Honey is the world’s oldest sweetener, having been consumed by humans for thousands of years. Read this article to learn about the many things it can be used for and why it is so good for you.
Eating
When consumed regularly, honey can have some surprising health benefits. To start with. it is full of antioxidants which can reduce the risk of things like cancer and heart disease. It is also naturally antibacterial so it is a great aid for stomach problems such as stomach ulcers, indigestion and is known to shorten the duration of bacterial diarrhea. It has also been proven to lessen the impact of seasonal allergies like hay fever. As always, make sure your sugar levels are healthy before consuming too much of anything and if in doubt, check with your doctor.
Cooking
As a natural sweetener, honey is much healthier than processed white sugar especially for people who have diabetes or are looking to lose weight. It can be a great substitute for sugar to sweeten baked goods.
Home Remedies
Did you know that honey can have some major benefits without you even having to consume it? Try applying it to cuts, burns or rashes to soothe the pain and increase healing time. It can also be used to reduce the appearance of scars.
Honey has also long been recommended to people with colds, especially to soothe a sore throat. A popular method is to add it to a healthy herbal tea and drink it.
Skin
Honey is often used as a face mask because it can purify and cleanse the skin. Apply raw honey to the face and leave for about 20 minutes and your face will instantly feel fresher and cleaner.
Hair
As with all natural beauty products, what is good for the skin is also good for the hair. Honey can make your hair softer, smoother and healthier and can even stimulate faster growth. Massage it into your scalp while showering to enjoy the benefits. It can also be used as a natural lightener if you don’t like the harsh chemicals in hair dyes. Simply combine honey with your conditioner to lighten your hair naturally.
Are you going to start using honey more in your food and even your beauty routine after reading this article? What other things do you use honey for?
Sources
Herrington, Diana. “10 Health Benefits of Honey.” Care2. Healthy Living, 22 Aug. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. <http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-health-benefits-of-honey.html>
Nordqvist, Joseph. “What Are the Health Benefits of Honey?” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 10 Aug. 2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2014. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264667.php>
Smith, Quinn. “6 Honey Hair Treatments.” 6 Honey Hair Treatments. TextureMedia Inc, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.<http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/wavy-hair-type-2/6-honey-hair-treatments>
Image
“Sweet…” by Zsuzsanna Kilian, Stock Xchng <http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1068457/?forcedownload=1>
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