What makes honey, a super-food for winter?

In the list of taste-enhancers that you can keep craving more, honey will surely be included, wouldn't it?

Honey is undeniably a sweet delight. Its taste can mesmerize you with rich flavour. It is the best natural sweetener and has an exceptional flavour which is the star ingredient of many delicacies. It can make regular desserts, sweets, breakfasts, shakes or refreshing drinks honey can make everything exciting. You can use the intense flavour of honey as an ingredient in desserts or sweet dishes, as a spread on toast, as a seasoning in breakfast, and as a health supplement in green tea, lukewarm water or milk.

If you are consuming honey for its delightful flavour, unknowingly you are consuming its essential nutrients. This sweet, thick and delicious liquid, made by Honey Bees is super rich in healthy antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Owing to its excellent nutrient profile, Honey is said to be the Superfood, especially for winter. Cold days require extra care and honey can help you achieve your winter fitness goals. 

Here are a few of the many benefits of honey that can help you to stay fit and healthy all winter long.

Benefits of Honey in Winter:

• Aids in weight loss:

Honey can be a very reliable partner in your weight loss journey. Though honey is a bit high in calories, its low glycemic load can help you with weight management. Honey with lukewarm water in the morning is the best way to get ready for the day as it controls appetite and helps you to stay away from carbs and shed some kilos. It is believed that consuming honey before bed can let your body burn fat, especially in the early sleep hours.

• Boosts energy levels:

Along with chilling cold days, winter also brings a variety of ailments with it. With low immunity, one can easily become susceptible to winter sickness. Honey is a natural immunity enhancer. Its attractive nutritional content provides an instant boost to energy.  Honey is a healthier alternative to other sugar types but has a good glucose level. Glucose gets easily absorbed by the blood and in turn, offers an instant energy boost. For the same reason, Honey is advised for improving athletic performance.

• Relieves sore throat and cold.

For ages, Honey has been used for curing cough, cold and flu. Honey is in fact recommended in Ayurveda as a potent cure for winter ailments. It's because of its rich antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Honey provides relief from such respiratory infections and defends you from winter sickness. Honey as a remedy for cold and cough is very beneficial for small children. You can make home remedies with honey by blending it with other ingredients. You can mix honey with ginger juice for instant relief from congestion. Honey with cinnamon powder cures long-standing cough.

• Heals wounds naturally.

Many of you might be unaware of this but yes, honey is also a natural healer. Honey has antibiotic properties. Applying honey topically on wounds and burns results in faster healing. 

• Keeps your skin soft and glowing. 

Honey is the natural and best solution for tackling winter dry skin. Its humectant qualities are widely acclaimed for their amazing beauty benefits. Honey moisturizes the skin by adding much-needed hydration to the skin. Hydrated skin shines radiantly and has unmatched smoothness. 

For winter glowing skin, you can make a DIY pack with honey. Take 2 tablespoons of gram flour, ½ teaspoon of lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix them well and apply the paste to the desired area. Let the paste dry for 12-15 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.

• Tames the frizz:

The humectant properties of Honey are not only good for your skin but can also do wonders for your scalp and hair health. It restores dry scalp and cures normal winter problems like frizzy hair, dandruff and unmanageable hair. Masks made with honey add softness to your hair.

Flavours of Honey:

Here are a few Honey varieties that you should try this winter:

• Ajwain Honey:

Ajwain Honey has an exquisite flavour, thick consistency and a mild sweet taste.

• Lychee Honey:

Lychee Honey has a sweet, intense and buttery flavour with a delicate aroma.

• Coffee honey:

Coffee honey has a distinctive, mild taste that is neither too sweet nor bitter with a slight peppery touch.

• Berry Honey:

Berry Honey has an exceptional flavour, that can please your taste buds.

• Dark Forest Honey:

Dark Forest Honey has a strong and little sweet flavour, unlike its other varieties.

Summing it up:

The best thing about honey is that it serves delicious flavour along with nutrients. It is a sweet delight and has several health benefits. It can give you an immunity boost and keep you fit and healthy. Also, there are many ways of consuming honey. 

To grab the full benefits, be sure to buy the right quality from a recognised source.