Stories By Ikenna Nwosu
10
health benefits of taking honey
There
is something undeniably enchanting about honey; the product of flower nectar
transformed by bees, as if by alchemy – but in fact through the far less-poetic
act of regurgitation – into a sweet, golden elixir. Honey has held sway over humans
since ancient times.
But aside from honey’s seductive
color and flavor, it has some scientific super-powers that add to its appeal.
Honey has an unusual chemical composition, one which makes it keep indefinitely
without spoiling; as is seen whenever ancient pots of honey, still perfectly
preserved, are found during excavations of early Egyptian tombs. It is uniquely
low in moisture and extremely acidic, making it a forbidding environment for
bacteria and microorganisms. On top of that, bees add an enzyme, glucose oxidase, to it that creates hydrogen
peroxide as a byproduct. According to experts, honey is hygroscopic,
antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and has remarkable debriding action.
With this bonanza of properties,
honey has been used for millennia as a medicinal remedy. As experts also say,
that the earliest recorded use of honey as a curative came from Sumerian clay
tablets, which conveyed that honey was used in 30 percent of prescriptions at
the time. The ancient Egyptians used honey regularly to treat skin and eye
problems; as did the Greeks, Romans, and a number of other cultures.
Ever since, along with being a
favored gift to the gods and employed for sweetening cakes and drinks, honey
has been used to treat that which ails us. It has been hailed as a fix for
everything from scrapes to cancer. The following are some of honey’s best-known
health benefits; whether confirmed by science or passed down through folk
tradition, they prove honey to be as efficacious as it is delicious.
1. It soothes cough
A 2007 study from Penn State College of Medicine that involved 139 children,
found that buckwheat honey out-performed the cough suppressant, dextromethorphan (DM), in calming night
time cough in children and improving their sleep. Another study published in
Pediatrics included 270 children aged one to five with night time cough due to
simple colds; in this study, the children who received two teaspoons of honey
30 minutes before bed, coughed less frequently, less severely and were less
likely to lose sleep due to the cough when compared to those who did not get
honey.
2. It boosts memory
According to research reported by Reuters, 102 healthy women of menopausal age
were assigned to consume 20 grams of honey a day, take hormone-replacement
therapy containing estrogen and progesterone or do nothing. After four months,
those who took honey or hormone pills recalled about one extra word out of 15
presented on a short-term memory test. That said, some critics of the study say
that it was not scientifically sound because it was small and did not last long.
But still...
3. It treats wounds
In numerous studies, honey has been found effective in treating wounds. In a
Norwegian study, a therapeutic honey called Medihoney
(a New Zealand honey that undergoes a special purification process) and
Norwegian Forest Honey were found to kill all strains of bacteria in wounds. In
another study, 59 patients suffering from wounds and leg ulcers – of which 80
percent had failed to heal with conventional treatment – were treated with
unprocessed honey. All but one of the cases showed remarkable improvement
following topical application of honey. Wounds that were sterile at the outset
remained sterile until healed, while infected wounds and ulcers became sterile
within one week of applying honey.
For the treatment of burns and
wounds, experts say that honey is applied directly or in a dressing which is
usually changed every 24 to 48 hours. When used directly, 15 ml to 30 ml of
honey has been applied every 12 to 48 hours, and covered with sterile gauze and
bandages or a polyurethane dressing.
4. It provides nutrients
According to experts, honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins
and minerals, including niacin, riboflavin,
pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus,
potassium and zinc. Thus, using honey instead of sugar provides you with more
nutrients for your calories.
5.
It potentially prevents low white blood cell-count
Experts also note that honey may be a promising and inexpensive way to prevent
low white blood cell-count caused by chemotherapy. In one small trial, 40
percent of cancer patients who were known to be at risk of neutropenia (very low blood count), had no further episodes of the
condition after taking two teaspoons daily of therapeutic honey during
chemotherapy. More research is needed, but the remedy could hold great
potential.
