Table of Contents
Most people do not think much about the benefits of healthy diets when kids are involved. They tend to think that healthy diets just help them lose weight or keep it off for a while and usually focus on the negative aspects of it such as portion control, or the amount of food that they eat. But the benefits of healthy diets for kids can be great if you allow them to have some variety.
A major benefit of healthy kids’ diets is that they have a better chance of staying healthy longer than their peers. Because they have a smaller body mass index, they need fewer calories to stay active. This helps them to burn those calories more efficiently which keeps them from storing them as fat and leads to faster weight loss.1 Another great benefit of kids’ diets is that they can develop physical activities that a young adult may not be able to do because they do not have the upper body strength to do so. As a result of their reduced size and muscle tone they can play sports and even do some light bodybuilding if they wish.2
However, it is also important to remember that kids need to eat healthy diets just like anyone else. They need balanced diets with plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as plenty of lean protein. Adequate amounts of fiber should also be present in their diets as should plenty of water and other liquids. The proper amount of rest between meals is also very important and should be kept to a minimum. If kids get adequate exercise they will not feel hungry or bored in between meals and this will help them to reduce weight as well as keep it off.3
What is Raw Honey?
Honey is a tasty, sticky liquid food substance produced by honey bees and other related insects, including certain stingless bees. Honey is produced by bees from the honey secretions or by regurgitation. The process produces oily honey that may be further processed into syrup or caramels. Raw honey is the honey obtained from the honeycomb without any added substances and is often said to have the best flavor.4
Raw honey is one of nature’s sweetest creations. It is light golden honey that has a honey-like freshness that some compare to ice cream or cake. Raw honey is most commonly found in its raw form as a granule, a powdery substance that has no noticeable sweetness, although some varieties do have a slight honey flavor that may be enhanced with various extracts.5
Honey may be collected from any source but raw honey is the purest and most concentrated form. The only way to assure raw honey’s freshness is to heat it at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Raw unprocessed honey is usually sold in its raw state, in a container that is not heated, for immediate consumption; however, most commercial honey is pasteurized and heated before packaging for sale. Beekeepers who raise honeybee colonies on their property for honey production must also Heat their honeybees to keep the honey fresh during shipment.
The Benefits of Raw Honey – A Food You Can Rely On
Many people like raw honey because they are surprised at just how many raw honey benefits there are. Honey is a versatile food that provides a host of health benefits when eaten in its unprocessed raw form. Raw honey is honey that has not been heated to a temperature above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and is produced by local bees by extracting honey from the nectar they gather in various places throughout the year. You can add honey to any number of recipes, including soaps, soups, stews, and other foods and drinks.
Raw honey is a rich source of enzymes that help your body to digest the food you eat much more quickly and efficiently. It helps with everything from poor digestion to insomnia to seasonal allergies to even weight loss. Switching over to raw honey can even aid weight loss when compared to standard diets containing high fructose corn syrup or sugar. And raw honey is great for your digestive system, especially the digestive system of the young and the elderly.6
There are many instances throughout history where raw honey has been used to heal various wounds. In fact, it is one of nature’s most powerful antibiotics — a wonder drug that has been known to completely cure severe bacterial infections without any pain, side effects, or expense. Raw honey is a very powerful antibacterial agent that is excellent in fighting the bacteria that cause a variety of skin infections, such as acne, diaper rash, and even herpes outbreaks.7 Raw honey also helps to treat athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, shingles, and a host of other skin infections. Plus, raw honey has antibacterial properties that fight the fungus that causes candida, a yeast infection that can be extremely harmful to your health if you aren’t careful.
Honey can even be beneficial in relieving and treating heart disease, including coronary artery disease. Raw honey contains antioxidants and the same properties that make honey a good antibacterial – which are anti-inflammatory agents. These agents are what gives honey the power to fight off and relieve heart disease.8 Raw honey has proven to be an effective treatment for angina, chest pains, diarrhea, dysentery, heartburn, and even coughs. Raw honey has also been widely used to treat upset stomach, rheumatism, influenza, the common cold, the flu, herpes, the flu virus, and ulcers. And for the treatment of allergies, raw honey proves extremely effective against many different types of allergies, including dust mites, mold, and mildew.9
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of raw honey is its ability to produce its own antibacterial agents to fight off invading bacteria and fungi. The active ingredient in raw honey is called monosodium glutamate, which is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. Glutamate has antibacterial and antifungal properties that are almost identical to those found in popular over-the-counter antibacterial medications such as Clindamycin and Flagyl.10 It’s not entirely clear how raw honey can work as an antibacterial agent since our bodies are able to create these antibacterial compounds on our own. The benefits of raw honey are virtually endless.
Is Honey Safe For Kids To Eat?
