Honey provides antibiotic benefits and a low glycemic sweetener

by Melanie Grimes, citizen journalist
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(NaturalNews) Honey provides a natural sweetener that can be used instead of sugar. Honey is a whole food that comes from plant nectar and does not raise blood sugar as other simple sugars do. Honey also contains a variety of minerals and vitamins and has a long history as a healing food. Honey has been used as an antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antibiotic.

Antibiotic Honey Kills Germs
Honey has long been used for its antibiotic properties and research has now demonstrated the mechanism. In an article published in the Journal of the Federation of American Society for Experimental Biology, scientists explain that a protein made by the bees called defensin-1 is the active germ-killing ingredient in honey. The researchers postulate that honey may even be able to treat diseases and infections that are antibiotic resistant such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Vitamins and Minerals in Honey
Honey contains vitamin A, vitamin B2 or riboflavin B3 or nicotinic acid, B5 called pantothenic acid, vitamin C, biotin (also known as vitamin H) and rutine. Honey also contains manyminerals: including calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, iodine, and zinc. The bee pollen in honey contains a great deal of protein as well.

Antioxidants in Honey
Honey contains antioxidants. A study at the University of California demonstrated that consuming honey can raise antioxidant levels in the blood. The darker the honey, the more antioxidants it contains. Dark colored honey from Illinois buckwheat has been shown to have 20 times the antioxidant value as sage honey from California.

Skin Healing Properties of Honey
Because honey has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, it can be used to heal skin conditions. Hundreds of cases have been published in medical journals demonstrating honey's ability to cure wounds and burns. Honey kills bacteria in the skin and speeds the healing of burns. It can be used to treat sunburns as well.

Honey in History
Honey has been used as far back as Ancient Egypt. Pictured on ancient hieroglyphs and stored in tombs, honey was mentioned on the Rosetta Stone. King Menes, an Egyptian King from 4000 B.C, was known as the Beekeeper. The use of honey combined with wine and milk for healing was recorded in Egyptian medical texts written on papyrus.

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