Boost well-being with honey

What do we mean by well-being and how is it different from our health? Well-being is certainly related to our health but it is a term we use to describe a more holistic sense of oneself. So in this case we are talking about using honey as a general boost for our whole body and mind- rather than treating an individual condition like a sore patch of skin. Well-being describes being in a positive state overall, both in our health and happiness. Honey is a wonderful natural healing and health aid, that has many amazing properties. In this blog we will explore the ways it can help with our well-being.

Protecting our bodies from harm

Chronic inflammation is the cause of many health issues from arthritis to Alzheimer's disease, and honey has been shown to have effective anti-inflammatory properties due to its phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Specifically honey includes several phenolic compounds that all are thought to contribute to the healing of the cells in the body. There is some evidence that honey may even help prevent cancers due to its high antioxidant activity.

Honey is also a natural immune booster and many studies have shown that daily consumption of honey can improve one's immune system. Honey can stimulate antibody production and its antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties can help fight infections from viruses and bacteria. Just a single teaspoon of Just Bee Vitamin Honey contains 25% of your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C, D, B6 and B12 to support your immune system. People with weaker immune systems are more at risk of serious diseases and general illness.

A natural sleeping and relaxation aid

Getting good sleep is a very important part of our well-being, without it we can become irritable and fatigued. It can limit our ability to think clearly and can also cause anxiety and stress. Tiredness is probably the number one enemy of our well-being as it can affect so many areas of our lives. A good night’s sleep is essential in giving your body enough time to rejuvenate and keep your immune system ticking along in good health. Studies have shown that people who only get 6 hours sleep or less a night are far more likely to suffer from common colds and will often have a higher susceptibility to other viruses.  There's a few reasons why taking a teaspoon of honey about 30 minutes before you go to bed might help you sleep better.

If you often lie in bed feeling hungry and then worry that you shouldn't be snacking late at night then honey might help, it can stop you feeling hungry and the sugars can help keep your blood sugar levels a little more stable during the night. It can also stop you waking in the middle of the night and feeling hungry causing you to get up and disturb your nights sleep even more. If you often have trouble sleeping then you might like to try our Just Bee Sleeptime Honey which is enhanced with valerian root and lavender. We've had extremely positive feedback from our customers looking for a natural way to help them get a great nights sleep. Sleeptime Honey is designed to help you relax and support your mind and body while you get a good night’s sleep.

For a relaxing early evening drink it's hard to beat a warm mug of milk and honey, it's the perfect way to unwind after a hard days work especially during these cold winter nights, preparing us both mentally and physically for the day ahead.

Helping our digestive system

Honey may also be much easier than refined sugar on our digestive system. Due to its composition, regular sugar has to be ingested before being broken down. Bees add enzymes to honey, therefore the sugars are already partially broken down, making it easier to digest.

There is also research indicating that honey may help reduce symptoms associated with acid reflux. It suggests that acid reflux can happen due to radicals which damage cells lining the digestive tract. Consuming honey might play a role by limiting damage by removing free radicals.

Honey contains certain enzymes that can act as a catalyst in the digestion process helping to keep our overall digestive system ticking along smoothly. Honey contains anti-bacterial compounds that could prevent bacterial infections in the stomach. By boosting the immune system honey may help in preventing any stomach related disease in the future too.

Honey and our brain

Honey is good for the brain mainly due to its antioxidants that protect your neurons, boost blood flow to the brain and improve serotonin levels. There is also a group of plant antioxidants in honey called polyphenols that can help protect your brain from cellular damage and may help prevent memory loss, increasing both short-term and long-term memory.

It's well known that a lack of vitamins and minerals in your daily diet increases the chances of dementia. Honey can play an important role in making sure you get a daily boost of important minerals and vitamins.

Well-being and honey

Fluids are very important in helping maintain our immune systems- from moving nutrients around the bloodstream to lymph production for collecting and destroying bacteria. Warm water with a teaspoon of honey is delicious, warming and hydrating while also providing a welcome vitamin and energy boost too! Try a teaspoon of our flavoured honeys in a mug of warm water any time of the day, as an alternative to a cup of coffee or tea. It will help to keep you warm and hydrated while providing all the extra benefits of the honey.

As you can see a spoonful or two of honey a day can help boost our well-being. It can help us sleep well and improve our natural defences against illness. Honey can play an important role in helping us feel at our best mentally and physically. Of course honey is not a silver bullet and we still need to be mindful of our diets and overall health. However honey has shown be beneficial in so many ways, and for many people it has become an essential part of their well-being, both when active and asleep at night.