.

Benefits of honey for skin

The benefits of honey to the skin are to make the skin softer, more uniform and without blemishes. To have these benefits it is important to pass crystallized honey twice a week on the skin, massage well and leave for 10 minutes, then wash with warm water. Here's how to make a honey facial mask.

Nutritional Information of Honey

The table below shows the nutritional information for 100 g and for 1 teaspoon of honey.

It is important to remember that honey is not advised for young children, between 1 and 3 years of age, due to the possibility of the intestine, still immature, not prevent the entry of small microorganisms, present in honey, that can cause infections.

Contraindications of honey

Honey is a food contraindicated in some situations like:

• Children under 1 year of age : Up to the first year of age as the child's digestive system may not be fully developed and mature thus not effectively defending foreign bodies. It exists until the first year of life and the possibility of serious poisoning with a bacterium commonly found in honey called Clostridium boltulino .
• Diabetics : Diabetics should avoid honey because it has a lot of simple sugar that rapidly raises blood glucose. Honey sugar is one of the types of carbohydrate that the diabetic should avoid.
• Allergic : Sensitive people prone to allergies may develop allergic reactions manifesting gastric malaise and upset stomach due to the pollen grains present in honey.

Despite these contraindications to the use of honey, and thanks to its therapeutic potential, honey should be on the food shelves and not in the medicine cabinet and frequently consumed as long as there is no contraindication. See more in When honey should not be used.