Can honey lower your cholesterol level? New research from Toronto University stirs the pot
Known as a favored supplement to food, honey serves as an exceptional choice to enhance the flavor of tea, coffee, yogurt, desserts, healthy smoothies, and even various meat dishes.
Bees create this substance that, apart from its delicious taste, showcases numerous benefits for overall health, as verified by scientists from the prominent university based in Toronto. The experts scrutinised the data from eighteen controlled studies that involved over 1100 participants.
The participants, who were health-conscious and maintained a diet where added sugar comprised 10 percent of the daily caloric intake, consumed an average of two teaspoons (1.4 ounces) of honey each day. Upon evaluation, the researchers found that honey aided in reducing fasting plasma glucose concentration, alongside decreasing bad LDL cholesterol levels. Furthermore, it also seems that this bee nectar positively impacts the levels of good HDL cholesterol in the blood. The scientists from Canada noted that the immense health benefits are predominantly extracted from the regular consumption of raw single-flower honey, like clover or acacia. The prime author of the studies, Tauseef Khan, expressed his surprise at how honey proved to be a healthier alternative to sugar, considering their findings published in the medical journal, "Nutrition Reviews".
"Even though honey is roughly 80 percent sugar, it encompasses both common and rare sugars, along with proteins, organic acids, and other bioactive elements that have a positive impact on our health" - the scientist concluded.
It's worth noting that honey should not be mixed into hot tea that's above 149 degrees Fahrenheit, as it compromises many of its beneficial qualities.
