Having an attraction for sweet
flavors, and thus sugars, has been an evolutionary benefit for thousands of years
but a huge disadvantage to our population over the past century. As sugar
processing became more advanced, and sugar became a cheap commodity, it seemed
that it was added to almost every processed food in one or more ways.
We saw chronic disease rates rise, and we know today that high sugar consumption is related to major problems like weight irregularities, mood disorders, diabetes, cancers, metabolic syndrome, heart disease and lowered immune function.
Therefore anyone who becomes health conscious, naturally searches for other options. One of the first and most obvious being a reduction in the consumption of any, and all isolated and/or processed sugars. The second option is making sure that any isolated sugars consumed, come from more natural, beneficial and nutritious sweeteners. This is where raw honey takes the center
We saw chronic disease rates rise, and we know today that high sugar consumption is related to major problems like weight irregularities, mood disorders, diabetes, cancers, metabolic syndrome, heart disease and lowered immune function.
Therefore anyone who becomes health conscious, naturally searches for other options. One of the first and most obvious being a reduction in the consumption of any, and all isolated and/or processed sugars. The second option is making sure that any isolated sugars consumed, come from more natural, beneficial and nutritious sweeteners. This is where raw honey takes the center
Characteristics
of Raw Honey
Raw honey
can be in liquid or solid (creamed) form when you purchase it. If you purchase
raw honey that is in the liquid form, it may crystallize or solidify over time.
It can be clear, or opaque, or milky. Its color can vary from white, to various
shades of yellow, and even brown. All of these characteristics will depend on
the type of flower that the bees retrieved the nectar for the honey from. It is
not possible to tell whether a honey is raw or pasteurized based on color,
taste or form (liquid or solid) alone. Some honey experts believe that they can
detect a pure, raw honey by taste alone, but this will not be the case for most
of us.
To be sure
that your honey is raw, it must say so on the label. Currently there is no
widespread, uniform regulation or certification for raw honey. Words like
"untreated" or "unpasteurized" can help, but may still not
be indicative of a truly raw product. And it goes without saying that any honey
labelled as "pasteurized" is not raw. Additionally, terms like
"natural" or "pure" normally have little significance when
it comes to knowing if it is actually "raw" honey. Some beekeepers
may not necessarily pasteurize their honey, but they may still heat it to some
degree. Therefore if we want a truly "raw" product we need to inquire
about it specifically. You can for example call the company whose honey you are
interested in to learn how they prepare their honey. But better yet, find a
local farm or beekeeper whom you can trust when it comes to knowing exactly
where the honey comes from and how it is prepared.
In fact,
it is most optimal for our health to consume honey from our local area anyway,
rather than honey that came from the plants of another area. While non-local,
raw honey won't hurt us, local, raw honey will have more benefits for us. There
is a growing belief amongst the natural health experts and community that raw
honey from local sources is beneficial for treating seasonal allergies like Hay
Fever, as well as helping with asthma, and being most beneficial for your
immune system's particular environment needs.
It is
always best to source out raw, organic honey, but whether your raw honey will
be organic or not will greatly vary depending on its source as well. Some
experts believe that there is no such thing as truly organic honey, however
organic honey certification is available. Beekeepers have to meet
stringent production standards and conditions to be certified organic. Raw,
organic honey cannot contain any pesticide residues or environmental
pollutants. Organic hives also cannot use non-organic honey, sugar, or any
antibiotics or pesticides for their bees.
Depending
on your source, it is normal for raw honey to contain particles of bee pollen,
honeycomb bits and propolis. These in themselves have health benefits which
make raw honey sought out for even more health reasons.
Raw honey
is made from the nectars of flowers. Worker bees gather the nectar and place it
in their honey sac where it mixes with acid secretions. Bees reduce the
moisture content from 40-80% to 18-20% before the cell is sealed and the honey
is complete.
Most
processed honey today has been heated and filtered, robbing it of its
nutritional value and resulting in a product no more valuable than a simple sweetener.
Honey is an instant energy-building food containing all the essential minerals
necessary for life, all of the B complex group, amino acids, enzymes, and other
vital factors. Honey is virtually free of bacteria and rarely spoils.
