New Scientific Findings
on the Health Benefits of Honey 

In January 2008 research scientists converged in Sacramento, CA for the first International Symposium on Honey and Human Health. The following resutls were presented:

• Dr. Starkey, from the University of Waikato, presented information demonstrating that honey relieves anxiety, improves levels of good cholesterol , increases memory and stops oxidative damage to the brain.
  
• Dr. Baer, research physiologist with the USDA, concluded that prediabetics and diabetics tolerate honey better than other sweeteners, because honey has a lower GI, which means it doesn't cause sudden spikes and drops of blood glucose levels.
  
• Dr. Shona Blair from Australia discussed honey's antimicrobial abilities. Active honeys help eliminate infections from wounds, including superbugs such as MRSA. Honey exhibits high potency against biofilms, colonies of microbes that produce a defensive slim and love to form on indwelling medical devices such as catheters or pins inserted in limbs. They are often found in chronic wounds and diabetic ulcers.
  
• A husband and wife team from Sweden, Dr. Tobias Olofsson and Dr. Alejandro Vasquez, discovered beneficial lactic acid bacteria in fresh honey.
  
• Mike McInnes, pharmacist, sports nutritionist, and author of The Hibernation Diet, published by Souvenir Press, Ltd, United Kingdom , discussed how honey helps fuel weight loss when eaten in the hour before bedtime. According to McInnes, the honey fuels the liver during the night fast, providing the body with important energy to repair cells and burn fat.
  
• Dr. Stefan Bogdanov, a honey specialist from the Bee Research Center in Liebefeld , Switzerland presented a review of 169 published scientific papers on the use of honey, which will shortly be published by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. He described how honey positively affects calcium absorption, reduces infant illnesses, and stimulates antibody production, helping us fight infections
  
• From Penn State College of Medicine, Jessica Beiler, MPH gave a talk on honey's effectiveness as a cough remedy. In a clinical trial, honey proved more effective thant leading over-the-counter cough medicines in children between the ages of 2-17. Parents were recently cautioned by the FDA to avoid cough medicines for children under age six. Honey may provide a welcome alternative.