For people with "three highs", does drinking honey have any health benefits? Be careful that eating too much sugar may be harmful

A reader left a message to Huazi, saying that he heard a honey seller in a market near his home say that honey contains more than 100 nutrients, including sugar, protein, minerals, amino acids and other substances needed by the human body. Moreover, the sugar contained in honey can be directly absorbed by the human body and has a good nourishing effect. It is very suitable for people with heart disease, high blood pressure, constipation, and poor gastrointestinal function. It can be used as an auxiliary treatment and has health benefits.

The reader was very excited but a little worried and wanted to ask Huazi if honey really has such a good effect. Huazi told him that honey is indeed a nutritious food, but it is a bit far-fetched to say that it has health benefits, and the harm caused by excessive intake of sugar in honey cannot be ignored.

1. Honey is a high-sugar food Honey tastes very sweet because most of it is sugar. Bees convert the nectar, pollen and other substances they collect into fructose and glucose through their own digestive enzymes. Fructose and glucose account for about 65-80% of honey, and there is less than 5% sucrose, less than 20% water, and other non-sugar substances such as minerals, pollen particles, organic acids, plant debris, etc. account for about 5%.

Affected by different nectar plants, different types of honey have different fructose and glucose contents. Honey with a high fructose content is a viscous liquid, while glucose will crystallize, so honey with a high glucose content will precipitate crystals and appear semi-solid.

2. Fructose makes people fatter. The fructose and glucose in honey are both monosaccharides and can be directly absorbed by the human body. Glucose is more familiar to everyone. It is the main energy source for the human body and is regulated and controlled by insulin. The metabolic process of fructose in the human body does not require the participation of insulin. If a small amount is consumed, it will be converted into glucose under the action of biological enzymes and used by the human body. However, if a large amount of fructose is consumed, it will be stored as glycogen and converted into triglycerides to synthesize fat.

Studies have found that the rate at which fructose is converted into triglycerides is higher than that of glucose, which means that the intake of fructose is more likely to make people fat than glucose. Fructose and glucose are the main components of honey. Excessive consumption of honey will increase body fat and increase cardiovascular risks. Therefore, people with "three highs" should try to eat less honey.

3. Can honey be used as a laxative? The most common function of honey is to be used as a laxative. This is because the human body absorbs fructose relatively slowly. After consuming a large amount of honey, the fructose in the honey will increase the osmotic pressure in the intestine, absorb water, and soften the stool. At the same time, fructose, under the action of intestinal bacteria, will produce organic acids, stimulate the intestinal wall, accelerate intestinal peristalsis, and have a laxative effect. In addition, some people are intolerant to fructose and have poor absorption of fructose, so the laxative effect will be better.

But the problem is that eating too little honey is useless, while eating too much honey will make you fat and increase the burden on your body. This approach of replacing one problem with another is actually not worth the loss. In fact, if you want to prevent constipation, you can increase your intake of dietary fiber, ensure adequate diet, increase exercise, and develop a habit of regular bowel movements, which is more effective and healthier than drinking honey.

4. Can honey be used to relieve cough? Another common use of honey is to relieve cough. This effect has a certain basis, because the human body coughs when the nerve endings in the airway feel stimulation and transmit it to the cough center. The cough center then commands the muscles related to coughing to move and produce coughing movements. The purpose is to expel foreign objects in the airway and eliminate stimulation. Due to its viscosity, honey can cover the mucous membrane of the throat, reduce the sensitivity of the peripheral nerves, and weaken the cough reflex.

However, the effect of using honey to relieve cough is often unsatisfactory, because honey will not stay on the mucous membrane for a long time, and honey can only cover a small piece of mucous membrane in the pharynx and cannot enter the airway. If honey accidentally enters the airway, it will become a "foreign body" and cause severe choking. In fact, some cough suppressants are added to "refined honey" for the purpose of preservation. Because high-concentration sugar solutions will produce hypertonic dehydration effects and inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

In summary, honey is a nutritious, high-sugar food. Eating a small amount can be used as a daily diet adjustment, but the health benefits are limited. Eating a large amount will cause harm due to excessive intake of sugar. People with "three highs" and cardiovascular risks are not recommended to eat honey. People who like to eat honey should also try it lightly and not eat it in large quantities. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.