Raw honey
contains up to 80 different substances important to human nutrition. Besides
glucose and fructose, honey contains: All of the B-complex, A, C, D, E, and K,
minerals and trace elements: magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, calcium,
chlorine, potassium, iodine, sodium, copper, and manganese. The live enzyme
content of honey is one of the highest of all foods. Honey also contains
hormones, and antimicrobial and antibacterial factors.
Much of
raw, unfiltered honey's effectiveness and health benefits may be due to the
presence of Bee Pollen and Propolis, but there are substances in honey as yet
unidentified, that may be responsible for its positive effects.
Raw Honey History
Honey has
been used since ancient times both as a food and as a medicine. Apiculture, the
practice of beekeeping to produce honey, dates back to at least 700 BC. For
many centuries, honey was regarded as sacred due to its wonderfully sweet
properties as well as its rarity. It was used mainly in religious ceremonies to
pay tribute to the gods, as well as to embalm the deceased. Honey was also used
for a variety of medicinal and cosmetic purposes. For a long time in history,
its use in cooking was reserved only for the wealthy since it was so expensive
that only they could afford it.
The prestige
of honey continued for millennia until one fateful event in culinary and world
history – the “discovery” of refined sugar made from sugar cane or sugar
beets., Once these became more widely available, they were in great demand
since they provided a relatively inexpensive form of sweetening. With their
growing popularity, honey became displaced by sugar for culinary use. Since
then, although honey is still used for sweetening, much of its use has become
focused on its medicinal properties and its use in confectionary.
Unlike
honey, table sugar lacks minerals and vitamins (hence it's been often called
empty calories), they draw upon the body's nutrients to be metabolized into the
system. When these nutrients are all used up, metabolizing of undesirable
cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher cholesterol and
promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid on the organs and tissues.
Drawbacks
to Raw Honey
It would
truly be a sweet thing if there were no disadvantages to purchasing and
consuming raw honey, however there are a few that every health- and
planet-conscious individual should be aware of:
1.
Extra
Calories – Honey
is a fast way to add calories to a meal. 1 tablespoon on average yields 60
calories. Thus, if you are interested in losing weight, or not gaining excess
pounds, you have to be careful how much honey you use, and how often. Normally,
due to honey’s intensely sweet flavor, it is hard to consume a lot of it at
once.
2.
High
Sugar Content
– Honey is about 40% fructose and 30% glucose, with the remaining carbohydrates
including maltose, sucrose, and other complex carbohydrates. Even though raw
honey has been studied in actually aiding insulin regulation, regular or high
consumption of any sugar can cause various imbalances.
3.
Bacterial
Contamination
– Due to the fact that honey is very low in water content and very high in
sugar content, this makes it undesirable for microbial growth. However, in rare
cases endospores of Clostridium botulinum (the bacteria that can cause
botulism) have been found. This is normally never a problem for an adult
digestive system, but the reason why honey should not be given to infants.
4.
Animal
Welfare – Depending
on how the honey bees are housed and maintained, beekeeping can become a
controversial animal welfare issue. Some beekeepers have been known to burn or
starve the colonies at the end of the season to avoid costs of maintenance out
of season. Hence, buying honey from local beekeepers whom you know or companies
who practice humane treatment is key when purchasing raw honey.
5.
Disappearing
Bees – Scientific reports show that bee
numbers are on a sharp decline and this is naturally troublesome for our future
food forecasts. We must remember that bees are responsible for the pollination
of most of our plant food crops and without them, we face serious problems.
Thus lowering a demand for honey has been proposed as a way to let bees thrive
in their own natural habitat. Various chemicals, climate change and
electromagnetic radiation are also being investigated in the issue of declining
bee numbers.
Uses of Honey:
- Honey contains antioxidants, a wide array of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
- Heals wounds, burns, cataracts, skin ulcers, sores and scrapes.
- Provides a protective barrier for wounds.
- Kills bacteria and germs.
- Reduces inflammation.
- It's amino acids and vitamin C speed the growth of healthy tissue.
- It's a natural source of energy. It enlivens the body, makes muscles stronger, refreshes nerves, cheers up, sharpens the mind, and gives sound sleep.
