There are 20 thousand species of bees on Earth, but only a small part of them can please humanity with honey. What is this delicious sweet product for us? And is it true that he heals diseases and gives longevity?
Honey is brought … not only by bees
The most common honey bee in the world is Apis mellifera. It is one of seven commonly known (and well-studied) honeybee species. But surprisingly, honey is not only given to a person by bees.
A productive “supplier” of honey can be Mexican honey wasps. Historical evidence tells that it was thanks to them that the Native Americans supported their health and life. However, they immediately note that the honey of these wasps can sometimes be poisonous. This factor depends on what flowers the wasps prefer to visit.
Man has been using honey for several thousand years
The first flowering plants appeared on Earth about 130 million years ago. Several million years later, the bees “separated” from the wasps and began to produce honey. Historians have come down to fossilized honeycombs, which are three million years old.
Humanity, on the other hand, relishes on honey for a relatively small amount of time – only a few thousand years. In Valencia, a large city in Spain, an ancient cave was discovered, on the walls of which was depicted a figure of a man extracting honey from beehives. The find is 15 thousand years old.
About taste and benefits: honey and health
Honey is a medicine
People never doubted this. The earliest evidence of the medicinal use of honey dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. Since honey contains substances that are “unfriendly” to bacteria, it has been used to treat cuts and burns in protective dressings against infections.
Today honey heals thousands of diseases. But it is important to note that in most cases, its use should be in addition to other therapeutic measures.
For example, honey has a significant quantity of Vitamin B, Boron, and Chrysin which boost testosterone levels in men and thus, is good for penile erection in men. However, if you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, do not try to treat it with just honey, as it could backfire. You must instead combine it with other treatment methods. You may want to check this out for more info regarding the same.
Elixir of life
If a person gets lost in a wild, unfamiliar area, all he has to do to survive is to find a beehive. It seems surprising, but honey is the only food on Earth that contains all the elements necessary for human health: vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Honey is not sugar!
While many people will not hesitate to equate sugar and honey, they don’t have much in common. Unlike pure refined sugar, honey contains useful amino acids, vitamins, minerals (very little), and antioxidants.
However, contrary to popular belief, it has more calories than sugar. One teaspoon of honey contains 21 calories, while a teaspoon of sugar contains only 16.
It reduces the risk of heart disease
The sweet product contains antioxidants – flavonoids. According to a 2010 study published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, they are effective in preventing the development of strokes and heart attacks, as well as certain types of cancer. Other research shows that they also promote eye health. Specially, Manuka honey is very good to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The best choice for diabetic patients
Just like sugar, honey causes blood glucose levels to rise. But unlike the latter, it is not so fast and not so high. Therefore, it is considered the best choice for people with diabetes. However, it should be used with caution. It is always worth keeping in mind that you can accidentally run into honey falsification – a product diluted with sugar syrup and other not the very latest additives.
Helps to bring hypertension under control
Several studies have shown that with regular use of honey, you can expect a moderate reduction in high blood pressure. Scientists explain this by the fact that the composition of the sweet substance contains antioxidant compounds, which give the above effect.
Promotes Skin Wound Healing
It is a very effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. A review of 26 studies found that honey can help heal wounds from surgery or burns. It is effective in treating pustules, psoriasis, and diabetic foot ulcers.
