If you walk into most Indian kitchens, there’s a good chance that there’s a honey jar sitting quietly on the shelf. Maybe it’s not used every single day, but it’s almost always there. Some mornings, someone mixes a spoon of honey with water for a quick start to the day. On other days, it finds its way into tea or even over a slice of toast. And then there are those days when someone in the house has a sore throat, and honey suddenly becomes the go-to home remedy. Many people also like using honey this way because it’s known as honey for natural energy, giving the body a quick and simple boost when needed.
Given all these uses for honey, it’s only natural for most people to ask themselves: is honey good for health?
While the answer is yes… but only to a certain extent, let’s look at what honey is and what it does. Honey is something bees make using nectar from flowers. Compared to other sweeteners such as refined sugar, honey does contain trace amounts of antioxidants. This is probably the reason most people are more comfortable using honey than refined sugar.
While honey is good for health, it’s also worth remembering that honey is sweet because it’s made of sugar.
What’s Actually Inside Honey?
When people say that honey is a healthy food, it is generally understood that they are talking about all the various chemicals that it contains naturally. Honey is made primarily of natural sugars such as fructose and glucose that can be easily converted into energy within the human body.
On an average, honey contains around 300 calories for every 100 grams of it. This makes it a fairly high-calorie food. In addition to sugars, honey is also known to contain various minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron in small quantities.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things that can be noted with regards to honey is that it contains plant-based antioxidants that come from flowers that the bees visit in order to collect nectar.
Why People Often Use Honey
People don’t just use honey because it tastes sweet. Over time, it has become part of many small daily habits.
A Quick Energy Source
This is because honey has simple carbohydrates, which the body can easily digest. This makes honey a good energy booster, and many people like taking honey in the morning or before any physical activity.
A Popular Home Remedy
When asked, many elderly people will attest to the fact that honey has been used during the cold season. A mixture of honey, water, and lemon seems to be the most common remedy for the cold.
Though not medicinal, the smoothness of the honey makes the throat feel better.
Natural Antioxidants
Honey also has antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These compounds are important because they protect the cells of the body from free radicals, which the body faces on a daily basis.
Honey in Skin Care
Interestingly, honey is not just used on food. Many people search online for information on how to use honey on the face.
The natural antibacterial and moisturizing properties of honey are the reasons why many people use honey as a face mask. It is said to keep the face looking moist and shiny.
Of course, this is assuming that one’s skin is not sensitive.
A Few Things Worth Remembering
While honey does have a number of benefits, it is not necessarily a food that should be indulged in to excess.
One of the reasons is that it is still a high-sugar food, and while not necessarily a problem in small amounts, indulging in large amounts of it on a regular basis could contribute to a higher calorie intake. Another thing that is worth remembering is that honey is not to be given to children who are less than a year old.
Choosing Honey for Daily Use
While purchasing honey, many people look for brands that are commonly available and are popular among people. A popular brand of honey commonly found among people is Dabur Honey 1.2KG, mostly due to the quantity of the product, which is suitable for daily use.
The product is also available on shopping platforms like Aap Ka Bazar, where people often purchase their daily requirements of groceries at one place.
