Tobacco use continues to be the single largest preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking cigarettes kills more than 480,000 Americans each year and 41,000 additional people in relationship to secondhand smoke. Illnesses related to cigarette use cost more than $300 billion per year.
If you smoke, you’ve most likely been begged by family and friends to quit. You’ve probably heard the relationship between smoking and heart disease, stroke, cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
A new study examined the impact of antioxidants found in Tualang honey on the oxidative stress in smokers. Tualang honey is wild honey that comes from the rainforests of Malaysia. Smoking causes new free radicals to enter the body, causing oxidative stress and negative health effects. Past research showed the use of herbs and algae can improve oxidative stress in smokers.
Honey contains sugars, minerals, proteins, organic acids and antioxidants. The study examined the impact of honey on 32 chronic smokers after a 12 week supplementation. The study used three equal sized groups, with one group of chronic smokers getting the honey supplement, another group of chronic smokers not getting the supplement, and a group of non-smokers. Researchers collected blood samples pre and post intervention.
At the end of 12 weeks, the group of smokers who received the honey supplement had greatly improved their antioxidant status, suggesting that honey has the ability to offset oxidative stress.
The authors concluded that honey can be used by those who are active smokers or passive smokers to protect and reduce the risk of disease.
If you continue to smoke, consider adding a honey supplement into your daily routine to protect your health. If you have listened to family and friends and have stopped smoking, use honey to help your body recover. If you desire to stop smoking but are struggling, seek help of a doctor and a therapist to help work through the emotional and biological impact of addiction.
