Honey is among the most popular and valuable natural products introduced to humanity since the dawn of time. It contains both bee pollen and propolis, a sticky glue-like compound used by bees to keep their hive together. We all know how delicious honey is, but did you know it also has some other incredible health benefits? We’ll look at 5 amazing benefits of raw honey in this article.
Nutrition Information about Raw Honey
Honey is almost entirely composed of sugar, with no fat and only traces of protein and fiber. It contains small amounts of some nutrients. But most people don’t eat enough honey to make it a significant source of vitamins and minerals in their diet. It contains more calories than regular white sugar used in cooking and baking. If you’re using it as a substitute, you may need less as it’s better tasting. Honey also has an amazing flavor that white sugar lacks.
According to US Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of honey contains:
- Water – 17.1 g
- Energy – 304 kcal
- Protein – 0.3 g
- Total lipid (fat) – 0 g
- Carbohydrate, by difference – 82.4 g
- Fiber, total dietary – 0.2 g
- Sugars, total including NLEA – 82.1 g
- Calcium – 6 mg
- Magnesium – 2 mg
- Phosphorus – 4 mg
- Sodium – 4 mg
- Copper – 0.036 mg
- Selenium – 0.8 µg
- Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid – 0.5 mg
- Riboflavin – 0.038 mg
- Niacin – 0.121 mg
- Vitamin B-6 – 0.024 mg
- Folate, total – 2 µg
- Iron – 0.42 mg
- Zinc – 0.22 mg
- Potassium – 52 mg
Benefits of Raw Honey
Raw honey is widely thought to have a plethora of health benefits. However, many common claims about honey have little or no evidence. But fortunately research backs up some of the following:
- Rich in antioxidants
- Has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties
- Speeds up wound healing
- Soothes cough
- Has positive effects on brain
Let’s go over them one by one in the following sections.
1. Rich in Antioxidants – Benefits of Raw Honey
Antioxidants are substances that slow down the oxidation process. For example, as your skin oxidizes, wrinkles, fine lines, and dryness appear. However, a good antioxidant skincare will help to reduce the visibility of all of these. Many antioxidants are abundant in high-quality organic honey which help to slow down the aging process of several organs. Antioxidants helps prevent accumulations in cells and cause damages like,
- Premature aging
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
2. Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Properties – Benefits of Raw Honey
Because raw honey helps to balance the bacteria on your skin, it is an excellent treatment for,
- Acne
- Dandruff
- Eczema
The combination of raw honey and cinnamon is a potent antioxidant and antimicrobial. It also inhibits the growth of yeast and bacteria due to its unique chemical composition. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties vary depending on the honey. But it’s obviously more than a home remedy for these infections.
Since the majority of people claim that raw honey helped them fade their blemishes, try the simple steps below to see if they work for you too:
- Apply a small amount of raw honey directly to the acne.
- Allow for a 10-minute rest period.
- After that, rinse with warm water.
3. Speeds Up Wound Healing – Benefits of Raw Honey
You’d be surprised to know that raw honey contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide naturally, which appears to be beneficial for wound healing. It has an acidic pH, that also aids in the release of oxygen, which is essential for wound healing. Moreover, honey helps in reducing swelling and enhances lymph flow in damaged tissues.
Despite the fact that raw honey can be an excellent natural addition to your wound-healing arsenal, please remember that the honey used in hospitals is medical grade. This indicates that it’s been carefully investigated and is sterile. Using store-bought honey to treat cuts is not a good idea. So you should always consult your doctor before using honey for medicinal purposes.
4. Soothes Cough – Benefits of Raw Honey
As unveiled in several studies, honey is popular to be as effective as or more effective than a few over cough medicines. It comes handy in treating sore throats and as a cough suppressant ingredient. When a cough strikes, take one or two teaspoonfuls straight or mix it into hot tea with lemon. Not only for adults, honey may be a good substitute for children over one year of age. This is good news as many cough medicines are not fully secure for young kids. But, please note that due to the risk of botulism, honey should never be given to children under the age of one year.
5. Positive Effects on Brain – Benefits of Raw Honey
In previous years, researchers looked into the effects of local honey on learning and memory. It has been discovered that organic honey improves concentration and memory. Honey’s brain-boosting properties are due to an antioxidant. An antioxidant in honey boosts mental performance and it has been discovered to have a variety of neuro-protective properties. According to a review of studies published in 2015, honey, specifically Tualang honey, improved learning and memory. Moreover, honey’s antioxidants are also known to aid memory enhancement. They do so by reducing the negative effects of oxidative stress.
What Should I Look for When Buying Local Honey?
So, now that you’ve read about all of these advantages, you’re probably wondering where you can find the best natural and pure honey if you don’t live in the country surrounded by farms.
