<p>If you are wondering how to make your life extra sweet, add some honey. “Honey is the sweetest way to get your daily dose of essential nutrients. It is the most complete natural food and provides instantaneous replenishment of energy losses,” explained Dr Shashidhara G. of the Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (IAIM), Bangalore, at the recently concluded Pollinator 1 – The Bee Festival – at the Hyatt Regency, Chennai. However, like all good things, it should be had in small doses (See ‘Sweet Dose’). Here’s why a spoonful of honey daily is going to make your life sweeter and healthier.<br /><br />Honey is a natural sweetener with loads of antioxidants. At the same time, it is free of fat and cholesterol. What’s more, it is the ideal fuel for burning our body fat stores while we sleep due to its 1:1 ratio of fructose and glucose. Honey reduces fat accumulations in our cardiovascular system. </p><table width="100" cellspacing="7" cellpadding="7" border="1" align="right"><tbody><tr><td><img width="200" vspace="7" hspace="7" height="160" alt="" src="/image/image_gallery?uuid=56b8a23a-2a01-4200-8f27-bbc5a1444558&groupId=222922&t=1344591792724" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>“It is much better than refined sugar, which has no nutritional value and promotes obesity,” says Shashidhara.<br /><br />It’s rich in several vitamins and minerals, making it a healthy option. It contains vitamins such as B6, thiamine, niacin, riboflavine, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids and minerals, including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.<br /><br />If you are planning to lose weight, mix a spoon of honey with some lemon juice and warm water and take it as a wake-up drink every morning on an empty stomach. It mobilises the extra deposited fat in the body, allowing it to be utilised as energy for normal functions and purifying the blood as a result. The same tonic can be had after an oily meal as it helps with digestion. Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI), meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better digestion.<br /><br />The antioxidants in honey help in strengthening your immunity.<br /><br />A spoon of honey mixed with hot water is a good cure for cough.<br /><br />Applying honey on a burn relieves pain and heals the wound faster with minimal scarring.<br /><br />Honey is a great natural source of carbohydrates, providing strength and energy. Its natural fruit sugars, fructose and glucose play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Further, it helps maintain blood sugar levels, in muscle recuperation and with glycogen restoration after a workout.<br /><br />Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that makes it a natural antiseptic.<br /><br />Have some honey with milk for your natural beauty treatment. Not only is it healthy, it’s supposed to make your skin smoother.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: normal; ">(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 20-08-2012)</span> <br /><br /> </p>
