Besides being incredibly delicious, naturally sweet honey offers a variety of health benefits. Since ancient times, honey has been used as a food and as a medicine, and in 2008, speakers at the First International Symposium on Honey and Human Health shared findings on the likely benefits of honey:
- Honey has been shown to be a more effective cough suppressant for children ages 2 to 18 than dextromethorphan
- Honey has been found to boost immunity
- Honey may improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity compared to other sweeteners
- Honey may promote better blood sugar control
- Some honey possess a large amount of friendly bacteria
- Honey has been shown to improve athletic performance
- Honey has been used topically as an antiseptic therapeutic agent for the treatment of burns, ulcers and wounds
- Honey contains antioxidants and flavonoids that may function as antibacterial agents