Honey: Types, Benefits, Uses And Side Effects

Nature finest work, Honey is as versatile as it is delicious. This natural sweetener is admired worldwide for its distinct aroma and healthful qualities. When it comes down to flavor, honey is sweet without tasting too sugary - perfect to spread on toast for go-to mornings.

Honey is so dense and appealing that anyone can be tempted to eat it right off the spoon. Soft and creamy in texture, it can be relished straight out of the jar.

Honey also adds a unique flavor to any food or beverage, making it an ideal ingredient for almost everything! And we definitely cannot overlook its excellent health-boosting properties including antibacterial potency.

While attempting to understand the health benefits of honey, we must focus on the above honey nutrition facts too.

The supermarket is flooded with wide varieties of honey, each one exhibiting its own taste, flavor and health benefits. To be specific, there are more than 300 types of honey categorized on the basis of their source and extraction process out of which some popular types are mentioned below:

1. Manuka honey: It is rich in vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6 with a robust taste. It helps in treating sore throat and cold.
2. Acacia honey: It is rich in vitamin A, C and E with a floral taste. It helps in treating respiratory problems.
3. Buckwheat honey: It is darkest and strongest of all varieties with rich in iron content. It helps in protecting the body from oxidative stress.
4. Clover honey: It is a popular variety with pleasant taste. It is used in salad dressings and sauces.
5. Eucalyptus honey: It is rich in minerals and vitamins with herbal flavor. It is a used for medicinal purposes
6. Sourwood honey: It is a light-colored honey with caramel taste and sweet and nutty flavor.
7. Tupelo honey: A sweetest honey variety with light-golden in color. Due to the presense of high-fructose content it results in the sweetness.
8. Sage honey: A light-colored honey with a delightful taste which granulates very slowly.
9. Linden Honey: It is a popular variety with Fresh woody aroma which indeed induces sedation. It helps in treating cold and cough.
10. Aster Honey: A variety of honey with thick consistency and distinctively sweet aroma. It is usually used in sweet drinks and desserts.

Know More About: 10 Different Types Of Honey - Which One Works Better?

While all of us have heard amazing health benefits of honey, but we rarely tend to consume it. There is no best time to eat honey, you can consume it as per your own preferences. We suggest you include honey in your routine during these times:

1. When You Feel Tired: A natural source of carbohydrates, eat honey whenever you need an energy rush. It is ideal to consume honey before or after a workout.
2. Before Sleep: Eat 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey right before bed. Honey enhances your melatonin levels, that helps you have a sound sleep.
3. Whenever You Are Sick: Known for its ability to treat cough and cold, honey works as natural over-the-counter medicine.

Read More About: The Right Time To Eat Honey

A thick sweet liquid made by honeybees, honey offers ample health benefits because of its antibacterial activity, wound-healing effect, dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatory action. Mentioned below are the best health benefits of honey:

Whether drizzled over desserts, used for sauces and dressings or added in your favorite drinks, this sweet nectar can turn any meal into a masterpiece. Honey is a kitchen staple and a must-have ingredient for food and drinks that taste sweet.

1. Add honey to muffins, rolls, oats, buns, waffles, smoothies, pudding and toast for a perfect breakfast delight.
2. Make for yourself a hot ginger tea, frosty latte, milkshakes, lemonade and cocktails by blending them up with honey.
3. Mix some honey with vegetable or fruit salad to give your classic food a nice flavor.
4. Prepare delightful sauces and dressings using honey and your favorite ingredients.
5. Include honey while making sweet desserts including brownies & cupcakes to enhance both taste and nutritional value.
6. Bake some delicious cookies and cakes using this natural sweetener.

Explore : The Best Homemade Honey Recipes For A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Honey is safe for use in adults and children above 1 year of age. However, some people have hypersensitivity to it and may face adverse effects.
2. Food poisoning is reported in children below 1 year because of honey consumption.
3. Heating honey produces a chemical compound known as Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) that may harm the DNA.
4. Eating honey in excess can cause stomach problems including bloating, stomach cramps and diarrhea.
5. Those allergic to honey can experience difficulty in swallowing & breathing, asthma, itching and inflammation.
6. Honey can cause chest pain and low blood pressure in some individuals.
7. Honey if overeaten can erode the enamel that may lead to cavities in teeth.
8. Other rare side effects include nausea, vomiting, skin rash, weakness, fainting, stomach pain, etc.

Honey is considered one of the best health foods around the globe. This thick liquid has an amazing number of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, to get the most out of this sweet nectar, it is important to cherry-pick the best of the best and organic honey.

This can be challenging as there exists sugar-filled and adulterated honey in the market. So, carefully pick the best honey brands to relish the goodness this superfood has to offer!

Know More About: The Best Honey Brands To Buy