Ask your grandmother what to do for a sore throat and chances are she'll tell you to have warm cup of lemonade with honey in it. Lemons and honey have a long history in folk medicine, but you may be wondering if there is any real science behind the claims. Research shows that there are many health benefits of using these natural foods.
Honey
According to the National Honey Board, it can take 60,000 bees visiting 2 million flowers and traveling more than 55,000 miles to make 1 lb. of honey. Color and flavor are affected by nectar source with lighter honeys having a milder taste than darker honeys. Honey is a high-glycemic carbohydrate that contains a variety of antioxidants. Darker honeys are higher in antioxidant content than lighter honeys.
Medical Benefit of Honey
A study published in the "Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology" found that when bees make honey, they add a protein called defensin-1; scientists hope this protein will one day be useful in the treatment of burns and skin and antibiotic-resistant infections. According to a 2011 University of Wales study, Manuka honey from New Zealand appears to reverse antibiotic resistance in three common bacteria that infect wounds. Furthermore, the study states that honey is licensed for use in wound-care products worldwide because of its antimicrobial properties.
Lemons
Lemons are part of the citrus family of fruits and are a good source of vitamin C. Necessary for collagen synthesis, vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant to protect against cellular and DNA damage by free radicals. Lemons have been used in folk medicine as a diuretic, to treat gingivitis and as a preventative to the common cold. A 2007 Purdue University study indicates that adding lemon juice to green tea increases the amounts of catechins, powerful antioxidants found the tea, absorbed by the body to as much as 80 percent.
Medical Benefits of Lemons
As an essential oil, lemons show strong antibacterial properties that can be useful in treatment against drug resistant pathogens, according to a 2006 study published in "Biomed Central Complimentary and Alternative Medicine." The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that D-limonene, an extract derived from the peel of citrus fruits, provides anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits. It has been found useful in the treatment of prostate and skin cancer, though additional research is needed.
References
- National Honey Board; What is Honey?; Staff; 2011
- "Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology"; Honey as an Antibiotic: Scientists Identify a Secret Ingredient in Honey that Kills Bacteria
- University of Wales Institute Cardiff; "Honey Can Reverse Antibiotic Resistance"; Cooper, Rose; 2011
- Purdue University; Lemon; Morton, J; 1986
- Purdue University; Citrus Juice, Vitamin C Give Staying Power to Green Tea Antioxidants; Main, Douglas M.;2007
- National Center for Biotechnical Information; "In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Some Plant Essential Oils"; Prabuseenivasan, Seenivasan, et al.; 2006
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