Not only does honey taste great, but did you know it is good for you too? Used since ancient times, honey is a natural source of a wide range of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and natural energy. And today, medical researchers are confirming what previous generations have always known—having honey in your diet can help you stay healthy and fight disease.
Honey comes from natural plant nectars and contains vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. It also is a source of essential minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. While the amounts are in trace levels and will vary depending on the floral source, honey can be an important and delicious part of a healthy diet.
Quick energy to keep you going
A natural mixture of the simple sugars glucose and fructose, honey can play an important role in naturally preventing fatigue during exercise.
Staying healthy—antioxidant benefits
Medical researchers continue to find out more about the important role antioxidants like those in honey play in eliminating harmful free radicals from the human body. Free radicals are believed to be created during metabolism and may contribute to many serious diseases.
Honey that heals
Honey is an effective, natural antimicrobial that inhibits the growth of certain bacteria, yeast and molds and can help prevent scarring. The secret? Honey’s unique combination of high sugar content (which limits the amount of water available to the microorganism for growth), high acidity (which creates a low pH environment) and naturally occurring antioxidants provide an effective multi-pronged attack. On minor skin injuries, honey’s natural ability to draw moisture from the air (hygroscopy) promotes healing and helps keep the injured area from sticking to the bandage.