Discover the Hidden Health Benefits of Raw Honey
Here's why this healthy superfood is a must-have in your diet...
Honey has been improving health and delighting taste buds for over 8000 years.
Originally, all honey was raw honey, derived straight from the source, but nowadays, it can be harder to spot the real thing in a flooded market of fakes.
Most honey on supermarket shelves is created using pasteurisation, which involves heating and includes added sugar, which can strip away the honey's many nutrients and health benefits.
So, maybe you're asking, "What makes raw honey so special?" Let's look at that next...
The difference between raw and pasteurised honey
Unlike pasteurised honey, raw honey contains bee propolis, which is the sticky, gooey substance responsible for holding the beehive together.
Bee propolis is scientifically proven to have anti-inflammatory properties, anti-cancer and anti-ulcer abilities, anti-fungal effects, and a wide range of vitamins and enzymes.
The benefits of raw honey are vast and adding some cold-processed honey to your diet can be a quick and easy way to boost your health.
Keep reading to learn all about these wonderful health benefits!
The health benefits of raw honey
Powerful antioxidants for your body
Natural honey contains various properties that combine to create an antioxidant response.
Oxidative stress can lead to various health conditions, including chronic disease and cancer. The phytochemicals, flavonoids and ascorbic acid in honey can eliminate free radicals to reduce cell damage.
In addition, the antioxidants in raw honey can help prevent premature ageing, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Naturally nutritious
The nutrition in honey has fueled people for many generations.
Raw honey contains:
- Calcium to keep your bones strong
- Magnesium to promote heart health and reduce inflammation
- Niacin to lower blood pressure and improve brain function
- Manganese to promote calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation
- Phosphorous to support the growth and repair of cells and tissues
- Pantothenic acid to maintain healthy skin
- Potassium to aid the muscles
- Riboflavin to help the body break down carbs, proteins, and fat
- Zinc to boost the immune system, promote wound healing and improve the sense of taste and smell
- Amino acids to regulate digestion and support the immune system
- Enzymes to aid digestion and healthy liver function
Anti-fungal and antibacterial properties
Raw honey has a low pH level and contains hydrogen peroxide and glucose oxidase to kill harmful bacteria. People have used honey to clean wounds and skin infections for generations, long before the days of antibacterial creams and penicillin.
However, the effectiveness of honey for topical and internal treatments depends mainly on the quality and type of the honey, and only raw Australian honey has the propolis to have antibacterial and anti-fungal benefits.
Natural mouth cleaner
Studies have shown that pure raw honey works as an effective mouthwash. Sorry dentists but it's true!
Raw honey has such powerful antimicrobial properties that scientists have deemed it an effective product to cleanse your mouth with. What other food item can you eat AND clean your mouth out with at the same time?
Wound healing capabilities
Ever since the days of Ancient Egypt, people have been slathering topical honey on their wounds to promote healing and prevent infection.
Pure, raw honey can be effective for healing partial thickness burns and infected wounds and foot ulcers caused by diabetes.
One impressive study reported a 97% success rate of using raw honey on diabetes-related foot ulcers. In addition, honey can soothe skin conditions such as psoriasis, burns and herpes lesions.
Relieves sore throats and coughs
Several studies indicate that honey can be more effective than some over the counter cough medicines. This can be particularly beneficial for children who are too young for some over the counter medicines.
In addition, the honey can coat the throat and reduce night-time coughing while providing essential nutrients and antioxidants to the body.
Soothes digestion
Raw honey can promote good digestion, easing the symptoms of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.
A study of 150 children revealed that those who had honey in their oral rehydration solution experienced a faster and more effective recovery than those without.
Additionally, honey contains beneficial prebiotics that will nourish the good bacteria in the body, improving overall health and encouraging good digestion.
Promotes brain health
The polyphenols in honey have been shown to reduce inflammation in the hippocampus, improving memory and promoting brain health.
Additionally, a study revealed that rats who consumed raw honey were protected during lead exposure, preventing brain damage.
Ultimately, honey's antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects may sharpen your cognitive abilities and improve your memory.
How to get the most nutrition from your honey
Raw honey comes straight from the honeycomb, filtered to remove debris, and processed cold to preserve the honey's rich vitamins and minerals.
People consume honey in many ways, from sucking on a sweet spoonful first thing in the morning to adding it to warm water for an energising kick or added into bliss balls and breakfast recipes.
The problem with most commercially available honey is that it has been heated to the point of stripping its nutrients during pasteurisation. This can improve the honey's appearance and increase its shelf-life, but the honey will be less flavourful and of poorer quality.
We understand that once you taste raw honey, you may want to use it in and for everything. However, don't be fooled into thinking pasteurisation only occurs in a factory with high volumes of honey.
Simply heating the honey above 40 degrees can impact the enzymes, so make sure you only use warm water to drink your honey, and only stir it through raw dishes.
Ensure your honey is raw
Don't fall into the trap of thinking all honey on the shelves is the same. Even products listed as organic or pure may not be raw.
A tell-tale sign of raw honey is its appearance
Regular honey is probably what you're accustomed to seeing on the shelves, which can be clear and smooth, whereas raw honey will likely be cloudy and have a mixture of colours.
Raw honey may crystallise quicker than regular honey, but this can be solved with a quick water bath to melt the crystals and make the honey smooth. If you'd like more information on how to store and enjoy your raw honey, read our blog on raw honey storage tips.
Experience raw honey's natural benefits for yourself
If you're looking for raw honey that is harvested, handled, and bottled with the utmost care, so you can rest assured that you're receiving all the health benefits it has to offer, look no further.
Our range of bee products have been created with the highest respect and love for beekeeping, bottled straight from the hive for you to enjoy.
If you'd like to read more about why we create the honey that we do, read about Australian Bee Products here.
Otherwise, shop our range of raw honey today to experience the pure difference for yourself. We're confident you'll love it as much as we do!