consciouseating
One of the oldest
Honey Almighty
sweeteners used by
man, honey remains a
Legendary Sweet Packs a Punch
perennial favorite for good
reason, with far more to
by Amber lanier Nagle
recommend it than just
savoring its sweetness.
c
ivilizations have long revered
honey for its sweetness, medici-
nal properties and other useful
applications. Ancient Egyptians used
honey as a sugary condiment and a
key ingredient in embalming fluid.
Early Greeks believed it had powerful
wound-healing properties.
In America, honey reigned as
a home remedy for various illnesses
and infections until the middle of the
20th century, when it was supplanted
by penicillin. Today, the sweet stuff is
phenolic antioxidants in participants Laboratory, evaluated the effectiveness
making a comeback, as modern sci-
after just one month of honey supple- of commercial sports gels and honey.
ence confirms honey’s health-promot-
mentation. Other studies confirm The researchers concluded that honey
ing benefits.
that honey contains numerous is an excellent pre-workout energy
More than 300 types of honey are
antioxidants. They include chrysin, source, in part because it is easily
available in the United States; each
pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase and digested and released into the body at
carries a distinctive color and flavor,
pinocembrin, which all help to pre- a steady rate.
depending on the bees’ nectar source.
vent and repair cellular damage from A companion study indicated that
In general, lighter-colored honeys
disease-causing free radicals. honey is also an effective post-work-
(like clover honey) are milder in taste,
The amount and type of these out carbohydrate source when paired
while darker-colored honeys (like
goodies available depend largely upon with protein. Weight-trained men and
buckwheat honey) are stronger.
the floral source of the honey. Darker women who consumed a powdered
honeys usually contain higher levels honey-protein combination drink not
Antioxidants & other Nu-
of antioxidants than lighter varieties. only sustained optimal blood sugar
trients
levels for two hours after their work-
Athletic prowess
out, they showed favorable changes in
The National Honey Board charac-
For athletes, carbohydrates enhance
a hormone measurement that indi-
terizes honey as a natural source of
performance and recovery. A natural,
cates positive muscle recovery.
simple carbohydrates, composed of
convenient and inexpensive source
fructose (about 38.5 percent), glucose
of carbohydrates, honey, provides 17 Antimicrobial properties
(about 31 percent), sucrose, maltose
grams per tablespoon. As grandmother knew, honey proves
and other sugars. It contains enzymes
One study at the University of an exceptional healing agent when
and other compounds derived from
Memphis Exercise and Sport Nutrition applied to cuts, scrapes and lacera-
bees and flowers, as well as small
amounts of vitamins and minerals,
such as niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic
many monofloral honeys contain an enzyme that
acid, calcium, copper, iron, magne-
produces low levels of hydrogen peroxide, a natural
sium, manganese, phosphorus and
antiseptic. Honey’s ability to keep the area around
potassium.
a wound sealed, moist and protected, promotes
A University of California-Davis
rapid healing and helps prevent scars.
study detected higher levels of poly-
20 Phoenix
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