A man named
Bernardo LaPallo is over 110 years old, although most would think he is
younger. Like many living to be his age, LaPallo credits his long life with
eating a lot of organic fruit and vegetables, while avoiding other foods like
the plague. He especially recognizes the 5 foods, a secret passed down to him
by his father which he believes is the key to his longevity. Bernardo puts it
simply, “You are what you eat!” One of the top foods, Bernardo recognized as
the most valuable longevity drivers is honey.
What is Honey?
Honey is a natural product that has been widely used for
its therapeutic effects. It is composed primarily of fructose and glucose, but
also contains fructo-oligosaccharides, and many amino acids, vitamins, minerals,
and enzymes. The composition of honey varies depending on the plants on which
the bee feeds. However, almost all natural honey contains flavonoides (such as
apigenin, pinocembrin, kaempferol, quercetin, galangin, chrysin and
hesperetin), phenolic acids (such as ellagic, caffeic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids),
ascorbic acid, tocopherols, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced
glutathione (GSH), Millard reaction products and peptides. Most of those
compound works together to provide a synergistic antioxidant effect.
Honey has had a valued place in traditional medicine for
centuries. However, it has a limited use in modern medicine due to lack of
scientific support. For a long time, it has been observed that honey can be
used to overcome liver, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems. Ancient
Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans employed honey for wounds and
diseases of the intestine. Since a few decades ago, honey was subjected to
laboratory and clinical investigations by several research groups. The most
remarkable discovery was antibacterial activity of honey validated in numerous
studies. Natural honey exhibits bactericidal activity against many organisms
including Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, etc. In
an inflammatory model of colitis, honey was as effective as prednisolone
treatment. Research has also indicated that honey may possess anti-inflammatory
activity and stimulate immune responses within a wound. Honey has been shown to
prevent reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced low density lipoprotein (LDL)
oxidation in some in vitro studies, thus exhibiting beneficial cardiovascular
protection. Honey also had antineoplastic activity in an experimental bladder
cancer.
Historical Use
Honey in Indian
system of a yurveda
Ayurveda is a compound word i.e., âyus meaning ‘life’ or
‘life principle’, and the word veda, which refers to ‘a system of knowledge’.
Hence ‘Ayurveda’ roughly translates as the ‘knowledge of life’. The ancient
vedic civilization considered honey one of nature's most remarkable gifts to
mankind. Traditionally, according to the texts of Ayurveda, honey is a boon to
those with weak digestion. In addition, it has been emphasized that the use of
honey is highly beneficial in the treatment of irritating cough. Honey is
regarded by Ayurvedic experts, as valuable in keeping the teeth and gums
healthy. It has been used for centuries for the treatment of insomnia because
it has hypnotic action. Additionally, traditional Ayurvedic experts recommend
honey for skin disorders (such as wounds and burns), cardiac pain and
palpitation, all imbalances of the lungs and anemia. Honey has a long history
of Ayurvedic use for various eye ailments. Applied daily to the eyes, it
improves the eyesight. Moreover, honey is regarded as useful in the prevention
of cataract.
Honey in ancient
Egypt
Honey was the most popular Egyptian drug being mentioned
500 times in 900 remedies. Its prescription for a standard wound salve
discovered in the Smith papyrus (an Egyptian text dating from between 2600 and
2200 B.C.) calls for a mixture of mrht (grease), byt (honey) and ftt
(lint/fibre) as transliterated from hieroglyphic symbols. Almost all Egyptian
medicines contained honey together with wine and milk. The ancient Egyptians offered
honey to their deities as a sacrifice. They also used honey for embalming the
dead. Honey was utilized for its antibacterial properties that helped heal
infected wounds. Moreover, honey was used as a topical ointment.
Honey in ancient Greece
Oenomel is an ancient Greek beverage consisting of honey
and unfermented grape juice. It is sometimes used as a folk remedy for gout and
certain nervous disorders. Hippocrates, the great Greek scientist, prescribed a
simple diet, favoring honey given as oxymel (vinegar and honey) for pain,
hydromel (water and honey) for thirst, and a mixture of honey, water and
various medicinal substances for acute fevers. Also, he utilized honey for
baldness, contraception, wound healing, laxative action, cough and sore throat,
eye diseases, topical antisepsis, prevention and treatment of scars.
Honey in Islamic
medicine
In Islamic medical system, honey is considered a healthy
drink. The holy Qur'an vividly illustrates the potential therapeutic value of
honey: "And thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees,
and in (men’s) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and
find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their
bodies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is
a sign for those who give thought". Moreover, the Muslim prophet Mohammad recommended
the use of honey for the treatment of diarrhea. Avicenna, the great Iranian
scientist and physician, almost 1000 years ago, had recommended honey as one of
best remedies in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Modern Use
Antimicrobial
properties of honey
In addition to important role of natural honey in the
traditional medicine, during the past few decades, it was subjected to
laboratory and clinical investigations. Antibacterial activity of honey is one
of the most important findings, bringing it to one of the top remedies for
natural healing. Honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around
60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and
gram-negatives.
