Honey is one of nature's most splendid gift to humankind. It possesses unique nutritional and medicinal properties. Recently while reading H.K. Bakhru's book " Foods that Heals" there is one topic on Honey too is very knowledgeable and informational. Honey which known as Shahad in India. It is a semi- translucent liquid of a light yellowish-brown color. It has automatic odour and sweet acrid taste. Honey bees are alone capable of making honey and honey comb.
History of Honey
Honey has been used for several thousand years as an ingredient for medicines. it formed the basis of many medical preparation. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribed it 2,000 years ago to is patients as a remedy for several ailments and himself also used it. Honey retains it chemical value for several years without change.
Food Value
The sugars in honey are glucose, fructose and sucrose. Glucose is the simplest of the sugar. It occurs in the blood of live animals, in fruit and vegetable juice. Its restores the oxygen that is replaced by lactic and acid when fatigue set in. Fructose which is also known as levulose or grape sugar, crystallizes more easily than glucose and builds up tissues. Sucrose is a combination of glucose and fructose.. Dextrine, which is a gummy substance, is found in small amount in Honey but it makes honey so digestible.
Honey contains all 28 amino-acids, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes. 14 fatty acids and 11 carbohydrates. But much of these nutritive quantities are lost by heating the honey for commercial use.
Honey and its food and minerals value in percentage
Food Value | Minerals and Vitamins Value | ||
Moisture | 20% | Calcium | 5mg |
Protein | 0.3% | Phosphorus | 16mg |
Minerals | 0.2% | Iron | 0.9mg |
Carbohydrates | 79.5% | Vitamin C | 4 mg |
Small amounts of Vitamin B Complex | |||
Calorific Value | 319 |
So eat honey as much as you can. It is really a god gift for humankind. But while purchasing honey be careful for mischievous brand and mischievous Honey supplier always buy honey from reputed forms and of reputed brand honey. Even you can buy from online shop like Amazon.. To know more about honey and honey bees you can buy Care & Keeping in Honey bees it is written by N.E Gary and The Classic Beekeeper manual these books are available on Amazon.com