Honey: You drink it in your tea and drizzle it on baked goods, but what is it really? Well, at its heart, honey is the original sweetener—it’s essentially the nectar of flowering plants pollinated by bees which is saved inside the beehive for later consumption. Honey’s history dates all the way back before the sixteenth century. However, when sugar became widely available, humans became obsessed with satisfying their sweet tooth with the byproduct of harvesting sugarcane. However, honey started out as the superior sweetener, commonly used by those in ancient Greece and Sicily.
Today, one of the best locations to source honey from is manuka honey from New Zealand. Unique to the lush flora of New Zealand, this type of sumptuous honey is packed with MGO, a key antibacterial compound. Plus, manuka honey is full of antioxidants that aid in immune support, healthy aging, and promoting energy production.
There are numerous benefits to consuming honey on a daily basis, such as being rich in antioxidants, preventing heart disease, and promoting wound healing. But exactly how much honey should one consume each day? Let’s get into the benefits of manuka honey and the amount you need to reap these important strengths.
Honey: What Your Daily Intake Should Be
According to the American Heart Association, the daily intake of honey varies depending on what sex you are. It’s suggested that men consume no more than nine teaspoons—the equivalent of 36 grams—per day. This amount is lower for women and children at six teaspoons (or 24 grams) per day. You should also know that children under 1 year of age shouldn’t eat honey, as it’s associated with a risk of botulism. Six to nine teaspoons is indeed a lot of honey, and it’s perfectly fine to only consume one to two regular spoonfuls of raw honey per day.
Keep in mind that honey is essentially pure sugar with little fat and only trace amounts of protein and fiber. But it’s worth stating that honey is rich in health-promoting plant compounds known as polyphenols.
Of course, you should always consult your physician on what is best for you as an individual. And remember: although honey does have supplemental benefits to your health, it should not be used as a significant dietary source of vitamins and minerals.
What are the Benefits of Manuka Honey?
Unique to New Zealand, bees make manuka honey from (you guessed it)—the manuka bush. The strong, earthy aroma and flavor goes incredibly well with the natural sweetness of honey. When bees pollinate the manuka plant, these powerful ingredients combine. Manuka honey dates back to the early 19th century when European honey bees introduced it to the New Zealand area. Not only is the flavor more complex, but manuka honey is also considered to be more potent than your average honey bee honey. Why? Because of its higher concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO), a naturally occurring antibiotic substance. Originally found in the nectar of manuka plants, MGOs help heal both minor and chronic wounds.
It’s true that all kinds of honey have been used as natural antibiotics throughout history; however, researchers have discovered that honey can kill germs from the hydrogen peroxide produced with the support enzymes from honey bees. Manuka honey takes this a step further because of the healing power of MGOs. That’s why manuka honey is superior to regular honey. And to get the full amount of antibiotic benefits and antioxidants from this unique type of honey, it’s best consumed raw and in moderation.
Why You Should Eat Honey on a Daily Basis
Consuming a reasonable amount of honey per day is not only a sweet treat but can gradually help increase your bodily health. Here are just a few benefits to eating honey:
Boost Skin Health
Honey is known to be used in beauty treatments, such as face masks, because of its antibiotic properties and its ability to lock in moisture. The amino acids within honey are primed to support tissue turnover and repair to keep the skin barrier plump and skin. Consuming honey, or stirring a spoonful of it in your tea, can also help to improve your overall skin health.
Neutralize Free Radicals
You may have heard of oxidative stress which is basically an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons. But how exactly can free radicals harm the body? Free radicals can cause large chemical reactions in your body because they react so easily with other molecules. These reactions are called oxidation. Honey may reduce the amount of free radicals that can cause oxidative stress in the body due to its high concentration in flavonoids.
Better Quality Sleep
Honey has been used as a natural health remedy for centuries, and one of its benefits are reported to be an improvement in sleep quality. According to researchers, a few spoonfuls of honey near bedtime can cause the pancreas to release insulin, which, in turn, makes the brain feel sleepier.
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