Africa
Honey is a natural medication for the treatment of wounds, prevents metabolic stress and helps calm and soothes the brain, which also serves as sugar for people with diabetes but contains harmful bacteria such as clostridium botulinum, which slows breathing and sags eyelids.
By Benprince Ezeh
RAW honey has been used as a constant remedy throughout history and has a variety of health benefits and medical uses. It’s even used in some hospitals as a treatment for wounds. Many of these health benefits are specific to raw, or unpasteurized honey. Raw honey nutrition is impressive.
It contains 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and 5,000 enzymes.
Most of the honey you find in grocery stores is pasteurized. The high heat kills unwanted yeast, can improve the colour and texture, removes any crystallization and extends the shelf life.
According to Jennifer Ani, a nutritionist, honey helps in handling the loss of memory issues and that has been proven by research findings.
“We are what we eat and hence it is very important to consume foods that help make our mental health strong to sustain in old age. One of its numerous health benefits includes its ability in boosting memory and concentration. Honey not only increases brain power and memory but also makes you a healthier person altogether.
“Consumption of honey prevents metabolic stress and helps calm and soothes the brain, which helps in augmenting memory in the long run. The natural antioxidants and therapeutic properties in honey help in boosting the brains’ cholinergic system and circulation and receding cells that cause memory loss.
“For those that have issues with indigestion, honey helps reduce constipation, bloating, and gas, because of it is a mild laxative. Its rich in probiotic or “friendly” bacteria such as bifid bacteria and lactobacilli, which aid in digestion, promote the health of the immune system, and reduce allergies.
“Using it in place of table sugar has been found to reduce the toxic effects in the gut of foods like cereals, dried fruits, nuts and spices, which are produced by fungi,” she said.
Damilola Babatunde, a doctor at the University Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu, said that many of the beneficial nutrients of honey are also destroyed in the process. “It is important that before you consume honey, you need to make sure it’s from a trusted and approved store before consumption, many people buy honey because it looks thick and bees all over it without knowing it’s been adulterated,” he said.
According to her, raw honey contains an array of plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. “Some types of honey have as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables, which help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals.
“Free radicals contribute to the ageing process and may also contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Recent researches showed that antioxidant compounds in honey called polyphenols may play a role in preventing heart disease.
“Researches have proven that raw honey can kill unwanted bacteria and fungus, it naturally contains hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic. Its effectiveness as an antibacterial or antifungal varies depending on the honey, but it’s clearly more than a folk remedy for these kinds of infections,” he said.
Emmanuel Enang, a doctor with Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Abeokuta, said that Manuka honey is used in medical settings to treat wounds because it’s been found to be an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration. “It can boost healing time and reduce infection, keep in mind that the honey used in hospital settings is medical grade, meaning it’s inspected and sterile. It’s not a good idea to treat cuts with honey you buy from a store.
“It can also be used to treat digestive issues such as diarrhoea and proven to be effective as a treatment for stomach ulcers,” Enang said.
Enang also said that a spoonful of honey helps in easing cold out when one has a cold.
“Honey is an old sore throat remedy, add it to hot tea with lemon when a cold virus hits you, this also works as a cough suppressant, effective as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medication. Just take one or two teaspoonfuls, straight.
Another good thing about honey is that it serves as a potent prebiotic, meaning it nourishes the good bacteria that live in the intestines, which are crucial not only for digestion but overall health,” he said.
However, honey being so blessed with benefits, its disadvantages are alarming as well.
According to Elvis Okafor, a medical laboratory officer with the FMC, honey is sweet and not good for diabetic people. “Honey may be slightly better than refined sugar for people with diabetes, it should still be consumed with caution.
“Raw honey has harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum, these are; constipation, slow breathing, sagging eyelids, absence of gagging, loss of head control, and poor feeding. This is particularly dangerous for babies, and should never be given to an infant less than a year old.
“In adults, symptoms can include an initial short period of diarrhoea and vomiting, followed by constipation and more severe symptoms, such as blurred vision and muscle weakness,” he said.
Okafor also warned that it’s necessary for one to see a doctor if experiencing any of these symptoms after eating raw honey.
Nevertheless, if you’re interested in trying raw honey, buy it from a trusted local producer.
Also if you’ve not been taking full advantage of the nutritional and medicinal properties of honey, you need to do so.
You are, therefore, advised to get a bottle of honey stored up in your room somewhere, today because it has lots of amazing benefits you never knew.
First published – Sept. 24, 2021 @ 15:06 GMT | C.E
Tags: Honey
