The benefits of raw honey include the nutrients and antioxidants it contains. Honey is also better for your blood sugar and your heart, and it may promote healing.
Honey is a syrupy liquid that honeybees make from plant nectar. Loved worldwide for its sweetness and depth of flavor, it’s used in many foods and recipes.
The smell, color, and taste of honey vary based on the type of flowers it’s made from, so there are countless varieties available.
Honey has a number of potential health benefits and plays a role in many home remedies and alternative medicine treatments.
Here are 7 unique health benefits of honey.
1. Contains a variety of nutrients
One tablespoon (20 grams) of honey contains
- Calories: 61
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Carbs: 17 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Riboflavin: 1% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Copper: 1% of the DV
Honey is essentially pure sugar, with no fat and only trace amounts of protein and fiber. It contains small amounts of some nutrients, but most people typically don’t consume enough honey for it to be a significant dietary source of vitamins and minerals.
Still, it’s worth noting that honey is rich in health-promoting plant compounds known as polyphenols.
2. Rich in antioxidants
High-quality honey — minimally processed, unheated, and fresh — contains many important bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. Darker varieties tend to offer more antioxidants than lighter varieties.
Antioxidants help neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) in your body, which can build up in cells and cause damage. This damage can contribute to conditions like premature aging, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
As such, many of honey’s health benefits are attributed to its antioxidant content.
3. Better for blood sugar levels than regular sugar
When it comes to blood sugar management, honey may offer some slight benefits over regular sugar.
Although honey raises your blood sugar level just like other types of sugar do, the antioxidants it contains may help protect against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have found that honey may increase levels of adiponectin, a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation.
There’s also some evidence that daily honey intake may improve fasting blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
However, while honey may be slightly better than refined sugar for people with diabetes, it should still be consumed in moderation.
It’s also important to know that certain types of honey could be diluted with plain syrup. Although honey adulteration is illegal in most countries, it remains a widespread problem.
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