Health benefits and risks of honey to children.

Benefits of honey to Children

Honey for kids older that twelve months of age is known to be highly effective in treating minor cuts and bruises on account of its anti bacterial and anti fungal properties.
Honey also promotes the growth and development of good hair and keeps the skin supple and soft. Honey if consumed by older children is also known to benefit their health on account of its anti oxidant properties and the presence of vitamins and minerals like manganese, iron, copper etc. In case of a persistent cough in children older than two years old. Honey may also be used to soothe the throat and act as a natural cough suppressant. However it should be given in a small quantity.
Honey also triggers the production of saliva which in turn acts as a natural expectorant thereby providing relief from cough. Research has shown that darker honey has more antioxidants and has more health benefits as compared to the lighter varieties of honey. In some cases honey is also known to tackle the problem of bed wetting in children if consumed by them on account of its moisture retaining properties and benefits.

Risks of honey to infants
Honey for infants less than one year old is highly dangerous as it is known to develop a severe allergic reaction called infant botulism. The bacteria associated with this reaction forms spores which if swallowed by the baby will result in the production of a poisonous toxin that tends to affect the intestines of the baby. Symptoms of infant botulism are poor sucking, weak cry, lack of facial expressions etc. Some people tend to follow the old habit of soothing a crying baby by dipping the pacifier in honey. This practice should be stopped completely as the immune system of the baby is not strong enough to fend of the benign strain of raw honey.
 Although many food manufacturers commonly use honey as an important ingredients in their foods, it is an established rule among baby food manufacturers not to add honey to any of their products. Honey for babies does not cause infant botulism only on consumption. The botulism spores are even known to be found in soil, uncooked foods and dust and hence even pose a risk to adults and older kids. Honey not only harms the baby’s teeth on account of its sugary taste and composition but also tend s to develop a “sweet tooth” in him as he grows.
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