Honey has been with us for centuries. Our ancestors learned about its health benefits and properties and made sure to use it regularly in various forms. According to the Ayurveda classic "Ashtanga Hridaya", honey was used against many diseases, especially for healing and cleaning wounds or against different internal and external infections. It was mainly used for the treatment of eye diseases, cough, thirst, phlegm, hiccups, blood in vomit, leprosy, diabetes, obesity, worm infestation, vomiting, asthma, diarrhoea, and healing wounds.
One of honey’s additional benefits is that it helps reduce obesity, cholesterol, and fat tissues, which caught the eye of people looking for foods that induce weight loss.
This brings up the question– Do you know how to use honey for weight loss efficiently?
The information available about how to use honey for weight loss is overwhelming, and it's not easy to find the right method that works for you.
So, we have brought together a few interesting facts about honey and how to use it correctly to make sure it functions in your favour, and you get to see the desired results.
Can’t wait to share amazing facts about honey with you, let’s get started!
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Amazing Facts About Honey You Must Know!
Do you know that there are five types of honey based on texture?
They are Comb, Liquid, Granulated, Creamed and Chunk honey.
In Ayurveda, there are four types of honey based on the bee it is collected from. For instance, the honey collected from Red honey bees is called Makshika;
the honey collected from Bhrunara honey bees is called Bhramara;
the honey collected from Small honey bees is called Kshaudra, and
the honey collected from Puttika honey bees is called Paittaka.
Makshika has a dark red colour and is superior to other honey varieties.
Honey is "Ushna," or has a hot potency. It also has astringent properties that are helpful in cutting down visceral fat and cholesterol and controlling obesity.
Old honey is more effective than new honey in weight-loss diets. Old honey is any honey that is a year old. New honey is nourishing in nature and can cause weight gain instead.
Which honey do you use for weight loss: old or new?
Some more facts about honey are:
- Never mix honey with any oil/fat/ghee. They are incompatible together.
- Honey undergoes crystallisation when kept in cool settings.
- Honey should be kept away from sunlight to preserve its nutrients.
- Unripe honey, or shahada, undergoes fermentation, forming acetic acid, making it inedible. Ripe honey does not undergo fermentation.
After a good dose of unheard information about honey, now it's time to explore the benefits of honey for weight loss.
Benefits of Honey in Weight Loss
Honey, or Shahada, is also called liquid gold because of its resemblance to golden colour and the healthy properties it exhibits. Honey has been used for several purposes, including as a medicinal carrier and beauty product.
Let’s see how honey helps in weight loss.
- Honey increases the body's metabolism, which means better secretion of enzymes and digestive fluid for digestion and absorption of food. Good digestion and absorption are important to break and use complex compounds like fats, carbs, and proteins.
- Honey helps in regulating lipid metabolism, which means fat burning, and thus is helpful in removing visceral fat and cholesterol.
- Honey has a lower glycemic index. Studies show that consuming natural honey helps in losing body weight.
- Honey has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which promote healthy gut health by eliminating harmful bacteria and undigested food particles. A healthy gut is crucial for a healthy body.
- Honey is a good source of antioxidants, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and a few vitamins and minerals. They boost immunity and provide energy to stay agile. An active life prevents weight gain and obesity.
Such a humble substance with so many benefits, natural raw honey is filled with wonders. Well, it's time for you to learn how to use honey for weight loss. Let’s explore various methods.
How To Use Honey For Weight Loss in Four Ways
Here are four ways you can use honey for weight loss. Pick any one of them, or switch between them, and do as you please to enjoy these potent and delicious drinks.
How To Use Honey With Water For Weight Loss
Method: Take one spoonful of honey and mix it with one glass of lukewarm or room-temperature water. Mix it well, and drink it in small sips.
If you are someone who has a warm body temperature or high heat (pitta) in your body,having honey in cold water will help counteract the heat produced by honey, making you feel more comfortable.
Also, honey in both cold and warm water has the same effects. So, you can graciously enjoy cool honey water in the summer and warm honey water in the winter. No worries there!
Best time: Early morning on an empty stomach.
Caution: Avoid food for 30 minutes after taking it.
How To Use Cinnamon And Honey For Weight Loss
Method: Take one spoonful of honey and cinnamon powder and mix it with one glass of lukewarm or room-temperature water. Mix it well, and drink it in small sips.
Another way is to boil cinnamon sticks in a glass of water and leave it to cool down. Then, add honey and drink it.
