Honey For Nutrition & Health

Bees make honey typically from the blossoms of clover, orange blossoms and sage. But local beekeepers also grow alfalfa, buckwheat, dandelion, raspberry, spearmint and thyme. Ancient peoples believed honey was medicinal. Thus, it was used it to heal wounds, skin diseases and various intestinal problems. Some contemporary studies also have found medicinal benefits for honey, but the reliability of those studies is questioned by others. Even so, honey is a nutritious and healthy source of sweetness in your diet.

Nutrition

One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories. Carbohydrates in the form of sugars make up 82 percent, with approximately 17.3g in each tablespoon. One tablespoon of honey also contains a very small amount of protein, .06g, and ash, .04g. While there are no vitamins or minerals in ordinary table sugar, honey contains trace amounts of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.

Antioxidant Properties

Dark chocolate and honey both contain the phenolic acids and flavonoids, called antioxidants, which can reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. The Science Advisory Board, SAB, website says that other components of honey, such as ascorbic acids, peptides and enzymes work together with the phenolic acids and flavonoids to add to honey's antioxidant effects.

Other Health Benefits

The SAB cites numerous studies that show other health benefits of honey. A 2007 study published in the "World Journal of Gastroenterology" found that propolis, a product that bees collect from plants, reduces bacteria and thus is used in toothpastes, mouth washes and skin creams. Propolis is also used as an agent for treating upper respiratory infections according to another 2007 study published in "Infez Medicine."

However, Mayo Clinic cautions on their January 2011 website that further research with high quality studies needs to be done before claims such as these can be completely reliable.

Problems

The pollens and glandular secretions of bees that appear in honey can cause problems if you already have allergies to bees themselves. Some honey also contains plant spores that can grow in the intestines of infants and cause botulism poisoning. For this reason, doctors recommend that you do not give honey to infants under 12 months old. Likewise, honey may be harmful for breastfeeding and pregnant women.