Honey is a sweet, thick liquid made by bees. The bees collect sugar — mainly the sugar-rich nectar of flowers — from their environment. Once inside the beehive, they repeatedly consume, digest and regurgitate the nectar. The end product is honey, a liquid that serves as stored food for bees. The smell, colour and taste depend on the types of flowers visited. But it is a lot more than just tasty bee vomit. Check out all the wonderful health benefits of adding honey to your diet.

Five health benefits of honey

1. It is rich in antioxidants

Honey is high in antioxidants such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, and eating it may increase the antioxidant status of your blood. Antioxidants are compounds that help fight disease-causing free radicals, thereby reducing your risk of oxidative cell damage.

2. Lower risk of chronic diseases

The antioxidant compounds play a central role in health and disease — with some research suggesting that they may protect against chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Swapping out regular sugar for high-quality honey in your diet may improve different aspects of heart health, as it has been shown to reduce several risk factors for heart disease.

3. It reduces cholesterol

A 30-day study comparing the effects of table sugar and honey in 55 people found that honey helped decrease levels of total and “bad” LDL cholesterol while increasing “good” HDL cholesterol. It was also able to lower triglyceride levels by up to 19%. Additionally, animal studies have found that supplementing with honey may reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number of a reading), another major risk factor for heart disease.

4. It aids healing

The topical honey treatment has been used to heal wounds and burns since ancient Egypt and is still common today. It has antibacterial properties and may aid in healing ulcers and treating skin conditions, such as psoriasis, dermatitis and herpes. When applied to the skin, honey can be part of an effective treatment plan for burns, wounds and many other skin conditions. It is particularly effective for diabetic foot ulcers.

5. It suppresses colds and cough

In addition to the topical healing properties, honey can also act as a natural and safe cough suppressant. Some studies show that it is even more effective than cough medicine. One study found that it reduced cough symptoms and improved sleep more than cough medication. It is also an effective relief for respiratory diseases like asthma. However, honey should never be given to children under one year of age due to the risk for botulism

Regular honey is often pasteurised, filtered, processed, and mixed with syrup in an effort to cut costs. Selecting raw versions instead is the best way to maximize potential health benefits.

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