Are you a fan of honey? Honey has been sweet nectar of healing for centuries and can be used as a food, medicine, and beauty treatment. You have a tasty, sweet beverage with several excellent nutrition and health benefits when you drink honey water.
To start, honey contains many essential nutrients, and it is a supersaturated solution of sugars. Honey contains small amounts of proteins, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, aroma compounds, and polyphenols, which help support our health and well-being.
A tablespoon of honey has small amounts of potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, chromium, zinc, riboflavin, folic acid, selenium, and other essential trace nutrients to your diet.
The main nutritional components of honey are carbohydrates, mainly fructose and glucose. Although honey is a high carbohydrate food, its glycemic index varies depending on the type of honey source that the bees use to produce it.
This is What Happens When You Drink Honey Water Every Day
Because honey contains a high amount of natural sugar, people with diabetes should consult their doctors before adding honey to their diets. When we combine the nutrition of honey with the hydrating power of water, we get a sweet, nutritious drink that gives you enough health benefits to add to your daily diet.
1. Honey water can improve digestive health
The antioxidants of honey are helpful for the prevention, cure, and treat some stomach disorders such as ulcers, gastritis, and gastroenteritis. Researchers believe that honey intake stimulates the sensory nerves in the stomach, which helps reduce ulcers. Other researchers are studying how honey helps relieve diarrhea in children and rats. Drinking honey water can also help reduce gas and bloating.
2. Get an immune system boost from honey water
Honey can be applied topically to minor wounds and burns to help heal as an anti-inflammatory. In one study, honey healed infected post-operative wounds more quickly than antiseptic washes followed by gauze and was associated with fewer adverse reactions after treatment.
Honey also stimulates antibody production to help fight off illness. Honey’s health potential has even been studied concerning fighting cancer. Drinking honey water can also help with your oral health by helping to prevent the buildup of dental plaque and gingivitis.
3. Honey water helps the body flush toxins
A glass of honey water will keep you hydrated, but it will also help flush toxins from your system. Manuka honey is a variety that has particularly potent antifungal, antibiotic and antibacterial properties.
Adding lemon to the honey water adds citric acid, which will help the body naturally flush out unwanted toxins.
4. Clear up acne with honey water
The antibacterial nature of honey makes it an excellent remedy for acne. Drinking honey water helps clear your skin from the inside, but you can also apply it directly to the skin.
5. Honey water can assist weight loss
Honey keeps blood sugar more stable than other sources of carbohydrates like refined sugar. As a result, your body has energy on hand to use, but your regular blood sugar should help stave off cravings. Some sports nutritionists recommend honey water before, during, and after sustained periods of intense exercise.
Also, a tablespoon of honey in a 12 oz glass of water has about half the calories of any drink sweetened with sugar. Saving calories on a sweet beverage that is healthier for you will help reduce your overall caloric intake.
6. Regulate blood sugar with honey water
Although honey is high in sugar and carbohydrates, the effect on blood sugar is much reduced compared to refined sugar. Some researchers believe that a synergistic effect of both the fructose and glucose in honey might contribute to the relatively low glycemic response after consuming honey.
People with diabetes should still exercise caution, but drinking honey water could be a way to keep the sweetness in your diet without being concerned about having a spike in blood sugar.
7. Soothe a sore throat (Grandma’s classic use for honey water!)
Honey is a remedy for sore throat that has been used for centuries. Try warm honey water when you are feeling under the weather. Add a slice of lemon to the warm water for an added vitamin C boost.
Some people drink a hot toddy when they are feeling sick. A hot toddy would be the same honey, hot water, and lemon recipe as above with an added shot of whiskey. This is an old remedy that your grandmother may have recommended for a cold.
10 Types of Honey Water to Try
You may automatically think of the processed honey sold in plastic containers shaped like bears when you think of honey. You’re in for a treat when you discover the different types available. Flavor and color all depend on the bees and the flowers’ nectar they choose.
It’s also important to consider the quality of the honey you use. Overly processed honey often losses some of its nutrients and other benefits. Instead, opt for the “raw” honey coming from the bees in its purest form.
Generally, lightly colored honey has a milder taste, while the darker varieties have more of a bolder flavor. Some may have a higher concentration of specific vitamins and minerals depending on the pollen. Here are some popular honey varieties for you to consider.
1. Acacia
This is probably one of the most popular varieties you’ll find. It’s golden with light floral notes obtained from acacia blossoms or black locust trees. Since these trees are so prominent across the United States, it makes sense that honeybees often visit them.
Acacia honey may be a good choice if you have diabetes because it has a lower sucrose content. Its anti-inflammatory properties also may help those with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. This variety also stores well since it stays in a liquid form longer than most other types.
2. Alfalfa
If you like baking or cooking with honey, you’re probably a fan of this delightful variety. It’s produced from the purplish-blue blossoms of alfalfa, a flowering legume that’s often grown to feed livestock. Alfalfa honey has a mild flavor that’s subtly floral.
