Controlling blood sugar: Diabetic patients who swapped out sugar for
honey had more stable blood sugar levels. Add it to tea or porridge.
Calming a cough: Adding some to a cup of tea has been shown to reduce
coughing. Honey works by soothing the throat, while methylxanthine, a
stimulant in caffeine, may expand airways, helping to reduce the hack.
Soothe burns: Some honey has bacteria-battling power because of a high
concentration of a compound called methyglyoxal. You can put it on burns
or minor wounds. Look for labels with a Unique Manuka Factor of above
10; that means it’s both medical-grade and edible.
YOUR SECRET SUGAR STASH
Your go-to sweet treat when you need a fix: Dark chocolate containing
greater than 60% cacao. It’s full of a group of antioxidants that has been
linked to reduced risk of blood clots, decreased blood pressure, better
moods, and memory boosts, among other benefits. It also contains
magnesium and may have some cancer-fighting properties. Because the
kind with 60% cacao or more is made of cocoa butter, and not palm or
coconut oils, it’s been shown to have a neutral effect on cholesterol, unlike
those two oils. Have a square of dark chocolate (30 grams or so). You’ll get
that sweet fix, but not such a sugar rush that you feel the need to gorge on a
lot.