Honey has long been considered a valuable natural food for humans. To produce honey, ingredients such as pollen from numerous flowers are needed which, by collecting and concentrating them, brings various benefits. It is loved by many people for its sweet, rich taste, as well as various health benefits, but there are a few things to watch out for when eating honey. Let’s learn the benefits of honey and precautions when eating honey.
Honey has various effects such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant | Source: mid-trip
▷ Benefits of honey
1. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects
Honey contains various antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Propolis, known as a natural antibiotic, inhibits the growth of bacteria and the presence in honey of an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide increases its antibacterial effect.
2. Improves digestion
Honey contains various enzymes that aid digestion. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates to aid digestion, and hydrolytic enzymes break down sugarcane fiber to aid digestion. These enzymes play a role in preventing indigestion and gastrointestinal disorders by aiding in the digestion and absorption of food.
3. Antioxidant and anti-tumor effect
Honey contains large amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants play a role in protecting cells from chemicals called free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. There are compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids. These compounds bind to free radicals, preventing cell damage and keeping cells healthy. Furthermore, these ingredients also have anti-tumor activity. It inhibits DNA replication and tumor cell division and induces cell death, producing an anti-tumor effect.
▷ How to eat honey correctly
To truly see the various benefits of honey, it is best to know its properties and consume it appropriately. We also discover the situations in which the consumption of honey is not appropriate and what precautions should be taken.
1. Avoid high temperatures
When honey is exposed to high temperatures, its nutrients are easily destroyed. This is because various enzymes, vitamins and minerals contained in honey are easily damaged by high temperatures. In particular, digestive enzymes are made up of proteins and are most active between 35 and 45 degrees, a temperature similar to our body temperature. Therefore, adding honey to drinks or foods that are too hot can reduce enzyme activity, resulting in poor digestion and nutrient absorption.
2. Watch out for allergic reactions
Honey is one of the foods that can cause allergic reactions because it may contain allergens derived from pollen or various environmental factors. Therefore, people with allergies should be careful before consuming honey.
3. Avoid pairing with foods high in sugar
Naturally honey is a food rich in sugars. Therefore, if you consume honey with foods high in sugar, there is a risk of excessive sugar intake. In particular, people with diabetes or blood sugar management problems should avoid excessive consumption of honey.
4. Foods not suitable for children
Honey may contain botulism spores. Adult botulism bacteria cause serious symptoms of food poisoning, but botulism spores are not a big problem in the bodies of adults or children. This is because adults usually have the immunity to deal with it. However, since children under 1 year old have immature digestive organs and do not have perfect immunity, it is difficult to deal with botulism spores, which can be fatal. Therefore, children should not be given foods containing honey.
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