Honey is perhaps one of the most magical ingredients you can find in your kitchen. Thick, sweet and sticky, honey (shahad) is enriched with multiple minerals and vitamins, which is precisely why the sweet nectar from the flower is found in many ancient dadi-nani ke nuskhe numerous woes. Don’t you remember your grandmothers extolling the many benefits of honey endlessly while feeding you a spoonful of it every time you coughed or sneezed during a season change? And while many would scoff at the idea of it being a natural immunity booster and aiding in weight loss, but there's no looking back when you try it on your own. Brimming with iron, calcium and magnesium, honey is fat-free, cholesterol-free and sodium-free as per the National Honey Board. And if you need more reasons to add it to your diet, we have got five benefits of Honey to make you fall in love with nature’s sweet nectar!
Five Benefits of Honey:
1. Strengthen Immunity
Honey is known for being rich in antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties, which help remove free radicals and fight infections. As per experts, a spoonful of honey with a hint of lime in a cup of warm water early in the morning can do wonders for your immunity.
2. Treats Cough And Cold
A study published in the Journal Pediatrics in 2012 said that persistent cough could be treated by just about 1-2 tsp of honey! While our grandmothers proved it long ago, honey’s antimicrobial properties, which help soothe the throat while killing the bacteria causing the infection, have recently been recognised by the world of health and nutrition.
3. Boosts Energy
It is not a surprise that the sugar rush can boost energy, and when you can nosh over natural sugar, why would you go for the refined one? It is time to replace sugar with honey in your diet, including tea and baked treats. Not only does the natural sugar of honey replace fatigue, but the glucose in it gives instant energy as it is absorbed by the body quickly.
4. Weight Loss
A glass of warm water with honey and lemon has been seen as an effective anti-cellulite treatment since it increases metabolism. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2010 also stated that honey controls appetite! Isn’t it best to use honey across all your sweet delights?
5. Improves Sleep
As per experts, honey releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that improves your mood, which our body converts into melatonin, a chemical that regulates the length and quality of sleep.
