Dec

27

Manuka honey and heart health

Filed Under Manuka health benefits | 

Honey is Good for the Heart

by Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D.

Introduction: Historical Aspect of Honey: Honey has been used by ancient civilizations for at least 10,000 years. Reference has been made to honey at least 73 times in the King James Version of the Bible. The Buddhists monks use honey in their festival. In the Mediterranean Region, in particular in some parts of Greece, honey is used as a symbol of sweetness and for success in life. In ancient Egypt, honey was used as money to buy goods. It was also used to embalm the dead. In Western cultures it is used as a symbol of friendship and acquaintance. Islamic tradition strongly recommends honey for healing purposes.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in 2005 reported that China, Turkey and the US are top producers of natural honey. The main uses of honey today are: 1. Cooking. 2. Baking. 3. Spreads. 4. Beverages. 5. Sweeteners.

Definition of Honey: Honey is a sweet, viscous excaudate produced by honey bees derived from the nectar of flowers. Nectar is high in water and natural yeast. Regurgitation of nectar a number of times by bees leads to its partial digestion followed by evaporation of water concentrates sugar present and assists in the formation of honey.

Types of Honey: Honey can be classified into different types based on the source, colour, flavour, density or geographic region. The different types of honey are discussed below: 1. Monofloral Honey. This is honey derived from one type of flower. In practice it is very difficult to contain bees to a small portion and any honey will have additional nectar from other flower types. Typical examples of monofloral honeys are clover, buckwheat, manuka, tupelo, sage, orange blossom and eucalyptus. 2. Polyfloral Honey. This honey is derived from nectar of many types of flowers. 3. Honeydew Honey. This is honey consisting of sweet secretions of aphids or other plant sap-sucking insects. It has a stronger flavor and contains a much larger proportion of indigestibles and is low in proteins. 4. Blended Honey. This includes most of the commercially available honey sold on the market. It may consist of two or more honeys.

Medicinal Uses Of Honey: Honey has been used for at least 2700 years to treat a wide range of medical ailments such as diabetic ulcers, colitis, wounds, swelling, scarring, sore throats, coughs, pharyngitis, laryngitis and allergies. It is believed that that ability of honey to treat many of these ailments is due to its antimicrobial properties. These properties are the result of low water activity, hydrogen peroxide effect and high acidity.

Typical Analysis Of Honey: Reviewing the chemical composition of honey indicates that honey provides energy, water, minerals and vitamins.

100 g Of Honey Contains: 1. Fructose: 38 %. 2. Glucose: 31 %. 3. Sucrose: 1 %. 4. Water: 17 %. 5. Proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals: 0.5 % 6. Other sugars (maltose, melezitose): 9 % 7. Ash: 0.17 %. 8. Other: 3.38 %. 9. Density: 1.36 kg/liter. 10. Kilocalories: 304.

Vitamin & Minerals In Honey Required For A Health Heart: A more in-depth analysis of honey reveals that it contains vitamins and minerals that are good for the maintenance of a healthy heart. Niacin or vitamin B3 (<0.36 mg in 100g honey) can help in reducing total cholesterol levels. Vitamin C (2.4 mg in 100 g honey) works with vitamin B1 to lower triglyceride levels and promotes heart strength. Calcium (9.20 mg in 100 g honey) assists in heart function by assisting in molecular physiology of cardiac muscle. Magnesium (3.50 mg in 100 g honey) stabilizes the heart’s electrical system and helps with heart problems. Folic acid or vitamin B9 (assists the body in removing homocysteine from the blood. Vitamin B6 (<0.32 mg in 100 g honey) together with B12 and B9 helps reduce homocysteine. Vitamin B12 assists in reducing homocysteine. The overall effect of honey is lowering of cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine and CRP levels thus preventing the formation of plaques in arteries thus preventing or reducing heart disease.

Conclusion: Honey is considered as an ideal food according to the Hippocratian definition of an ideal food that states: ‘Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food’. Honey contains carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and other trace substances that are beneficial to the body, in particular the heart. The use of honey in the diet can have beneficial effects on health. It is essential that with all foods or supplements that claim to have beneficial affects on the heart require consultation and approval by a qualified medical professional before taking them.

References: 1. http://www.honey.com 2. http://www.honeybook.net 3. http://www.sugaralliance.org 4. http://www.foa.org 5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 6. http://www.bio.waikao.ac.nz/honey 7. http://www..news.wisc.edu 8. http://www.guardian.co.uk


About the author: Dr. Pattron is a Public Health Scientist and Consultant.

Comments

One Response to “Manuka honey and heart health”

  1. Ginny on March 2nd, 2008 10:24 pm

    Would using Manuka Honey daily help with congestive heart failure and if so, what would be the recommended amount to take each day. Am on lasix and toprol xl and want to get off of them.
    thanks

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