You know honey as the sweet treat that can be put on toast or added to recipes instead of sugar. However, eating pure---also known as raw---honey offers benefits beyond delighting your tastebuds. Raw honey should be darker in color and may not be easy to see through, according to iHealthDirectory.com. The honey should be unprocessed, unheated and unfiltered in order to truly offer benefits.
Suppresses Coughs, Soothes Sore Throats
Honey can be used as a remedy for those suffering from colds and coughs, according to MayoClinic.com. Eating 2 tsp. honey before bed has been shown to reduce coughing and improve sleep for those suffering from respiratory tract infections. You also can add honey to herbal tea or warm lemon water to create a drink that helps to alleviate sore throats.
Colon Cancer Prevention
Raw honey contains a substance known as propolis, which a bee uses to seal a hive from intruders and other harmful substances, according to The World's Healthiest Foods. Propolis is found in raw honey and contains a significant number of phytonutrients, which are chemicals that fight inflammation in the body. In addition to the phytonutrients found in propolis, raw honey also contains the phytonutrients caffeic acid methyl caffeate, phenylethyl caffeat and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate. These substances are able to react with the body to prevent enzymes from growing tumors that lead to colon cancer. These nutrients are only found in raw honey---not its processed versions.
Blood Sugar Control
Blood sugar fluctuations in the body can contribute to diabetes, a disease that affects the body's ability to use glucose for energy. When you consume other sweet foods, such as candies or cookies, the sugars can cause blood glucose to spike. This may help you to feel alert, but then shortly crashes, leaving you feeling tired and sluggish. However, when you consume raw honey, blood sugar does not spike as it does for other sugars, according to the World's Healthiest Foods. This is because honey contains a ration of 1:1 fructose to glucose. This is helpful because fructose is needed to elicit an enzyme from the liver that helps the body to store glucose when necessary. Glucose stores are required to power the body through exercise and to enhance brain function when you sleep.
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