The fact that honey - a valuable product with nutritional and healing properties, mankind has known since ancient times. Ancient Greek philosophers called it "liquid gold" in view of great value, and the healers used to treat a variety of different diseases. Indeed, treatment with such a remedy is pleasant for adults and children, and many people get honey every day just for the sake of gastronomic pleasure. However, possessing a mass of useful properties, this product can in some cases harm health, because, like any medicine, honey has its contraindications and dosage.
Contraindications to the use of honey
- Individual intolerance. Some people can not use honey because of excessive sensitivity to this product. As a rule, such people have allergic reactions to all products of beekeeping. But sometimes intolerance is manifested only to a certain kind of honey. Undesirable reactions to honey are manifested in the form of skin rashes, a runny nose, nausea, dizziness, intestinal disorders. In severe cases, after taking honey, anaphylactic shock can develop.
- Diabetes. People with this disease should use caution with honey, after consulting with a doctor. Also, diabetics are advised to eat honey along with honeycombs. This is due to the fact that the wax prevents the rapid absorption of fructose and glucose into the bloodstream, so a sharp jump in sugar will not occur.
- Emphysema of the lungs, bronchial asthma, myocarditis, pulmonary tuberculosis, valvular heart disease. The listed diseases are a contraindication to carrying out inhalations with honey.
- A diet with a restriction of carbohydrates. Because carbohydrates are the main components of honey, the use of this product is contraindicated in patients who recommend a low-carbohydrate diet.
Temporary contraindications for the use of honey:
- exacerbation of peptic ulcer;
- acute gastritis ;
- acute pancreatitis ;
- exacerbation of cholelithiasis and urolithiasis;
- increase in body temperature above 38 ° C.
When does honey turn into poison?
With strong heating (when melting crystallized honey, adding to hot tea, cooking baking, etc.), honey loses almost all the useful properties, because biologically active substances and enzymes are destroyed. In addition, during the decomposition of sugars, which occurs at a high temperature, it produces oxymethylfurfural. It is a toxic substance that can accumulate in the body and gradually poison it. Therefore, it is not necessary to subject this product to heat treatment, and also to use molten honey.
Keep in mind that high-quality honey can not stay in a liquid state for a long time, it gradually crystallizes (except for honey from a white acacia). If in the winter you see liquid honey on sale, then this indicates its falsification or severe overheating.
Therapeutic norms of honey consumption
The daily dose of honey for an adult is 100 g (maximum - 200 g). The recommended norm for children is one teaspoon (about 30 g). This amount should be divided into three doses during the day. To consume honey is best for 1,5 - 2 hours before a meal or 3 hours after a meal.
For medicinal purposes honey is taken in a dissolved form, since the penetration of its ingredients into the blood, and then into the cells of the body, is greatly accelerated. Honey can be dissolved in slightly warm water, tea, milk. When you use this product in the recommended dosage and in the absence of contraindications, it will not cause harm.