The benefits of pure honey, from treating the skin to preventing ulcers

Where does honey come from?

Honey is a natural product that comes from a combination of nectar and deposits from plants which are then converted and stored in the beehive. Honey was first used as medicine in health in 2000 BC. The use of honey was originally used by a doctor as traditional medicine in China, then the use of honey has continued to be developed to other countries.

Pure honey content

Actually, honey has the main composition consisting of water and sugar. However, it turns out that in addition to these two compositions, honey also has a variety of other nutrients. Honey also contains amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

In addition, the sugar content in honey, which is dominated by fructose (a natural sugar commonly found in fruits) has a sweeter taste compared to artificial sweeteners and provides more energy.

What are the health benefits of honey?

Pure honey contains nutrients that are very useful for the body. In the human digestive tract, there are good bacteria that are beneficial. Among them are Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli which can improve the health of the human digestive system.

Consumption of foods containing natural prebiotics, such as honey, can actually increase the population of these bacteria so that they can have beneficial effects on health. Apart from that, honey also has the effect of slowing down the emptying of your stomach. This makes honey often used for therapeutic treatment and prevention of stomach ulcers or stomach acid.

Honey also has a calcium content of 3-31 mg / 100 grams of sugar. Calcium is certainly very good for bone growth in children and prevention of ostoporosis in those who are elderly.

Apart from having a good effect on bones, honey also has the ability to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), increase cholesterol levels (HDL), and increase NO (nitric oxide). NO is a gas that has a role to improve blood circulation, maintain heart muscle function, and regulate blood pressure. This makes honey a good friend to prevent heart disease or stroke.

In addition, honey can also be used as a natural sweetener and as a source of energy. This is because one teaspoon of pure honey contains 17 grams of carbohydrates with a relatively low glycemic index level when compared to artificial sweeteners. Honey has a glycemic index value of around 35-48, while white sugar, which is commonly used as a sweetener, contains 58-65. Based on the research conducted, consumption of honey during exercise can increase stamina and energy in the body.

The benefits of honey to care for the skin so that it is young

The presence of free radicals will disturb the body's cells and cause aging of the skin. The antioxidant content in honey is able to ward off these free radicals and prevent various disorders caused by free radicals, including premature aging.

You can also observe the high and low levels of antioxidants in honey from the color of the honey. It is thought that the darker the honey, the higher the antioxidant content it contains.

Recognize the benefits of honey to heal wounds

Honey can actually help heal wounds. This is because honey has antibacterial and antiseptic effects thanks to its hydrogen peroxide content. In addition, the pH of honey which is acidic (between 3.2-4.5) can inhibit bacterial growth.

Honey also has anti-inflammatory effects and the ability to lighten scars. This is because honey has the ability to accelerate repair of blood vessels (due to damage to blood vessels during injury), helps accelerate the growth of damaged skin layers, increases collagen which is very good for helping skin repair, and prevents scars and keloids.

Because of these unique abilities, honey is often used as a therapy to help heal wounds and is often included in cream compositions to treat burns or wounds caused by scratches.