Posted on August 7, 2008 in Latest News
The delectable test of natural honey not only satisfies one’s taste bud but it’s amazing healing power has also made it one of the cherished medicine used by the world. Honey has been man’s age old sweetner. In Ayurveda, honey is known as “Madhu” and has been used since ancient times as a natural food, as a medicine and as a vital skin care ingredient. Perhaps the popularity of honey in Ayurveda is because of its effectiveness in treating such diseases as asthma, cough, blood pressure, heart diseases etc.
Benefits of Honey:
The health benefit of honey is basically dependent on the quality of honey used. The sugar content in honey are glucose and fructose apart from useful minerals, enzymes, amino acids and vitamins.
Listed below are some of the important benefits of honey:
- Reduces Blood Sugar: Honey is considered an ideal liver tonic because it contains fructose and glucose in the ideal ratio of 1:1. Fructose is responsible for maintaining adequate glycogen in the liver. Inadequate storage of glycogen can release stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol that can cause insulin resistance, obesity, risk of cardiovascular disease, etc.
- Treats Sore Throat: The powerful antimicrobial property of honey checks the growth of bacteria. The enzyme content in honey produces hydrogen peroxide that soothes the raw tissues and kills infection and helps in curing sore throat.
- Treats Stomach Ulcers: The glucose and fructose content in sugar help in sucking the pass out and drying the ulcer. This inhibits the growth of bacteria and microbes, resulting in the healing of stomach ulcers.
- Improves Performance of Athletes: Together glucose and fructose play an important role in improving performance of an athelete. Sports nutritionists suggest that taking honey before exercise promotes endurance and reduces muscle fatigue.
- Heals Open Wounds and Acts as an Ideal Skin Care: Honey has the ability to absorb moisture from the air (hygroscopic property). This property helps in healing open wounds by keeping skin moist and encourages new tissue growth. The hygroscopic property of honey also makes it an ideal skin care ingredient as it keeps skin moist and smooth. It protects the skin from sun damage and keeps it fresh.
- Fights Bad Cholesterol and Excess Weight: The rich content of calcium, potassium, vitamin B-complex along with an antioxidant known as pinocembrin in honey helps in keeping a check on the cholesterol levels. Thus it helps in maintaining body weight.
- Prevents Fast Aging and Degenerative Diseases: Honey as a natural antioxidant and contains bioflavonoids, pinocembrin, pinobanksin, chrysin etc. These antioxidants can prevent cellular damage by producing antibacterial enzymes that neutralize the effect of free radicals and strengthens our immune system against fast aging, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.
Such is the power of honey that one of the famous all-time beauty, Cleopetra, even could not resist from using it to maintain and enhance her beauty.
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