Honey has long been used as an ingredient in natural skincare products and even a remedy for colds, but recent studies reveal that getting your daily dose of the sweet stuff may also have health benefits.

Touted for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, honey has been shown to help wounds heal faster. It can also be useful for allergy season by helping to soothe swollen nasal passages and preventing coughing.

Sweet Benefits of Honey

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help prevent free radicals from causing damage in your body. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that have lost an electron, making them unstable. They can cause serious damage to your cells, which makes them important to avoid.

Antibacterial

Not only is honey full of antioxidants, it’s also rich in antibacterial properties. The chemical hydrogen peroxide—which we produce naturally to fight off bacteria—can actually be found in small amounts within honey. Studies have also shown that dark honeys contain more antibacterial properties than lighter honeys, so looking for raw honey is definitely recommended!

Soothes Allergies

Many people find relief from their allergies thanks to the natural antihistamine found in honey.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties:

Honey is a great source of antioxidants, which fight oxidative stress in the body, a major cause of inflammation. Honey’s anti-inflammatory properties can be attributed to its high level of flavonoids, which inhibit the action of pro-inflammatory agents in the body. These flavonoids are found mainly in the pollen harvested by bees to produce honey.

May Fight Coughs & Sore Throats

The same anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation can help soothe irritated tissues in your throat and nose, reducing your coughing and sneezing. Honey also helps alleviate symptoms of upper respiratory infections by killing bacteria that cause these infections. It may also reduce pain from sore throats caused by laryngitis and pharyngitis because it contains fatty acids that coat the throat and protect it from irritation caused by coughs or vomiting.