Honey is said to be nature’s golden medicine, and for excellent reasons! While you usually hear that you shouldn’t eat honey after 7 p.m., European folk healers have recommended drinking warm milk with a teaspoon of honey to ensure a good night’s sleep. And they aren’t the only ones! Traditional Mexican healers are known to prescribe drinking chamomile tea with a teaspoon of honey before bed, and the ancient Chinese live by the saying that says they should “eat honey every night”. If this is the case, why are we told to stop consuming honey after a certain time of night? Below are some key examples as to why you should eat honey each night before bed.
You’ll sleep much better
As it turns out, organic raw honey works wonders and is actually recommended to be eaten before going to sleep! Honey keeps your liver full and makes sure it produces the correct amount of glycogen for the night. When you consume honey before bed, the brain goes into crisis mode searching for fuel. Honey also helps the brain by spiking its insulin levels which releases tryptophan into the brain. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin, which then forms into melatonin. A lot of people call melatonin a “wellness hormone” because it enhances immunity and rebuilds tissues during rest. Not only does melatonin aid you while you sleep, but it ensures that you wake up well-rested. Who knew consuming honey would do all that?
You’ll lose a few pounds
The Honey Diet was founded by Mike Mcinnes (a nutrition expert and former Boots Chemist) when he realized that athletes who ate foods rich in fructose (such as honey) burned ten times more fat than the average person and had increased their stamina levels drastically. You see, honey acts as a fuel for your liver and enables it to produce more glucose. When the glucose is produced, it alerts the brain that the sugar levels are high and enforces it to release fat burning hormones. In order to truly see a difference in weight, you have to follow The Honey Diet, and replace sugar with honey throughout the day. In addition, you must drink warm water with three spoonfuls of honey before bed (to ensure that the fat burning hormones keep going throughout the night).
It’s hard to cut sugar out of your diet completely. If you drink coffee with sugar, you’d have to replace the sugar with honey. You can’t eat a lot of junk food, and you need to be careful with what you make for your meals (sugar is everywhere). If you’re committed to The Honey Diet, you’ll definitely see results.
You’ll feel better about yourself
If you thought waking up rejuvenated and losing a few pounds was all honey had to offer, you’re mistaken. Honey is known to soothe a sore throat while acting as a cough medicine. Two teaspoons of honey will calm even the roughest sore throats but is not intended for children under 1 year old. In New Zealand and Australia, Manuka honey is used to heal wounds. This form of honey has been known to stop infection and has similar traits to hydrogen peroxide.
Among these things, honey also offers these benefits:
- Prevents plaque from forming on your teeth
- Helps with allergies
- Boosts your immune system
- Help children (as well as adults) with acid reflux
While honey tastes great, be careful not to go overboard. Stick to one spoonful because it is high in sugar, which can be unhealthy if consumed in high quantities. Honey may not be recommended for diabetics, so check with your doctor first.
Who knew honey was this beneficial? Grab some of nature’s golden medicine the next time you’re at the store, and reap all of the benefits it has to offer.
Featured photo credit: http://www.fresh-organic-food.com/honey/ via fresh-organic-food.com
