Benefits of honey

"And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build: Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colours, in which there is healing for men; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect. (Surat an-Nahl, 68-69)

 

Honey is a vital food source from a tiny insect. Its contain so many benefits for human being especially in healing process. Rasulullah s.a.w. had told us of the healing found within honey. Not only that, Al-Quran also had stated about it.

 

A man came to the Rasulullah s.a.w. because his brother had a stomach disorder. Rasulullah said: "Let him drink honey." The man returned a second time complaining that no improvement happened in his brother’s case, and again Rasulullah s.a.w. responded: "Let him drink honey." The man returned again, and said: "I have done that but to no avail." Thereupon Rasulullah s.a.w. responded: "Allah has said the truth, but your brother's stomach has told a lie. Let him drink honey." He drank it and was cured (Al-Bukhari).

 

According to research, honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, phosphate and iron. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen. Besides, copper, iodine, and zinc also exist in it in small quantities.

Based on studies and articles from all over the world, benefits or advantages that we can gain from honey are:

1.  Easily digest: Sugar molecules in honey can convert into other sugar for example like fructose to glucose.Easily digested by the most sensitive stomachs despite its high acid contents.
2. Healing wounds: Glucose oxidase enzyme from honey slowly release the antiseptic hydrogen peroxide at a sufficient level to be effective against bacteria but not tissue damaging. It alsi draws body fluids and nutrients to the area and so assists cell growth and prevents a scar forming by drying out of the wounds.
3. Good source of antioxcidents: It plays a big role in prevention of cancer as well as heart disease.
4. Support blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.
5. Low calorie: When it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.
6. Rapidly diffuses through the blood: When accompanied by mild water, honey diffuses into the bloodstream in 7 minutes. Its free sugar molecules make the brain function better since the brain is the largest consumer of sugar, thus, reduces fatigue.
7. Good for skin: It has the ability to attract water. You can use honey instead of alpha hydroxy masks because of its high content of the acid. It is also safe for sensitive skin.
8. Antibacterial property: This bacteria-killing property of honey is named the "inhibition effect." Experiments conducted on honey show that its antibacterial property increases twofold when it is diluted in water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for them — as if they know this feature of honey.

In Bukhari (Volume 7: Book 65), Aisha r.a. narrates that, "Allah s.w.t. used to love sweet edible things and honey."