6 Surprising Health Benefits of Honey

Honey is one of the oldest sweeteners on earth. It is used to sweeten tea and other delicious foods. But actually, it offers more than just flavor. Many Researches show that honey provides a variety of health benefits as well. Here are the top 6 benefits of honey: 

  1. Fight against acid reflux

Research published in the British Medical Journal found that honey may be an effective way to prevent acid reflux by coating the esophagus.  Researchers determined honey is 125.9 times more viscous than distilled water, and forms a much better coating, which can help reduce heartburn.

  2. Relieve gastroenteritis symptoms

Another study published in the British Medical Journal found that honey helped stop diarrhea in infants and young children, and is also a safe substitute for glucose in solutions with electrolytes that are used for rehydration.

  3. Heal wound and burn

Research has also shown that applying honey to diabetic ulcers is an effective treatment when a person is not responding to antibiotics. In addition, it’s been found to help heal burns when applied topically, which is cheaper than oral antibiotics and doesn’t carry the same side effects. Studies have shown that a certain type called Manuka honey could even be an effective treatment for MRSA.

  4. Fight allergies

One study tested the effect of honey on seasonal eye allergies, and found that the patients responded better to the honey treatment compared to placebo—though a third of the participants said they had a hard time tolerating the sweet taste.

  5. Fight against infections

A study published in FASEB Journal found that honey can kill bacteria due to a protein called defensing-1, while other research found that Manuka honey kills bacteria by destroying key bacteria proteins. In addition, this type of honey may even reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics.  Researchers also note that natural honey kills bacteria three times more effectively than artificial honey.

  6. Suppress cough

A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that when compared to a placebo, honey was far superior in suppressing children’s coughing during the night. Parents rated the honey higher than silan date extract for cough relief at night when their children had an upper respiratory infection.

Reference: Tsai, A. (2013, August 16). 6 Health Benefits of Honey. Retrieved from https://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/6-health-benefits-of-honey/