One of the oldest
sweeteners used by
Honey Almighty
man, honey remains a
perennial favorite for good
Legendary Sweet Packs a Punch
reason, with far more to
recommend it than just
by Amber Lanier Nagle
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 fl uid.
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 mak-
nolic antioxidants in participants after One study at the University of
ing a comeback, as modern science
just one month of honey supplementa- Memphis Exercise and Sport Nutrition
confi rms honey’s health-promoting
tion. Other studies confi rm that honey Laboratory, evaluated the effectiveness
benefi ts.
contains numerous antioxidants. They of commercial sports gels and honey.
More than 300 types of honey are
include chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin The researchers concluded that honey
available in the United States; each
C, catalase and pinocembrin, which all is an excellent pre-workout energy
carries a distinctive color and fl avor,
help to prevent and repair cellular dam- source, in part because it is easily
depending on the bees’ nectar source.
age from disease-causing free radicals. digested and released into the body at a
In general, lighter-colored honeys (like
The amount and type of these steady rate.
clover honey) are milder in taste, while
goodies available depend largely upon A companion study indicated that
darker-colored honeys (like buckwheat
the fl oral source of the honey. Darker honey is also an effective post-work-
honey) are stronger.
honeys usually contain higher levels of out carbohydrate source when paired
antioxidants than lighter varieties. with protein. Weight-trained men and
Antioxidants & Other
women who consumed a powdered
Nutrients
Athletic Prowess
honey-protein combination drink not
The National Honey Board character-
For athletes, carbohydrates enhance
only sustained optimal blood sugar
izes honey as a natural source of simple
performance and recovery. A natural,
levels for two hours after their workout,
carbohydrates, composed of fructose
convenient and inexpensive source
they showed favorable changes in a
(about 38.5 percent), glucose (about
of carbohydrates, honey, provides 17
hormone measurement that indicates
31 percent), sucrose, maltose and other
grams per tablespoon.
positive muscle recovery.
sugars. It contains enzymes and other
compounds derived from bees and
Many monofl oral honeys contain an enzyme that produces
fl owers, as well as small amounts of
vitamins and minerals, such as niacin,
low levels of hydrogen peroxide, a natural antiseptic. Hon-
ribofl avin, pantothenic acid, calcium,
ey’s ability to keep the area around a wound sealed, moist
copper, iron, magnesium, manganese,
phosphorus and potassium.
and protected, promotes rapid healing and helps prevent
A University of California-Davis
scars.
study detected higher levels of polyphe-
32 Greater Oakland, Macomb & Livingston
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