3. Basswood
Do you want a honey variety with a distinctively bold flavor? Its pure, almost transparent color is derived from the cotton-white flowers of basswood trees. You’ll appreciate this honey’s rich, woodsy flavor that makes it ideal for adding to tea or making honey water.
4. Clover
Clover honey is a cherished variety all over the world. It’s usually the variety that’s processed and sold in cute little bottles. However, raw clover honey retains more of the sweet floral essence of clover blossoms.
5. Buckwheat
Buckwheat is your pick if you want a honey variety with high iron content. It’s one of the darkest varieties with color and thickness, almost like molasses. It’s produced from buckwheat blooms and is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
6. Dandelion
Here’s another reason you may embrace the abundance of dandelions on your lawn. Bees that visit these sunny yellow flowers produce honey that’s a dark amber hue. Dandelion honey also provides possible health benefits for the host flower, like antioxidants and antibiotics.
7. Eucalyptus
Maybe you would like to try a honey variety with herbal flavor notes. Eucalyptus honey comes from Australia, home to the eucalyptus tree. It has a subtle aftertaste of menthol and is favored for soothing coughs and sore throats.
Eucalyptus honey also has related varieties like jarrah and ironbark. Each has its flavor profile as well as possible health benefits. Any of these would make a tasty addition to your healthy concoction.
8. Orange Blossom
Here’s another popular honey variety that gets its delightful zing of citrus flavor from orange blossoms. While it originated in Mexico and Spain, it’s now also produced in California, Florida, and Texas.
Its golden hue and orangey aroma are instantly familiar and energizing. Orange blossom honey provides antioxidants and is rich in Vitamin C. It may be a good choice if you need a boost in your energy or immunity levels.
9. Manuka
This unique honey variety continues to be a buzzword in nutrition and alternative medicine. You’ll understand why if you’ve read about essential tea tree oil. Honeybees produce this honey from the blossoms of tea trees, which are called manuka in New Zealand coastal areas.
Tea tree oil’s same possible health benefits may be obtained from eating or drinking manuka honey. It has marked antibacterial properties that may help with conditions from acne to digestive issues. Depending on the manuka source, this honey has a full, earthy flavor that’s not as sweet as other varieties.
10. Tupelo
You needn’t look further than the American Southeast for one of the sweetest honey varieties available. Tupelo honey comes from blooms native to swamps in those areas. It has a glorious golden glow with a faint touch of green, hence its nickname “Southern gold.”
The Importance of Hydration for Your Health
According to an article published by the USGS, your body is composed of at least 60 percent water. It stands to reason that you need proper hydration to keep your body strong, healthy, and working at optimal levels. There’s just no substitute for a refreshing glass of honey water.
When you drink water and other fluids, your body feels the benefits almost immediately. In fact, by the time you feel thirsty, you may already be dehydrated. These are some of the essential benefits of hydration for your body.
1. It Can Give You More Energy
Since your blood and other essential body fluids are mostly water, you need to stay hydrated to keep them flowing. Your blood may not circulate as quickly if you get dehydrated, and your heart will work harder. So, you can feel tired and cranky.
Drinking enough water throughout the day keeps your blood moving and gives you energy. Suppose you’ve been exhausted lately and don’t know why you’re dehydrated. Try drinking more water or honey water to boost your energy.
2. Keeps Your Joints Limber
Just like a machine, your body needs regular lubrication to work correctly. Water conditions the cartilage in your joints just like lubricants. You can bend, stretch, and stay active with less pain from achy bones and joints.
3. Detoxification
Your body has an ingenious system for ridding itself of toxins and other wastes. Water helps flush your kidneys and bowels from liquid and solid wastes. Plus, it helps your liver and lymphatic symptoms detoxify your entire body.
4. Weight Management
Are you trying to lose a few pounds? Keeping your body hydrated can help you in several ways. First, drinking enough honey water can make you feel more satisfied and won’t eat as much.
Proper hydration can also boost your metabolism. You’ll have more energy to exercise and burn more calories. The more calories you burn, the more weight you can lose.
5. Fewer Headaches
Did you know that frequent headaches may signify that you’re not drinking enough water? According to the Cleveland Clinic, headaches are often the first sign of dehydration. Your brain has a high-water composition and can shrink away from your skull, causing headaches. When you stay hydrated enough, you may discover that you don’t have headaches as often.
Finals Thoughts on Adding Honey Water to Your Daily Routine
Keeping your body hydrated is necessary for your overall well-being. When you consider enjoying a glass of honey water each day, your health may get a boost. Honey is loaded with antioxidants which help protect your heart by lowering bad cholesterol. Darker honey contains even more health benefits, so aim for these varieties when you shop. There are also other options like raw, local, wildflower, manuka, etc., each with its unique healing properties.
Research a bit and see which type is best for you.
Disclaimer: One word of caution, do not feed raw honey to infants under one year old. Non-sterilized raw honey may contain bacteria that adult immune systems can handle, but infant immune systems are not yet developed enough to fight.
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