Fast facts on Honey

History

Cave paintings show that around 8,000 years ago, honey was first being used by humans, although there was no evidence of humans keeping and cultivating colonies of bees until 2,400 BC.

Over 4,000 years ago, honey was used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, where it was thought to be effective in treating indigestion and imbalances in the body.

Before its use by Ancient Egyptians, honey was rubbed onto the skin to treat wounds and has been found in medicinal substances from over 5,000 years ago.

The beneficial properties of honey have been explored and studied in modern times, and there is evidence to suggest that some parts of its historical reputation may hold truth.

Benefits

Modern science is finding evidence for many of the historical uses of honey.

1) Healing wounds and burns
2) Reducing the duration of diarrhea
3) Preventing acid re-flux
4) Fighting infections
5) Relieving cold and cough symptoms
6) Replacing added sugar in the diet

Properties

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, one tablespoon of honey contains

• 64 calories, 
• 17.3 grams (g) of sugar,
•  0 g of fiber, fat, and protein.

 Honey is known to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and soothing effects.

It is made up of glucose, fructose, and minerals, such as iron, calcium, phosphate, sodium chloride, potassium, and magnesium.

Risks

A person’s overall eating pattern is most important in preventing disease and achieving good health. It is better to eat a diet with variety than to concentrate on individual foods as the key to good health.

Honey is still a form of sugar, so intake should be moderate. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that women get no more than 100 calories a day from added sugars and men no more than 150 calories a day. This is equal to a little over two tablespoons for women and three tablespoons for men.

It is recommended that infants under a year old do not consume honey. Honey may contain botulinum endospores that cause infant botulism in very young children, a rare but serious type of food poisoning that can result in paralysis. Even pasteurized honey has a chance of containing these spores.

source: medicalnewstoday.com