The nutrients found in honey possess certain cancer-preventing and anti-tumor properties.
This miraculous golden liquid has also been used as a source of energy and it has proved to be quite effective in improving athletes’ performance. As a matter of fact, in Ancient Greece, when the tradition of the Olympic Games was initiated, athletes were given special foods to eat, for a better sports performance, such as dried figs and honey. Honey helps maintaining a better blood sugar level, if combined with a protein supplement, than sugar does; that is why in recent years there has been a tendency to use more honey-protein combinations than their sugar-based equivalents.
Throughout centuries, the healing properties of honey have also been taken into account. Honey can be used as an antiseptic therapeutic agent for a wide range of ulcers, burns and different kinds of wounds. What honey does to a wound when applied locally is this: it absorbs water drying the wound and inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi. In addition, by combining itself with water, honey produces a mild antiseptic.
Besides the enzymes which help in the healing process, honey contains a number of antioxidants which function as antibacterial agents - found in greater amount in darker honey.
The consumption of honey on a daily basis (no more than a spoonful a day) has proved to raise the level of protective antioxidant compounds in the human blood. It can also reduce cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease) and blood sugar. All this makes it a highly recommendable supplement for healthy individuals as well.
