Honey, with its unique sweet flavor, is widely used not only as a natural sweetener in various dishes, but also as a main ingredient in various processed foods such as bread, sweets, drinks, and jams. It is known to help strengthen immunity, sterilize, and prevent various respiratory diseases due to the effects of various physiologically active substances such as various amino acids, vitamins, and minerals along with abundant carbohydrates. Due to the excellent effects of honey, it was called the food of the gods in ancient Greece and has been used a lot as a remedy for various diseases. It is divided into various types according to the collection method and the type of harvested food, and it is known that there are slight differences in taste, viscosity, and nutrients. Honeydew honey, which is one of these types of honey, refers to honey collected and stored by insects belonging to the family Hemiptera, aphids, and caterpillars, including cicadas belonging to the order Hemiptera, through tree sap, which is a natural protection material for plants. Ordinary honey is made by bees based on sucrose secreted from the wheat glands of flowers. However, since Honeydew honey is extracted from oak trees belonging to the family Oak family, it has a darker color and higher viscosity than general honey, and it can be said that it is characterized by a subtle sweetness. It can be said that the meaning of nectar, which means ‘sweet dew’, is due to the method extracted from tree sap, which is different from ordinary honey. Honeydew honey is said to be most famous for being collected from Greece, which is famous for its Mediterranean diet. Greece has an optimal climatic condition for beekeeping, with an average annual temperature of 19℃, so the collected honey is collectively referred to as Greek honey. Honeydew honey is the representative honey of Greek honey and is known to have various beneficial effects on the body because it contains nutrients in its natural state that are not processed. Now, let’s take a closer look at the main effects, side effects, and various information related to how to eat nectar honey.
Honeydew honey main benefits
1. Antioxidant action
Honeydew honey is said to be rich in flavonoids such as apigenin as well as polyphenol-based tannins with strong antioxidant power. It is said that these abundant antioxidants have an effective effect on enhancing the immune system that protects the body from free radicals that cause damage to cells and protects the body from various viruses and pathogens.
In addition, the oxidative stress caused by free radicals also acts as the main culprit of rapid aging, and the excellent antioxidant action of the abundant antioxidants in Honeydew honey is known to help slow the rapid aging process.
2. Sterilization
Various antioxidants such as tannin and apigenin mentioned above have beneficial effects on sterilization and detoxification. In particular, due to the excellent sterilization effect of Honeydew honey, it has been widely used as a treatment for various infectious diseases, trauma infections, and wound healing since ancient times. Honeydew honey is also known to help suppress excessive inflammation that is the cause of various chronic and metabolic diseases.
3. Anticancer effect
Honeydew honey reduces the risk of cancer and has a beneficial effect on anticancer activity. It is known that apigenin, a powerful antioxidant contained in honeydew honey, induces self-destruction of cancer cells while leaving normal cells intact, so it can help prevent cancer by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. The cancer-preventing effect of Honeydew honey has been confirmed by research results that slowed the growth of cancer cells through animal experiments.
4. Gastrointestinal health
Honeydew honey is rich in oligosaccharides composed of polysaccharides. This rich oligosaccharide can serve as food for beneficial intestinal bacteria, helping to improve the intestinal environment and promote overall intestinal health. In particular, since the intestine is related to more than 70% of the immunity of our body, it helps to improve immunity with the effect of promoting intestinal health. Honeydew honey is also known to help inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, which is known as a major risk factor for various gastrointestinal diseases, including gastric ulcer.
5. Suppression of rapid rise in blood sugar
Intake of one or two monosaccharides and disaccharides has the advantage of supplying the body with the energy it needs by quickly raising blood sugar because the absorption and decomposition rate in the body is fast. However, this rapidly elevated blood sugar is the main factor that disrupts the normal secretion of insulin. Unlike monosaccharides and disaccharides, Honeydew honey consists of polysaccharides that take longer to digest and absorb. As it takes time for digestion, blood sugar rises slowly, so that it does not disturb the normal secretion of insulin.
Honeydew honey side effects and how to take it
Although it is known that there are no special side effects of honeydew honey, it is said that if consumed in excess, symptoms such as abdominal pain and headache may occur. Therefore, it is recommended to consume 1 to 3 teaspoons, which is known as the recommended daily intake. Also, if you have a honey-related allergy, you should be careful as it can cause problems.
Honeydew honey can be consumed with a teaspoon or added to water, milk, or yogurt. There is a risk of loss of nutrients when eating in hot water, so putting it in lukewarm water is a good way to eat. Also, please note that if you put it in milk, you can expect a better effect on the survival of beneficial bacteria.
