Can Honey Beat The Winter Blues?

Thinkstock

Honey is a natural sweetener that people have enjoyed for thousands of years. According to a recent survey, about 62 percent of households currently use and have honey in their homes. Did you know that honey lasts forever when stored in the proper conditions? Honey has been found in tombs of Egypt that is still edible today, which is due to its low water activity. The moisture content is so low, microbes cannot flourish in honey. Honey is also an antioxidant powerhouse that is filled with phenolic acids and flavonoids that keep it from breaking down. Studies done at the University of California at Davis found that a daily dose of honey increased antioxidant activity of blood. This reduced the free-radical damage in the blood stream. Honey is also a source of minerals such as copper, B2, B6, iron, silica, manganese, calcium and potassium. So incorporating it into your daily eating routine is not only tasteful, but good for you!

QUIZ: Measure Beauty Nutrients in Your Diet

However, the benefits of honey go beyond its sweet taste and nutritional benefits. It has amazing medicinal properties. There is documented use of honey as a medicinal aid for 8000 years. When people think of honey, they immediately think of their grandmother’s home remedy where they mixed it with lemon and whiskey for a cough. Today we leave the whiskey out, but honey is still a popular cough and cold remedy. A cough syrup by Maty’s Healthy Products starts with antioxidant rich buckwheat honey as their base. Then it’s loaded with powerful immune boosters such as apple cider vinegar, Celtic sea salt, zinc and cinnamon. At Maty’s, we determine if you have a cough, you mostly likely have a cold or the flu, so why not load you up with immune boosting ingredients.

Honey to help you lose weight:

For people who want to lose weight, honey is a good alternative to use as a sweetener. Refined dietary sugars lack nutrients and is essentially made up of empty calories. Therefore your body is not satisfying its nutrient requirements. On the other hand, honey contains 22 amino acids and a variety of minerals essential for metabolism. It provides the body with necessary nutrients and thus helps you lose weight by curbing the appetite. It also helps to maintain energy levels throughout the day which helps to curb your appetite. Its glucose to fructose ratio is unique in that the glucose gives your body the immediate energy boost it may need while the fructose gives your body the sustained energy boost for a lasting benefit.

MORE from BettyConfidential.com: Getting Toned Arms