Honey is one of the most popular natural sweeteners. Honey is a mixture of sugars, water, and natural enzymes and acids that occur in the nectar of flowers. Honey can be crystallized, but it is usually not as hard as sugar. Honey has been used as a natural sweetener for thousands of years. Honey is also a food source for bees, and is the reason for their thriving population.
Preventing acid reflux
Honey might help ward off acid reflux. A 2017 reviewTrusted Source of honey’s health effects proposed that honey may help line the esophagus and stomach, possibly reducing the upward flow of stomach acid and undigested food. This suggestion, however, was not supported by clinical research.
The upward flow of stomach acid can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease, which can involve inflammation, acid reflux, and heartburn.
Fighting infections
A 2018 reviewTrusted Source found that Manuka honey can kill bacteria because it contains properties such as hydrogen peroxide and defensin-1 proteins. The authors concluded that Manuka honey could have greater antibacterial activity than other types of honey.
A 2016 in vitrostudyTrusted Source likewise confirmed Manuka honey’s antibacterial effects.
Manuka honey is available for purchase online.
Relieving cold and cough symptoms
A 2012 study found that honey was more effective than a placebo at reducing children’s coughs during the night.
Two years later, another studyTrusted Source evaluated whether a honey and milk solution could treat acute coughs in children. The authors concluded that the solution appeared to be at least as effective as two over-the-counter products marketed for this purpose.
Many honey-based cold remedies are available for purchase online.
