Goodness of Honey

Dear friends,
I wanted to discuss a controversial topic …which is still being considered as one of the most debatable topics of all time…in this case study….I am trying to discuss some points regarding honey in our as well as modern view…you cannot compare our divine science to other systems… but…sometimes it is necessary for us to explain… to others… using the medical language they know well and they can understand well.. I always try to post my discussions which normally arises when I attend OPD...we have a Hospital set up (CGHS AY Hospital, Lodhi Road New Delhi...This is the only Ayurvedic Hospital in India for CGHS employees and for their family members) and there is also one allopathic dispensary..Under one roof (cafeteria approach)..So naturally allopathic doctors do get interact with us... (esp…with me..Because I always put more questions to them than they do)..One day one allopathic doctor (his OPD is next to my room).. Came and said “ do you advice the diabetic patients to avoid eating sugar…?’I said “yes I do”?He said “well! Then you might also advice not to take honey?I said “No “He said “why”?I said”Because according to ayurveda it can be given to diabetic patients”He said “I follow your web site (I once told him about our web site) and your case studies..But you people end up or close any discussion saying we cannot question our achaaryas or what is written in ayurveda cannot be explained in modern para meters..Why? People like us are very much interested in knowing ayurveda…if you cannot describe things…how it can be understood by people like us…? Which will serve your system better..Because we recommend cases to you if we you got better treatment than us (he is right.. he refers each and every fistula /piles patient to me)I said “ok I will tell you in your language ‘honey contains simple sugars (fructose) which can be directly converted in to liver glycogen…IT PRODUCES OPTIMUM BLOOD GLUCOSE AND INSULIN RESPONSE IN THE BODY(lower glycemic index)...as if you take sugar for that matter the insulin levels are low..So honey can be given...”He said “sir, I know you wrote bio chemistry exam at BHU and passed with good marks(in BHU every ayurvedic PG student has to pass BIO-CHEMISTRY ANATOMY,PHYSIOLOGY,PHARMACOLOGY,PATHOLOGY ETC IN FIRST YEAR OF PG) don’t you aware it has got a good caloric value than sugar ..And one more thing honey also contains glucose (approximately 31 to 35 % fructose is 38 to 40 %)….so because of high caloric value and glucose in it..It definitely …increases blood sugar….so it is as harmful as sugar..I said” you are wrong my friend..Because honey tastes sweeter than sugar but you need very less honey to make anything sweet..Than sugar..So you need less honey to sweeten any food….so it is better option in diabetes...”He said’ what about excess calories which can be converted in to fat and it can be fatal to diabetics with heart diseases?”I said “there you are.. Actually honey contains lot of anti oxidants which are actually good for heart..Sugar decreases immunity (lowers the WBC) so it not useful in diabetes but…honey can be given as it increases immunity…..it can also useful in reducing obesity and for sore throat..Has got wound healing properties..There are so many positive factors are there..And certainly it can replace sugar in diabetic patients…”The Doctor went to his OPD nodding his head and was not convinced with my explanation…Dear friends …what do you think about this in ayurvedic and modern parameters…? Can it be given or not….? Please give your valuable opinions…thank you


Courtesy----- Dr. T. Divakar Rao
delhi