Healthiest honeys
Honey is a natural sweetener; it is something that is easily available on the market and is very healthy! It has a very long history and is known for its medicinal properties. The taste and texture of this sweet nectar make it unique. Depending on the source of the nectar, the composition of the honey can affect both its texture and flavour.
Currently, there are over 300 varieties of honey available on the world market, which have a range of health properties, but which honeys are the healthiest?[1] Let us take a look at our Polish honeys available on our native domestic market.
Table of contents:
1. Is honey healthy?
Honey consists of 80 per cent simple sugars (fructose and glucose). Therefore, we can often ask ourselves is honey healthy since it is a sweetener? Let's look at the rest of honey's ingredients: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, chlorine, molybdenum, manganese and cobalt. In addition, we also have a number of vitamins: mainly C, from group B, biotin, folic acid and pantothenic acid. All these factors make honey work, among other things, as a cleansing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. Honey strengthens our body, protects our respiratory system from colds, throat ailments and various types of viruses. Honey also supports heart function and is even helpful in treating coronary heart disease or atherosclerosis. Honey also treats stomach and duodenal ulcers. This natural sweetener also helps with enteritis, liver disease and even helps in treating diarrhoea, while simultaneously combating constipation and improving digestive processes. There are therefore a number of reasons why we should consume honey and reap its health benefits[2].
2. Types of honey and their properties.
Depending on the origin of the honey, we can distinguish many types of honey: honeys from plant nectar, honeydew and nectar-honeydew. Because of how honey is produced and where it comes from, we can distinguish its various health values. To better understand which honey will be the healthiest for us, we present some types of honey and their health properties:
Acacia honey
Acacia honey is a light, liquid honey produced by bees feeding on acacia flowers. It contains vitamins A, C and E, flavonoids as well as essential fatty acids and amino acids. Acacia honey has hepatoprotective (liver) and nephroprotective (kidneys) effects. Oral and topical administration of acacia has shown proliferative and sensitive (wound healing) tissue properties. Studies have also shown effective healing properties of acacia honey in corneal (eye) injuries.
Buckwheat honey
Buckwheat honey has high bactericidal properties. It contains a significant dose of vitamins C, B1, B2 and PP, is cleansing and strengthens our circulatory system, helps in treating iron deficiency and speeds up the body's recovery, e.g. after an infection.
Lime honey
Lime honey will be particularly effective for people who struggle with recurring respiratory diseases. This honey fights colds, soothes coughs and reduces nasal discharge. Lime honey also has calming properties.
Rapeseed honey
Rapeseed honey is recommended after heavy exertion of the body; it has the highest glucose and amino acid content, therefore it has regenerative properties. It helps avoid cardiovascular diseases, strengthens the heart and inhibits the development of atherosclerosis. Rapeseed honey also acts externally, so we can use it, for example, for faster healing of wounds or even burns.
Multifloral honey
The most popular of the honey types, multifloral honey is characterised in particular by strengthening our immune system. It treats colds and inhibits the growth of bacteria in the body.
Honeydew honey
Honeydew honey will work perfectly on the proper functioning of the kidneys and liver as well as our urinary system.
Nectar-honeydew honey
This type of honey has bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and cleansing effects on our body. Nectar-honeydew honey supports the treatment of digestive system disorders and helps with respiratory system problems[3].
3. Which honey is the healthiest?
There is no clear answer to the question which honey is the healthiest. Every honey will be characterised by a different taste, colour, origin and certainly its effect on our body. When asking ourselves which honey is the best and healthiest for us, we should focus on what properties we expect from the honey and in which ailments the honey is meant to be helpful for us.
Bibliography/ Sources:
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/types-of-honey-and-which-one-is-the-healthiest/photostory/69177348.cms
- www.cefarm24.pl/czytelnia/dieta/miod-rodzaje-miodow-i-ktory-jest-najzdrowszy/
