Add honey to diet for good health

Adding a little honey to the diet does more than just satisfy a sweet tooth. Honey can boost levels of healthy antioxidants. For centuries, honey has been known to have various beneficial effects. It has compounds called phenolics that have antioxidant properties. These substances quench free radicals, which are unstable by-products of normal metabolism that cause damage to arteries and to DNA that can lead to cancer and other diseases. Researchers from the University of California conducted a study with 25 healthy adults showing how honey can boost antioxidant levels. For 29 days, the participants were made to add 4 tablespoons of honey to their daily diet. The researchers tested two types of honey with different amounts of antioxidants with two groups. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the study and it was found that the total level of phenolics increased in both the groups of the participants. Hence, the researchers recommended adding 2 to 4 tablespoons a day to their diet for boosting antioxidants and the body's defence system.The researchers advised people to consider substituting honey for other sweeteners that do not provide the same amount of antioxidants but they also mentioned that not all honey is created equal in terms of antioxidants. The darker the honey, the more antioxidants it contains.