The properties and benefits of bee honey have been known and used by different societies over time. Nowadays this substance constitutes one of the most important natural primary sweeteners, whose benefits go from a pleasant taste to the palate, to the possible prevention and treatment of diseases.

Next we will see what is and how honey is obtained, and its main properties and benefits .

What is it and how do you get the honey?

Natural honey is produced naturally by the Apis mallifera and different subspecies of bees. The latter obtain the honey from the nectar of the flowers and also from secretions released by the bees themselves .

Broadly speaking, honey is produced through a process of combining substances that bees transport, concentrate and store in honeycombs (a set of wax cells that they build to deposit the honey). Subsequently, the honey is extracted by a process that includes unloading, lifting, uncapping and finally separation of the honey from the wax. All this takes place in a previously constituted space, and with specialized machinery and equipment.

The bee honey has a complex composition and rich in nutrients , which have been used for human consumption from the most ancestral societies.

Most of these nutrients are occupied by carbohydrates, such as fructose and glucose . It also contains enzymes, antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and organic acids, which make honey has many properties. In fact, it has not only been used as a food but also as an important therapeutic resource.

10 properties and benefits of bee honey

As we have seen, honey is one of the natural resources that has been most exploited by human beings. Already from the classical texts of medicine, honey appears as an important resource to treat wounds, pains and diseases .

Today, beekeeping (the rearing of bees for their products) is one of the most important economic activities in various countries. The latter is due to the richness of its nutritional properties and its healing potential. We will see next which are the most important properties of the bee honey.

1. Antibacterial potential

Due to the inhibins (hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids and phenolic acids) present in honey, this substance has important properties as a bactericide . These properties are also attributed to the presence of glucose oxidase. For example, one of the antibacterial potentials of honey may be important for the treatment of acne and for exfoliation of the skin.

2. Natural source of antioxidants

Antioxidants are natural substances that prevent the formation of oxides , which in turn slows down cell decomposition. In this sense, the regular consumption of bee honey can be an important dietary supplement in the prevention of heart disease, the immune system and inflammatory processes.

3. Primary sweetener

Before the extraction of sugar from cane and other roots, tubers and foods became popular, honey was the only natural primary sweetener. Due to its components, such as small peptides, flavonoids and enzymes, honey serves as a sweetener, but not only that. It is a protective agent that, when mixed with other foods, can enhance both taste and health benefits . In the same way, bee honey serves as a natural substitute for refined sugar.

4. Contains protein

Honey contains approximately enzymes and amino acids . These originate from the activity of the bees themselves, and sometimes from the nectar of the plant. Proteins play a fundamental role in the growth and synthesis of different tissues. In turn, amino acids are the basis for the production of proteins

5. Moisturizing potential

The high concentration of humidity in honey not only influences its viscosity, weight, taste and colour, but it can also be fundamental in moisturising different parts of our body. For the same reason it is usually used as a moisturizer for hair and scalp. In this it is important that honey is not exposed to high temperatures, since its properties can be lost.

6. Promotes digestion

When combined with other natural products, such as lemon juice or cinnamon, honey can support the activity of the digestive system. This means that helps to metabolise food, preventing or relieving stomach indigestion . It has also been attributed to relieve symptoms of constipation and feeling of heaviness after heavy meals. It has also been attributed with the property of preventing reflux and helping to alleviate diarrhea.

7. Treatment of wounds and burns

Already in the ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Roman societies, honey was used to treat various wounds. In combination with other herbs, a honey ointment was beneficial for sunburns, wound infections and facial stains. For the same reason it is attributed with antiseptic properties , that is, it reduces the possibility of infections when applied to living tissue in some wounds.

8. Relieves cough and sore throat

Again, when combined with other substances such as lime or lemon juice, honey relieves sore throats, even in small doses. Because of its antibacterial properties it may also help fight some infections of this type. Also, bee honey is recognized as a natural remedy for coughs (however, it is recommended not to apply in children under one year).

9. Anti-inflammatory activity

The direct application of bee honey on inflamed muscles has been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory, i.e. it has been attributed with the property of reducing muscle swellings . This in turn relieves the pain caused by the inflammation itself.

10. Other properties

Ayurvedic medicine, traditional in India, has attributed to honey properties of revitalizing, which in turn relieve weakness or excessive tiredness. It has also been attributed with a relaxing property that promotes sleep and some symptoms of stress. It is also used for toothache, especially in children over the age of one, in the treatment of asthma and hiccups. It is also used to moderate blood pressure levels.

Bibliographic references:

  • Armando, J., Mondragón, P., Rodríguez, R., Reséndiz, J.A. and Rosas, P. (2010). Honey and its importance. Fuente Magazine, 2(4): 11-18.
  • Oslen, N. (2018). Everything you need to know about honey. Medical News Today. Recovered October 16, 2018. Available at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264667.php.