Buckwheat Honey Benefits

You may remember your mom or grandma making buckwheat pancakes for breakfast. Buckwheat honey, however, may not be something you remember hearing about. Buckwheat honey is now commonly found in health food stores, and may even be available in the health food section of your regular grocery store. The demand for buckwheat honey has caused an increase in the production of buckwheat in the United States in recent years.

Vitamins

• Honey contains many essential vitamins, but only in trace amounts. Some of the vitamins contained in buckwheat honey are vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B-5, B-6, B-8, B-9, and B-12. It also has vitamins C, D, E and Folic Acid.

Minerals

• Buckwheat honey contains essential fatty acids.

  All honeys contain minerals, but darker honeys such as buckwheat honey have higher levels of minerals than lighter honeys. Calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, potassium, magnesium, sulphur, sodium, titanium, zinc, iodine, chlorine and boron are all found in buckwheat honey.

Antioxidants

• Depending on the flower, the amount of antioxidants in honey can vary, with darker honeys containing more antioxidants. Buckwheat honey contains as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help combat age-related diseases. However, honey itself cannot serve as a major source of dietary antioxidants, because you would have to consume too much honey to receive the antioxidants your body needs.

Fatty Acids

• Buckwheat honey contains essential fatty acids. Your body cannot create these acids on its own, so they must come from your diet. Honey contains linoleic acid, also known as Omega-6 fatty acid. Omega-6 is found in nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, dairy and honey. Essential fatty acids aid in proper brain and nervous system development, proper thyroid and adrenal activity, the regulation of blood pressure, liver function, immune and inflammatory responses. Essential fatty acids also regulate blood clotting.

Amino Acids

• Buckwheat honey contains seven of the eight essential amino acids. Tryptophan helps alleviate insomnia and is a generally soothing amino acid. It is present in most protein foods. Lysine is also an essential amino acid found in honey. Studies have shown it may work against herpes. Methionine is one of the essential sulfur amino acids. This amino acid may help prevent disorders dealing with hair, skin and nails. Methionine also helps lower cholesterol levels. Cysteine is an amino acid found in buckwheat honey, and is depleted by smoking. The depletion of cysteine is possibly related to the faster aging of skin in smokers. Cysteine helps with skin health, including wound healing. It also aids in hair growth and aids in the absorption of iron. Histidine is another amino acid and has anti-inflammatory properties. Glutamine is an amino acid that is the primary energy source for the cells that line your intestines. Tyrosine is an amino acid that is a mood enhancer. Benefits of tyrosine include improved motivation and concentration, and maximized athletic performance.