Raw honey has grown in popularity in recent decades. It is now available in a variety of local supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and sometimes straight from the beekeeper. Online stores sell a variety of raw honey brands that you can buy from the comfort of your own home.
Unfortunately, the majority of honey sold in local stores has been pasteurized. High heat kills unwanted yeast, improves color and texture, eliminates crystallization, and extends shelf life. But, in the process, many of the beneficial nutrients also get destroyed.
So for starters, when you are trying to buy raw honey, look for a label that says “raw honey”. This is applicable when purchasing either from an online store or a grocery store. If the label does not say “raw” or if it does not come directly from a farmer or a trusted beekeeper, it has most likely been pasteurized. The label may also specify the type of flowers pollinated by the bees to produce the honey. The honey’s flavor, color, and antioxidant and vitamin content are all determined by the type of flower used.
“Pure honey” is a label that appears on many types of pasteurized honey. Others may say “clover honey” or claim to be from the neighborhood. Some manufacturers pasteurize organic honey, so even products labeled as “organic honey” may not be raw. So make sure to read the label and list of ingredients to ensure that the honey is pure.
Nature Nate’s 100% Pure, Raw & Unfiltered Honey
Nature Nate’s 100% Pure, Raw & Unfiltered Honey is a natural sweetener made up of only one ingredient: honey.
This unfiltered honey comes in a 32-oz bottle and tested for pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and manufactured additives. So it’s safe to say that it contains all of the natural benefits of honey straight from the hive. Furthermore, this honey is raw and unfiltered. This means it has been gently warmed for pourability, but has not been filtered to preserve the natural beneficial compounds like pollen.
This pure honey goes well with yogurt, coffee, tea, and any other food that needs a touch of natural sweetness.
Customers’ Feedback on Nature Nate’s 100% Pure, Raw & Unfiltered Honey
1. Constant companion in the kitchen
“I’ll just start off by saying that this is the honey I’ve been looking for. And will be buying it forever. This is the seventh bottle/jar of honey to join my kitchen in my quest. That’s apparently how particular I’ve become, which was a shock to both me and my wallet. I tried to deal with subpar or too strong honey, but just couldn’t. It’s my simple pleasure.” – Happy customer on Amazon
2. Helped in the relief of a bothersome cough
“I was having severe cold and cough for almost 1 month. Due to different weather conditions I was really sick with the cough. My mother told me one home remedy. I grated ginger and added this honey to it and made this remedy in great quantity. I ate it 4 times a day 1tbsp every time. Within a week I got cured. Special thanks to this organic and original honey.” – Happy customer on Amazon
3. Great face wash!
“So I bought this not to eat but to use as my face wash. So far it’s amazing. The texture is not sticky like you’d think it would be, it spreads onto the face very easily (just dampening your face a bit first), it rinses off immediately when water touches it.” – Happy customer on Amazon
Risks
Honey allergies are uncommon, but they do happen. This could be because the honey contains bee pollen. So, raw honey is generally safe to use as long as a person is not allergic to bee pollen.
Some people claim that eating local honey helps them get rid of their seasonal allergies. They believe that the pollen in honey makes them less sensitive to pollen in the air. However, there is insufficient evidence to back this up. Therefore, relying on honey instead of medical treatment for respiratory allergies could be dangerous.
Also, as previously stated in this article, honey should not be consumed by children under the age of one year due to the risk of botulism.
How to Consume? – Moderation is the Key
Despite all of the benefits of raw honey, it’s still best to consume it in moderate amounts. Honey is best to consume in 1 to 2 teaspoons, according to Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, founder of Real Nutrition. She notes that it’s still sugar, and much of the sugar in honey is fructose. She advices to consider substituting raw honey for other added sugars and pasteurized honey, but don’t overdo it with the sweetness.
Aside from those considerations, raw honey is a delicious addition to sweet and savory dishes, as well as a variety of beverages. “During the winter, I like to add a teaspoon of honey to my tea or lemon water to boost immunity, combat dry throat, and add natural sweetness. I also like to serve my avocado toast with honey, sea salt, and crushed red pepper flakes drizzled on top. To begin my day, I wanted something salty, spicy, and sweet” Shapiro admits.
If you keep a jar of raw honey in your kitchen for an extended period of time, it will begin to solidify and crystallize. But don’t start to worry, because crystallization is a perfectly normal reaction. It doesn’t make the raw product any less nutritious since honey has no expiration date.
Conclusion
We hope you learned something new about raw honey. It’s time to consider adding it to your kitchen along with other common essentials like coconut oil, olive oil, aloe vera etc. As you may have already learnt, honey has several potential health benefits, in addition to its sweetness. However, while most of them may lack research evidence, we should remember that Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “The flowers are full of honey, but only the bee discovers the sweetness.”
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