REDUCE DEPRESSION USING HONEY

Honey is a brown, sticky, sugar-saturated solution made by bees. Honey bees or forage bees collect nectar from flowers and add some enzymes to the nectar. Honey may help with stress, depression, and anxiety because it contains compounds that can reduce inflammation in the brain, support a healthy nervous system, improve cognition, and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.

Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits. Most ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Mayans, Romans, and Babylonians, used honey both for nutritional purposes and for its medicinal properties.

BEST TIME TO TAKE HONEY 

Usually the doctors recommend honey to be taken empty stomach early in the morning as it gives an instant kick and energy boost which is enough to counter an entire day. Many people believe that one of the benefits of honey in the morning is detoxification.

Those foods with high hot potency promote digestion and metabolism, as well as being energetic and light in the body, and they boost blood circulation. Honey is usually included in hot foods. 

Also, while going to bed, a spoonful of honey not only gives a good night's sleep but also helps in digestion and relaxation of mind and body. 

Here are some ways honey may help with stress, depression, and anxiety: 

Mood: Honey can help lift your mood and fight bad feelings. If you drink honey and warm water regularly, it might improve your heart health by lowering bad cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation. Studies show that honey's antioxidants may reduce the risk of heart problems by decreasing oxidative stress on the cardiovascular system. 

Sleep: Honey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that can help you sleep, which can help fight depression. 

Raw and unfiltered honey can hydrate your skin, soothe your throat, help heal wounds and sweeten everything it touches, but it can also help you get a sweet night's sleep. Raw honey, eaten just before bed, helps you snooze in two general ways :

1. It provides easy-to-access fuel for your brain throughout the night. Honey is more than just a sweet treat; it's a time-honored remedy with potential sleep-enhancing properties. 
2. By stabilizing blood sugar, supporting liver function, and promoting the release of melatonin, honey can help you drift off to sleep more easily. 

Antidepressant and anti-anxiety benefits: Honey may have antidepressant or anti-anxiety benefits. Honey, which contains a variety of active compounds beneficial to brain regulation and treats emotional and psychological disorders including depression. Honey is one of the natural products serving as an alternative medicine.

Honey contains small amounts of tryptophan, an amino acid precursor to serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter often called the "feel-good" chemical because of its role in regulating mood. While the amount of tryptophan in honey is relatively small, it could contribute to improved mood and reduced anxiety when consumed regularly. 

Antioxidant capability: Studies suggest that honey's antioxidant capability may reduce depressive symptoms in rats. The antioxidants in honey, particularly flavonoids, may reduce oxidative stress in the brain. 

Oxidative stress has been linked to various mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. By combating this stress, honey's antioxidants might improve mental health. Health benefits of eating a spoonful of honey everyday include diabetes management, cancer management, better heart health, and other benefits. 

TYPES OF HONEY 

Honey is widely classified throughout the world based on its origin, processing system, types of foraging bees, colour, and texture. That’s why there are so many varieties of honey available to us, and it is really difficult to say exactly how many different types of honey there are. 

Many factors affect the honey's flavor and color, but the major difference between each type revolves around the flower. That's why honey is usually named after this nectar source. When it comes to choosing the healthiest honey, you should look for one that is raw. 

Raw honeys are not pasteurized and bypass filtration, a process that may reduce its nutrients. 

IDEAL QUANTITY OF HONEY PER DAY 

Honey is still a form of sugar and intake should be moderate. The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more than 100 calories a day from added sugars; men no more than 150 calories a day. This is a little over two tablespoons for women and three tablespoons for men.

You can consume raw honey directly from the honeycomb, which is made from beeswax. Some health benefits may include improved liver function or heart health, but consuming large amounts may be harmful to your health. People have been keeping bees and eating their honey for thousands of years.

Honey can be a healthy substitute for refined sugar in cooking and baking. 

Nutritional Profile of Honey 

To understand how honey might impact mental health, it's essential to look at its nutritional composition: 

• Carbohydrates: Primarily fructose and glucose 
• Vitamins: Small amounts of B vitamins, vitamin C 
• Minerals: Including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc 
• Antioxidants: Flavonoids and phenolic acids 
• Enzymes: Such as glucose oxidase and invertase 

HOW TO CHECK PURITY OF HONEY 

Take a tablespoon of honey and mix it in a glass of water. If the honey is pure, it will lump together and settle at the bottom without readily dissolving. On the other hand, if it dissolves easily and blends uniformly with the water, it may indicate adulteration, possibly containing added moisture or syrups. 

Scientific Studies on Honey and Mental Health 

• A 2018 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that consumption of raw honey was associated with lower anxiety and depression scores in college students. 
• Research published in Nutrition Reviews in 2017 suggested that the antioxidants in honey might have neuroprotective effects, potentially benefiting mental health. 
• A 2014 study in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences found that Tualang honey, a specific type of honey, had anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects in stressed rats.

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