Honey for Your Sweet Tooth
Everyone likes a sweet treat now and then, but too much sugar can be a bad thing, particularly for your teeth. However, there is a natural alternative that might actually be good for your teeth: honey.
Thinking of honey as helpful for teeth may seem strange, especially since the bacteria in dental plaque, which cause tooth decay, need sugars to survive and multiply. But, according to researchers at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, honey may stop the growth of dental plaque bacteria and reduce the amount of acid that it produces. Since this acid is what causes cavities, honey may be able to combat tooth decay. So how does it work?
A potent antimicrobial agent
Honey is well-known for its antimicrobial qualities. In fact, it has been used in traditional medicine as a dressing for wounds, burns, and skin ulcers. The medical community is now rediscovering the therapeutic
value of honey.
Honey’s antimicrobial power comes from an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, a common antiseptic agent. Unlike most antiseptics that use hydrogen peroxide, however, honey is gentler on tissue and contains anti-inflammatory agents that reduce swelling and pain. It even helps cells repair themselves.
Of course, it’s important to take things in moderation. While a little honey may be beneficial, too much may still cause damage to your teeth.
Types of honey
The color and taste of honey depends on what kind of nectar the bees used to make it. The lighter honeys have better aroma and taste, but the darker honeys have a greater nutritional value. The darker the honey, the more minerals it contains, including potassium, magnesium, phosphor, and iron.
The antimicrobial capabilities of the honey also depend on the what nectar it comes from. If you want to use honey for topical wounds, you can buy medicinal honey just for that purpose. You probably won’t want to eat it, however. Specially made medicinal honey is not meant to be used as food.
Cooking with honey
Honey is sweeter than sugar, so you can use less honey in a recipe than you would sugar. Ideally, you should start with a recipe that calls for honey. However, you can substitute honey for sugar; use half the amount that is called for in the recipe. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, use half a cup of honey.
You may also need to make a few other adjustments when you bake with honey:
. Reduce any liquid called for by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used.
.Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used.
. Reduce the oven temperature by 25
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