6.
It may relieve seasonal allergies
Many people swear by honey’s ability to lessen symptoms of seasonal allergy. As
honey has anti-inflammatory effects and is known to soothe cough, it may not
seem like much of a stretch; but honey’s efficacy for treating allergy has not been
proven in clinical studies. That said, some experts say that honey can contain
traces of flower pollen, and exposure to small amounts of allergens works as
good treatment to combat reactions. Whether it can be proven by science or not
is one thing; but at its worst, it makes for a delicious placebo. (And do not
knock the healing power of placebos!)
7. It kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria
In clinical studies, medical grade honey has been shown to kill food-borne
illness pathogens like E. coli and salmonella, as well as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
both of which are common in hospitals and doctors' offices.
8. It may help metabolize alcohol
This one is for you cocktail-swillers, experts have revealed that honey taken
orally might, increase the body's ability to metabolize alcohol, thereby
limiting intoxication and more rapidly reducing alcohol blood levels.
9. It makes great workout fuel
Many athletes rely on sugar-laden sports drinks and gels for carbohydrates to
fuel their bodies before and during endurance events, and afterwards, to help
muscle recovery. At 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon, honey makes an
excellent source of all-natural energy that is superior to other conventional
sources since it comes with added nutrients. Experts recommend adding honey to your
bottle of water for an energy boost during workouts. Snacks with honey can be
eaten before and after, and honey sticks can be used during endurance events.
10. It resolves scalp problems and dandruff
In a study involving patients with chronic
seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, the participants were asked to apply
honey diluted with 10 percent warm water to their problem areas and leave it on
for three hours before rinsing with warm water. In all of the patients, itching
was relieved and scaling disappeared within one week. Skin lesions were
completely healed within two weeks, and patients showed subjective improvement
in hair loss as well. When applied weekly thereafter for six months, patients
showed no sign of relapse.
All of that said, there are two
important things to remember about honey: One, just because it proffers
numerous health benefits does not mean it is not caloric; one tablespoon yields
64 calories. Also, it is crucial to remember that honey is not appropriate for
children younger than 12 months because it can contain the bacteria that cause
infant botulism.
Health
tips for healthy living (Mental health)
Healthy living involves more than physical health,
it also includes emotional or mental health. The following are some ways people
can support their mental health and well-being.
1. Get enough sleep daily
Experts recommend the following by age
group (naps inclusive); 12-18 hours from birth to 2 months, 14-15 hours from
3-11 months of age, 12-18 hours for 1-3 years of age, 11-13 hours for 3-5 years
of age, 10-11 hours for 5-10 years of age, eight and a half to nine and a half
hours for 10-17 years of age and those 18 and above need seven to nine hours of
sleep. Elderly people need about seven to nine hours, but do not sleep as deeply
and may awaken at night or wake early, so naps (like kids need) allow them to
accumulate the total of seven to nine hours of sleep.
2. Take a walk
Always take a walk and reflect on what you see and hear at least several times
per week.
3. Try something new
Always try something new and often (eat a new food, try a different route to
work, go to a new museum display).
4. Be involved in mind exercises
Do some mind exercises (read, do a puzzle occasionally during the week).
5. Focus on a process
Try to focus on a process intensely and complete a segment of it over one to
several hours, then take a break and do something relaxing (walk, exercise,
short nap).
6. Socialize with others
Plan to spend some time talking with other people about different subjects.
7. Make some leisure
Try to make some leisure time to do some things that interest you every week
(hobby, sports).
8. Make frantic objections
|Learn ways to say “no” when something occurs that you do not want to do or be
involved with.
9. Have fun
Have fun (go on a trip with someone you love, go shopping, go fishing; do not
let vacation time slip away).
10. Always seek help
Seek help and advice early if you feel depressed, have suicidal thoughts, or
consider harming yourself or others.
Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/healthy_living/page4.htm