Best time: Early morning on an empty stomach or in the evening before dinner.
Caution: Avoid food for 30 minutes after taking it.
How To Use Honey With Lemon And Ginger Juice For Weight Loss
Method: Take one spoonful of honey, one teaspoon of grated ginger juice, and one teaspoon of lemon juice and add it to one glass of lukewarm or room-temperature water. Mix everything, and drink it in small sips.
Lemon and ginger have a detoxifying effect on the gut; having them with honey makes a perfect combination for increasing metabolism.
Best Time: 30 minutes prior to food in the morning and evening.
Caution: Do not take it during pregnancy. Avoid food for 30 minutes after ingestion.
How To Use Honey With Lemon and Amla Juice for Weight Loss
Method: Take one spoonful of honey, 4 teaspoons of amla juice, and one teaspoon of lemon juice and add everything to one glass of lukewarm or room-temperature water. Mix everything, and drink it in small sips.
This combination works well to reduce cholesterol, detoxify the stomach, and aid in weight loss. However, make sure that the quality of amla juice and honey is good.
Best Time: Only in the morning on an empty stomach for a month.
Caution: Do not take it during pregnancy. Avoid food for 30 minutes after ingestion.
Now, you won’t have to look for “how to use honey for weight loss?” anymore, right? However, you must look for what else is needed to promote weight loss besides consuming honey.
Luckily, we have covered that as well for you in our next segment. Let’s get on to it now!
Diet Changes Recommended To Make Honey Effective For Weight Loss
Losing weight or belly fat has always been tough, only because we often got carried away with one thing like a weight loss supplement, a diet, etc. and depended solely on it. We forget that it’s important to find balance, stay consistent, and not give up on our target of weight loss.
With that being said, here is what you need to focus on to boost the weight loss process triggered by taking honey every morning. You can lose around 2 to 3 kgs in a month if you sincerely make the following changes in your lifestyle.
- Honey water on an empty stomach in the morning.
- No white sugar in meals.
- No greasy food and red meat.
- Daily exercise for 30 to 40 minutes.
- Daily water intake of 2 to 3 litres.
- Diet rich in fibre, fruits, and greens.
- Heavy breakfast and light dinner.
- No late-night dinners.
If you can pull out even a few of these for a month or so, you can start seeing changes in your BMI (Body Mass Index). Alright, it’s time for you to buckle up and kickstart your weight-loss journey.
FAQs: How To Use Honey For Weight Loss?
How does honey with warm water reduce weight?
Yes, honey with lukewarm water helps to reduce weight. Honey has an astringent property that scrapes cholesterol and visceral fats from the body. When clubbed with a balanced diet, no sugar, and exercise, it accelerates the weight loss process.
Does honey reduce belly fat?
Yes, old honey helps reduce belly fat and obesity. Old honey is characteristically heaty in nature. Taking honey with lukewarm water and some lime on an empty stomach or 30 minutes before meals increases metabolism and helps with fat burning. It can be taken once or twice a day.
Which Honey Is Best for Weight Loss?
Raw honey for weight loss is a popular choice as it serves as a natural sweetener with potential health benefits. These types of honey are less processed, which means they retain more of their natural nutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants.
what are some other uses of honey?
Honey is a versatile ingredient and can be used for its potential health benefits, as a natural sweetener, in face masks, and for its antibacterial properties.
What are the benefits of adding honey to tea?
Honey with Tea Benefits: Honey can sweeten tea naturally and also offers potential health benefits, such as soothing a sore throat or providing antioxidants.
Conclusion
Let’s wrap this up quickly with some important pointers, which we covered under how to use honey for weight loss. Honey has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties as it is rich in phenols and flavonoids. All of these help in regulating the body's metabolism for digestion, lipid breakdown, detoxification, and cleansing.
Consuming honey with just water on an empty stomach or with lemon, amla, ginger, and cinnamon helps boost metabolism and promote weight loss. However, don’t forget that honey is sweet and potent, so a little goes a long way.
Not just that, remember to only use good-quality, natural raw honey. Adulteration in honey is very common, so buy it from a trustworthy source only.
Speaking of trustworthy sources, why not check out Two Brothers Organic Farms Natural Honey? It is naturally sourced, unadulterated, preservative-free, and certified. Check out the raw and wild honey collection here: Acacia Honey, Mustard Honey, Assorted Honey - Pack of 3, Taramira Honey, Wild Onion Flower (Pyaji) Honey, Forest Honey, and Indian Berry Honey.
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