Self-Care With Honey for Women Over 40: Exploring Benefits of Honey for Skincare and Health
As women age, their skin and health requirements change, making self-care a critical aspect of their overall well-being. With the vast array of beauty and wellness products available in the market, selecting the perfect one can be daunting.
Nonetheless, honey, a natural ingredient with various benefits, has stood the test of time. This article will explore the advantages of incorporating honey into skincare and health routines, particularly for women above 40.
Why Use Honey?
Throughout history, honey has been an essential component of our daily lives. It has been utilized for various purposes, from culinary to medicinal. It has established a reputation as a miraculous elixir for promoting good physical health.
Being a rich source of vital nutrients, it's no secret that honey has garnered favor among nutritionists, dietitians, beauty professionals, and natural health practitioners for its well-documented benefits.
Benefits of Honey for Skin
Aging brings a lot of physical changes along with changes in the skin. For a woman entering her 40s means seeing the loss of skin elasticity, dryness, random spots that refuse to go away, and fine lines, especially around the mouth and eye area.
As a skincare remedy, honey is akin to liquid gold, offering long-lasting benefits that enhance one's appearance, which is especially helpful for older women.
Its versatility extends from moisturizing dry skin and treating acne to healing burns and serving as a soothing bath soak to unwind after a hectic day, making honey a versatile beauty ingredient. Some of its top benefits for aging skin include.
Excellent Moisturizer
As we age, our skin loses elasticity and becomes more prone to dryness. Honey is chock-full of natural humectant and emollient properties due to the presence of potent enzymes which provide excellent hydration to the skin.
This effectively reduces dryness, even after prolonged exposure to sunlight. The skin is left feeling soft, glowing, and radiant thanks to honey's moisturizing for soothing effects.
Using honey-infused hydrating lip oil along with moisturizing serums for a soft and supple face is an excellent add-on to your regular skincare routine.
Antioxidant Benefit
Skin aging is mainly caused by free radicals that form during our metabolic processes or due to external factors like sun damage or pollution.
These free radicals destroy the collagen in our skin, which is crucial for maintaining its structural support. As collagen levels decrease, the skin loses elasticity, leading to wrinkles and fine lines.
Fortunately, antioxidants can help prevent this damage. For example, honey is rich in antioxidants like chrysin, pinobanksin, catalase, and pinocembrin, which can fight off free radicals when applied topically. This helps protect the skin from damage and keeps it looking healthy and youthful.
Nourishes Skin
Honey is an excellent source of skin-friendly nutrients in addition to antioxidants. It contains six vitamins, minerals such as zinc and selenium, organic acids, and 18-20 amino acids, with gluconic acid particularly noteworthy. These nutrients nourish skin cells, promoting repair and preventing signs of aging.
These are the primary reasons why honey is effective in preventing skin aging. However, it is essential to note that while honey is excellent for reducing fine lines and dry patches, which are signs of aging, it may not be as effective in repairing deeper wrinkles. Besides using natural ingredients, here are other different ways to keep your skin hydrated in winters.
Health Benefits of Honey
The use of honey as a potent ingredient for reducing signs of aging and achieving flawless skin is already known. However, not many know that honey also comes with great health benefits. These include.
Helps With PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent hormonal disorder among women that can cause irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles due to elevated androgen (male hormone) production or insulin levels. It can also result in heightened blood sugar and blood pressure.
Honey consumption has been shown to reduce inflammation, regulate menstrual cycles, and decrease calorie intake, making it an effective aid in managing PCOS and mitigating its impact.
Therefore, incorporating honey into one's healthcare regimen is another compelling reason for women in their 40s to consider its benefits.
Promotes Weight Loss
Honey is arguably the most delightful addition to a weight loss regimen. Burning excess calories is the fastest way to shed pounds. Replacing refined sugar with honey in beverages can significantly reduce calorie intake while providing additional medicinal benefits.
A teaspoon of honey in warm water with a dash of freshly squeezed lemon in the morning is refreshing and can aid in weight loss. This simple yet effective switch to honey is a healthier alternative to refined sugar, making it an ideal choice for those working towards weight loss goals.
Boosts Immunity
Honey is a popular remedy for colds and flu and plays a vital role in strengthening the immune system, thereby reducing the risk of getting sick during seasonal changes or flu outbreaks. Honey's antioxidants promote heart health, improve energy levels, boost Immunity, and aid in fighting cancer cells.
Additionally, it contains enzymes, proteins, and minerals that provide sustained energy throughout the day. Manuka honey, in particular, is believed to enhance Immunity due to its high concentration of methylglyoxal, which stimulates the production of cytokines (secreted by immune cells during an immune response).
Takeaway
Not many women know that their pantry is a treasure trove of skincare and beauty secrets, from castor oil to baking soda. So it's no surprise that honey is also a fantastic ingredient for skincare and overall health.
Honey's natural healing, hydrating, and nourishing properties make it an excellent choice for anti-aging skincare and achieving a healthy body free of diseases.