To use honey for lung relief, take 1-2 teaspoons straight or mix into warm (not hot) water or tea with lemon and ginger to soothe coughs, soothe airways, and thin mucus, but never give to children under one year old due to botulism risk; honey coats the throat and has anti-inflammatory properties, but it won't "cleanse" your lungs.
Honey is a natural sweetener packed with antioxidants and prebiotics that support overall health. Eating it regularly may boost digestion, improve energy, ease coughs, and help fight infections. While it has a low glycemic index, people with diabetes should still enjoy honey in moderation.
She recommends using a teaspoon every two hours. And this dosage applies equally to adults. "And if you do choose to give honey for cough suppression, we would recommend that you use pasteurized honey," adds Dr. Mattke.
It helps clear mucus from your airway if you have an infection or an allergy, for example.
Quitting smoking is the most effective thing you can do to minimize and heal lung damage. This includes quitting other tobacco products like e-cigarettes. Whether you've been smoking or vaping for three days or 30 years, quitting is the first step to healthier lungs. Indoor air is also important to keep clean.
Consume about one to three cups daily, with about one teaspoon of high-quality honey per serving. Try some first thing in the morning, before a workout or before bed with some warm milk. Other healthy additions include turmeric, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar.
Reduces mucus
Coughing is one way your body rids itself of germs. But too much mucus can keep you coughing at all the wrong times. Honey can help thin out mucus. That means you're less likely to get gunked up, leading to less throat clearing and less coughing.
Timeline of Honey's Effects in Your Body
30-60 minutes: Peak absorption and maximum energy benefits. 60-120 minutes: Sustained energy release as fructose continues metabolizing. 2+ hours: Gradual return to baseline as effects diminish.
Safety and side effects. Honey is likely safe for use as a natural sweetener, cough suppressant, and topical product for minor sores and wounds.
How to incorporate more honey into your diet
Diabetes: Using large amounts of honey might increase blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Honey contains sugar and should be used in moderation. Pollen allergies: Avoid honey if you are allergic to pollen. Honey, which is made from pollen, may cause allergic reactions.
If you want to boost energy, jump-start metabolism, and replace morning sugar, then morning is the best time. If you want to relax, improve sleep quality, or support overnight recovery, then nighttime is better. You can also do both, like one teaspoon in the morning and one at night if needed.
There is some evidence that honey is good for the lungs and eases the types of symptoms, like coughing, that come with asthma. Manuka honey is particularly potent in these properties so is likely the best type of honey to use.
Some treatments may include: Antibiotics: Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia. They can't treat a virus but a provider may prescribe them if you have a bacterial infection at the same time as a virus. Antifungal medications: Antifungals can treat pneumonia caused by a fungal infection.
Sip herbal tea or warm lemon water mixed with 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey. Honey works well for coughs, too. It is not safe to give honey to children younger than age 1. Sometimes it is soothing to sip ice cold drinks.
Health benefits of eating a spoonful of honey everyday include diabetes management, cancer management, better heart health, and other benefits. Honey is a brown, sticky, sugar-saturated solution made by bees. Honey bees or forage bees collect nectar from flowers and add some enzymes to the nectar.
Enjoy honey about 30 minutes before bed. This timing gives your body space to settle after your last meal and helps you ease into calmer nighttime activities.
Beneficial bacteria and harmful heat
Heating honey to high temperatures – generally above 45-50°C – eliminates these benefits by killing the bacteria, enzymes, and antioxidants that make honey so powerful.
Consider the following steps to help eliminate excess mucus and phlegm:
Honey given to children younger than 12 months may cause a severe food poisoning called botulism. Do not give your child honey before 12 months. Do not add honey to your baby's food, water, infant formula, or pacifier.
Packed with natural sugars, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, honey is considered a source of easily digestible energy. Honey is frequently added to dishes designed to support the spleen and stomach, which are the central organs of digestion and energy production in TCM theory.
Key Takeaways. Honey water is a hydrating beverage that offers several health benefits, including soothing a sore throat, aiding in the fight against infections, providing digestive support, and promoting weight management, among others.
Experts advise consuming no more than six teaspoons of honey per day for women or nine teaspoons for men. Consuming too much honey or sugar can lead to various health complications, including obesity, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart attacks.