Honey is composed of two main sugars, levulose and dextrose. These
sugars do not need to be broken down by the digestive process, so honey
is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, giving a quick energy boost to
the body. It also contains protein, vitamins and minerals, but no
cholesterol.
Darker honeys have more nutrients than light ones. Vitamin and
mineral content depend on the floral source of the honey. Honey has less
than 2% sodium, and as such can be labeled as a sodium-free product by
Food & Drug Administration standards.
Want to Fireproof Your Marriage? Do Marriage God’s Way
Choose a car from 200,000 stock We deliver to Lagos. Cheap cars!
Honey has been used in many medical applications over the years, but recent studies are now able to prove its beneficial nature in some applications, including as antibacterial topical treatment for burns and ulcers. The reason is because honey has osmotic properties; that is, it tends to withdraw water. Water molecules strongly react with the sugars in honey, leaving little water available for microorganisms. Thus, infection-causing bacteria is literally dehydrated to death by honey.
Enzymatic activities of honey also produce hydrogen peroxide, which generate highly reactive free radicals which kill bacteria, further contributing to its antibacterial properties.
Honey has also been used to successfully store skin grafts for up to twelve weeks. Lab tests have shown that different types of honey have differing antibacterial sensitivities, so research continues to determine which floral sources are most beneficial.
Warning! Honey is not for babies!
Although honey is a natural, healthy food that normally cannot support bacterial life, it's important to note that it can carry
I Turned $500.00 Into Growing Monthly Income! Watch How I Did It
The Ultimate Healthy Living Toolbar Get Daily Fitness Tips & More. Free
Infants up to one year of age should not be fed raw honey , as their immune systems are not yet developed enough to fend off this normally benign strain. Infection can cause a flaccid paralysis weakening the baby's muscles, causing a "floppy" baby. Other symptoms include constipation, lethargy, poor feeding, weak cry, droopy eyelids, expressionless face, drooling or swallowing difficulty, and occasionally, respiratory arrest. By the age of one year, most children develop enough to resist this normally benign strain of botulinum.
Infant botulism is rarely lethal, but is obviously easy to avoid in this instance. Although food manufacturers make extensive use of honey in their products, baby food manufacturers, as a rule, will not include honey in their foods recommended for those babies under one year of age.
It must also be pointed out that infant botulism is not exclusive to the ingestion of honey. The botulism spore can also be found in dust, soil and other uncooked foods that older children and adults are exposed to daily. The risk is minimal. Yet, it is an avoidable risk, and honey should not be fed to infants under the age of twelve months. Don't play the odds.
0 comments:
Post a Comment