- Soothes sore throats.
Bee Pollen
contained in raw honey contains 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and a spectrum of
vitamins. Raw honey contains over 5000 enzymes including amylase, a digestive
enzyme for carbohydrates. The benefit of ingesting naturally occurring enzymes
such as amylase is that it reduces the burden on the body to produce these
enzymes itself to digest the food. Raw honey has an exceptionally high
concentration of enzymes and provides an outstanding source of energy for the
body.
Antioxidants,
found in raw honey are compounds that provide natural defenses against cell
damage by neutralizing unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals.
Antioxidant compounds in raw honey are believed to aid the body in fighting
cancer and heart disease as well as a host of other degenerative diseases.
Honey contains high antioxidant levels equivalent to that of spinach, or even
strawberries, and unique to honey is pinocembrin, an antioxidant associated
with improved brain functioning.
Skin and Rashes
For skin
rashes, burns and abrasions. Apply a small amount of Raw Honey lightly over the
affected area; may cover with a dressing or a dusting of cornstarch to reduce
any stickiness.
The Ultimate Moisturizer
Smooth a
small amount of Raw Honey lightly over the skin; easily remove later with
splashes of cold water or comfortable warm water. Leaves skin baby soft.
As a Bath and Antibacterial Soap.
Wash Raw
Honey straight from the jar and enjoy sparkling clean skin. Facial blemishes
and acne caused by cosmetics or allergies will clear up quickly using a nightly
treatment of Raw Honey. A small amount needed.
Colds and Coughs
Raw Honey
is remedial in cases of persistent coughs and sore throat. The strong
antibiotic properties it contains coats the throat and reduces throat
irritation.
- For a sore throat, mix 6 oz. liquid honey, 2 oz. glycerin with juice of 2 lemons. Bottle and cork firmly. Use as required.
- For blocked noses, Place a dessert spoon of honey in a basin of hot water and inhale fumes after covering your head with a towel over the basin.
Is it Safe to Eat Raw Honey?
·
In
the end, raw honey can be both beneficial and damaging to our health and
environment. Hence, it all depends on its source and how it is used.
I do not believe in the “everything in moderation” paradigm, so I will not tell you to enjoy it in moderation, but rather to listen to your body and its needs. If you feel that raw honey is something that can benefit your health as a natural health option, search for the right variety to cause minimal environmental damage and get maximum organic foods benefits.
If on the other hand, you can pass on this sweet substance, don’t forget that the beneficial compounds like bee pollen and propolis are available as all natural health supplements as well. Just search your favorite natural health store (like swansonvitamins.com) to find raw honey or the equivalent health supplements online.
I do not believe in the “everything in moderation” paradigm, so I will not tell you to enjoy it in moderation, but rather to listen to your body and its needs. If you feel that raw honey is something that can benefit your health as a natural health option, search for the right variety to cause minimal environmental damage and get maximum organic foods benefits.
If on the other hand, you can pass on this sweet substance, don’t forget that the beneficial compounds like bee pollen and propolis are available as all natural health supplements as well. Just search your favorite natural health store (like swansonvitamins.com) to find raw honey or the equivalent health supplements online.
Sources:
www.benefits-of-honey.com
Wikipedia.org
www.whfoods.com
www.naturalnews.com - See more at: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/blog/guest-authors-on-natural-health/raw-honey-the-complete-story#sthash.4Nvyaauk.dpuf
www.benefits-of-honey.com
Wikipedia.org
www.whfoods.com
www.naturalnews.com - See more at: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/blog/guest-authors-on-natural-health/raw-honey-the-complete-story#sthash.4Nvyaauk.dpuf
Sources:
www.benefits-of-honey.com
Wikipedia.org
www.whfoods.com
www.naturalnews.com - See more at: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/blog/guest-authors-on-natural-health/raw-honey-the-complete-story#sthash.4Nvyaauk.dpuf
www.benefits-of-honey.com
Wikipedia.org
www.whfoods.com
www.naturalnews.com - See more at: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/blog/guest-authors-on-natural-health/raw-honey-the-complete-story#sthash.4Nvyaauk.dpuf
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