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Leading Edge
Honey
Raw Honey: Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral & Anti-Fungal
The health benefits of honey - like all foods - depend on the
quality of the honey. But in this case, the situation is even more
extreme, because the pollen that collects on the bees' legs as they move
from plant to plant is only as healthful and as diverse as those plants.
In addition, the processing of honey often removes many of the
phytonutrients found in raw honey as it exists in the hive.
Athletic Performance
Primarily honey has been used as an energy source, but recent
research has examined the use of honey as an ergogenic aid (a
food or ingredient that helps an athlete's performance) and wound
healing agent, both of which were once considered merely age-old
anecdotes.
In the time of the ancient Olympics, athletes were reported to eat
special foods, such as honey and dried figs, to enhance their sports
performance. Recently, however, one group of researchers has
investigated the use of honey as an ergogenic aid in athletes.
The study involved a group of 39 weight-trained athletes, both male and
female. Subjects underwent an intensive weight-lifting workout and then
immediately consumed a protein supplement blended with either sugar,
maltodextrin or honey as the carbohydrate source. The honey group
maintained optimal blood sugar levels throughout the two hours following
the workout. In addition, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration
(carbohydrates stored in muscle) was favourable in those individuals
consuming the honey-protein combination. Sustaining favourable blood
sugar concentrations after endurance training by ingesting carbohydrates
before, during and after training is important for maintaining muscle
glycogen stores (glycogen is the form in which sugar is
stored in muscle as ready-to-use fuel), so that muscle recuperation is
more efficient and the athlete is ready to perform again at their
highest level the next day.
Wound Healing
The wound healing properties of honey may, however, be its most
promising medicinal quality – but it must be raw honey. Honey has been
used topically as an antiseptic therapeutic agent for the treatment of
ulcers, burns and wounds for centuries. One study in
India
compared the wound healing effects of honey to a conventional treatment
(silver sulfadiazene) in 104 first-degree burn patients. After one week
of treatment, 91% of honey treated burns were infection free compared
with only 7% receiving the conventional treatment. Finally, a greater
percentage of patients' burns were healed more readily in the honey
treated group. Another study examined the wound healing benefits of
honey applied topically to patients following Caesarean section and
hysterectomy. Compared to the group receiving the standard solution of
iodine and alcohol, the honey treated group was infection free in fewer
days, healed more cleanly and had a reduced hospital stay.
One laboratory study of unpasteurized honey samples indicated the
majority had antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus,
a common bacteria found readily in our environment that can cause
infections, especially in open wounds. Other reports indicate honey is
effective at inhibiting Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.
Raw, unprocessed honey contains
amongst the widest variety of
health-supportive substances and antioxidants
of any natural foodstuff. |
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