Mechanisms of antimicrobial activity of honey are
different from antibiotics, which destroy the bacteria’s cell wall or inhibit
intracellular metabolic pathways. The antibacterial activity is related to four
properties of honey. First, honey draws moisture out of the environment and
thus dehydrates bacteria. The sugar content of honey is also high enough to
hinder the growth of microbes, but the sugar content alone is not the sole
reason for honey’s antibacterial properties. Second, the pH of honey is between
3.2 and 4.5, and this acidity is low enough to inhibit the growth of most
microorganisms. Hydrogen peroxide produced by the glucose oxidase is the third
and probably the most important antibacterial component, although some authors
believe the nonperoxide activity to be more important. Lastly, several
phytochemical factors for antibacterial activity have been identified in honey.
Wound healing
One of the most studied and most effective uses of honey
is found in healing of wounds. The Russians used honey in World War I to
prevent wound infection and to accelerate wound healing. The Germans combined
cod liver oil and honey to treat ulcers, burns, fistulas and boils. Nearly all
types of wounds like abrasion, abscess, amputation, bed sores /decubitus
ulcers, burns, chill blains, burst abdominal wound, cracked nipples, fistulas,
diabetic, malignant, leprosy, traumatic, cervical, varicose and sickle cell
ulcers, septic wounds, surgical wound or wounds of abdominal wall and perineum
are found to be responsive to honey therapy. Application of honey as wound
dressing leads to stimulation of healing process and rapidly clears the
infection. Honey has cleansing action on wounds, stimulates tissue regeneration
and reduces inflammation. Honey impregnated pads act as non-adhesive tissue
dressing.
“In the winter of 1933 I heated a boiler of about thirty-five gallons
of water. When I opened the cover, it flew with great force against the
ceiling. The vapor and hot water poured forth over my unprotected head, over my
hands and feet. Some minutes afterward I had violent pains and I believe I
would have gone mad if my wife and my daughter had not helped me immediately.
They took large pieces of linen, daubed them thickly with honey and put them on
my head, neck, hands and feet. Almost instantly the pain ceased. I slept well
all night and did not lose a single hair on my head. When the physician came he
shook his head and said: `How can such a thing be possible? (“Alpenlindische
Bienenzeitung” (February, 1935)
Gastrointestinal
tract diseases
Oral administration of honey to treat and protect against
gastrointestinal infection such as gastritis, duodenitis and gastric ulceration
caused by bacteria and rotavirus has been reported. Attachment of bacteria to
mucosal epithelial cells is considered the initial event in the development of
bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract. Blocking attachment of
pathogenic microorganisms to the intestinal epithelium represents a potential
strategy for disease prevention.
Fungal infections
Honey has been reported to have inhibitory effects on
fungi. Pure honey inhibits fungal growth and diluted honey appears capable of
inhibiting toxin production. Some studies have also reported that topical
application of honey was effective in treating seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.
Antiviral effects
of honey
In addition to antibacterial and antifungal effects,
natural honey has showed antiviral effect. Al-Waili (2004) investigated the
effect of the topical application of honey on recurrent attacks of herpes
lesions and concluded that topical honey application was safe and effective in
the management of the signs and symptoms of recurrent lesions from labial and
genital herpes compared to acyclovir cream.
Ophthalmology and
honey
Honey is used worldwide for the treatment of various
ophthalmological conditions like blepharitis, keratitis, conjunctivitis,
corneal injuries, chemical and thermal burns to eyes.
Honey as a
carbohydrate source
Honey is a natural mixture of fructose-glucose along with
some oligosaccharides, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Some studies
demonstrated that honey is an effective carbohydrate source for athletes before
and after resistance training and during endurance exercise.
Honey and diabetes
The use of honey in type I and type II diabetes was
associated with significantly lower glycemic index than with glucose or sucrose
in normal diabetes. Honey compared with dextrose caused a significantly lower
rise in plasma glucose levels in diabetic subjects. It also caused reduction of
blood lipids, homocysteine levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in normal
and hyperlipidemic subjects.
Honey as food
preservative and prebiotic
Hydrogen peroxide and non peroxide components such as
antioxidants are found to inhibit growth of Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes,
and Staph. aureus helping in food preservation. Clostridium botulinum however
may be present in small amounts in honey. It has a good potential to be used as
a natural source of antioxidants to reduce negative effects of polyphenol
oxidase browning in fruit and vegetable processing.
Anti-inflammatory
effects of honey
In a recent investigation, it was reported that honey
reduces the activities of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2, thus showing
anti-inflammatory effects. It has proven abilities to reduce inflammation and
exudation, promotes healing, diminishes scar size and stimulates tissue
regeneration.
Antioxidant
activity of honey
Today, we know well that radicals cause molecular
transformations and gene mutations in many types of organisms. Oxidative stress
is well-known to cause many diseases, and scientists in many different
disciplines became more interested in natural sources which could provide
active components to prevent or reduce its impacts on cells.
Natural honey contains many flavonoids, phenolic acids, ascorbic
acid, and other components, securing a synergistic antioxidant effect. Hence,
it has been suggested that honey, as a natural antioxidant, may serve as an
alternative to some preservatives such as sodium tripolyphosphate in food
preservation to delay lipid oxidation.
A 2011 study from Iran looked at how honey affects renal
cell carcinoma, which is a type of kidney cancer. Researchers found that honey
was in fact effective in stopping cancer cells from multiplying, and concluded
that honey definitely warrants further study as a cancer treatment.
Memory Improvements
Several studies propose that honey can improve both
short- and long-term memory, especially in ageing men and women. In one study,
postmenopausal women who were given honey treatments for several weeks saw as
much improvement in their immediate memory as women given hormone therapy.
Sources and
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