Is honey safe for kids to eat? Kids have very different nutritional needs than adults. So, honey may be a healthy snack for your toddler, but if you want to give it to your young child as a sweet treat, be aware of possible dangers in giving honey to children under the age of one. Even though honey has many amazing benefits for good health, did you realize that honey isn’t completely safe for babies under the age of one? Here are some facts that will surprise you.11
While using honey sweeteners can provide many wonderful benefits to your baby, it’s important to keep in mind that too much honey can cause negative side effects for your little one, particularly if you are using honey as a thickener or in baking recipes. Overusing honey can cause your toddler to be irritable, nervous, and overwhelmed, and may even cause some health problems. If you give your child honey that is a lot of honey, for example, instead of leaving it out on a treat, you run the risk of the honey getting into his eyes and irritating them. While you should carefully read the food and bottle labels when you buy honey to put into your child’s bottles, it’s a good idea to read everything that honey contains.12
For example, strawberries and yogurt are sweetened with natural sugars, whereas honey is a concentrated form of sugar that you can use to thicken soups and sauces, or as a sauce in your favorite dishes. While it’s a good idea to use honey as a sugar alternative, you should be aware of the dangers of giving your child honey, especially if he has any allergies.13 Therefore, if you are going to give your child honey to tempt his sweet tooth, be sure to take the precautions necessary to keep him safe.
The Benefits of Honey For Kids
Do you know that honey is considered the best medicine for your kids? Honey is an important ingredient in the treatment of infants who are suffering from gas, colic, constipation, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and reflux. It also provides relief to those children who are suffering from gas, indigestion, and chronic flatulence.
Honey is also helpful in treating indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux. By using honey as a medicine, you can also reduce the risk of developing cancer in your child. Honey treatments are effective natural remedies to treat various gastrointestinal diseases such as cuts, burns, bruises, nasal congestion, colds, sinusitis, sore throats, and much more.14 If you are interested to learn how to use honey treatments for healing various health conditions, then read on further.15
Honey is one of the best sources of calcium and magnesium. Kids need a sufficient amount of these minerals for growing strong and healthy muscles.16 You can also add honey to your child’s diet for getting the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals. There are lots of benefits of honey for kids but lots of dangerous contaminants are present in our water. If we add honey to the drinking water, there is no way that the minerals will remain in the drinking water.
Image Credits
Healthline / November 15, 2019
Vast Store / 2021
Twitter / January 26, 2018
Skoolopedia / 2021
1 “About Child & Teen BMI | Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical ….” 17 Mar. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/about_childrens_bmi.html Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
2 “Normal Diet for Children – 1 to 11 Years of Age – What You Need to ….” 2 Aug. 2021, https://www.drugs.com/cg/normal-diet-for-children-1-to-11-years-of-age.html Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
3 “These Are the Best Forms of Lean Protein You Can Eat | Eat This ….” 19 Sep. 2019, https://www.eatthis.com/lean-protein/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
4 “What is Raw Honey? – The Honey Jar.” https://www.thehoneyjarhome.com/what-is-raw-honey Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
5 “Raw honey vs. regular honey: Benefits, risks, and uses.” 15 Apr. 2019, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324966 Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
6 “The Top 6 Raw Honey Benefits: Fights Infection, Heals Wounds, and ….” https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/top-raw-honey-benefits Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
7 “10 Surprising Health Benefits of Honey.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-honey Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
8 “8 Raw Honey Benefits, Uses, Nutrition, Recipes and Side Effects ….” 26 Oct. 2018, https://draxe.com/nutrition/the-many-health-benefits-of-raw-honey/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
9 “Honey: Are There Health Benefits? Pros and Cons, Nutrition ….” 24 Sep. 2020, https://www.webmd.com/diet/honey-health-benefits Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
10 “Glutamate – Disease & Food | Everyday Health.” 16 Oct. 2015, https://www.everydayhealth.com/glutamate/guide/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
11 “Can I Feed My Baby Honey? (for Parents) – Nemours Kidshealth.” https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/honey-botulism.html Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
12 “5 Honey Health Benefits for Children Over 2 | Sunshine House.” https://sunshinehouse.com/blog/5-honey-health-benefits-for-children-over-2/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
13 “Giving Honey to Kids – Health Benefits, Ways to Use & Precautions.” 19 Jun. 2018, https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/honey-for-kids-health-benefits-precautions-more/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
14 “Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders | GI Care for Kids.” https://www.gicareforkids.com/conditions-we-treat/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
15 “Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Pediatric and Adolescent ….” https://gi.org/topics/functional-gastrointestinal-disorders-in-pediatric-and-adolescent-patients/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
16 “Benefits of Magnesium for Kids | Sleep, Constipation, Mood, Stress ….” 16 Dec. 2019, https://mymineralife.com/magnesium-benefits-for-kids/ Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.
