For hundreds of years, people have used raw honey as traditional medicine. This sweet, natural substance might contain beneficial elements that processed honey doesn’t have.
Honey has many health benefits. Raw honey is straight from the beehive and contains bee propolis and bee pollen. It also has lots of antioxidants.
Although research has not shown that raw honey is more beneficial than regular honey in terms of health, some believe that pasteurization and processing can cause the honey to lose many of its beneficial elements. Raw honey is believed to have more health benefits than regular honey.
This article compares the health benefits of regular honey and raw honey.
What’s raw honey?
Honeybees make honey, a sweet, golden liquid. Honeybees keep their honey in hexagonal honeycomb cups. Raw honey is straight from the honeycomb.
Honey from the beehive can contain bee pollen, honey wax and some parts of dead bees. Although honey manufacturers will often pass raw honey through a filter in order to remove as much impurities as possible they still leave some. It is safe to consume.
This is various list types of raw honey like this,
AJWAIN HONEY
TULSI HONEY
TURMERIC HONEY
HIMALAYAN HONEY
NATURAL FOREST HONEY
JAMUN HONEY
1. Antioxidant effects
Research suggests that honey’s antioxidant content is responsible for some of its health benefits.
Natural honey is rich in antioxidants such as phytochemicals, flavonoids and ascorbic acids.
Antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative damage in the body. Scientists have found that oxidative stress is linked to many chronic conditions, including cancer. People can lower their chances of developing chronic diseases by eating an antioxidant-rich diet.
Pasteurization may reduce the amount of antioxidants in honey. This could mean that pasteurized honey might not provide the same benefits as raw honey.
Although there is not much research on pasteurization and honey’s antioxidants, studies have shown that heating other foods can decrease their antioxidant content.
2. Nutrition
Honey is rich in nutrients that can be beneficial to your health.
Raw honey’s nutritional and chemical composition will vary between countries and different environments. This is partly due to the flowers from which bees get their nectar. Honey still contains many healthful compounds such as vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and other nutrients, despite these differences.
One tablespoon (21 grams) of raw honey has 64 calories and 16g of sugar. These values can vary from one brand to another.
The following vitamins and minerals are naturally found in natural honey:
Niacin
Riboflavin
Pantothenic acid
Calcium
Magnesium
Manganese
Potassium
Phosphorous
Zinc
3. Antibacterial action
Honey is an antibacterial and antimicrobial natural agent. It is rich in hydrogen peroxide, glucose oxidase, and has a low pH. This means that it can kill harmful bacteria as well as fungi. It is also unique in its chemical composition and does not allow yeast or bacteria growth.
4. Wound healing
Many studies have shown honey is a good choice for wound healing.
An extensive review has shown that honey can be used to heal wounds due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. There is evidence that honey may have antiviral or antifungal properties.
Honey is also acidic which aids in the release of oxygen from wounds and promotes healing.
5. How to relieve a cough
Numerous studies have shown that honey is as effective or even more effective than OTC (over-the-counter) cough medications. Honey may be an alternative to many cough medications that are unsafe for children younger than one-year-old.
6. Treating diarrhea
Raw honey can have a soothing effect on digestion and may help with symptoms of diarrhea.
One study of 150 children suffering from acute gastroenteritis revealed that honey mixed with an oral rehydration remedy was more effective in relieving diarrhea. Children who had honey were less likely to have bowel movements and were able to recover faster from the disease.
7. Protecting your brain
There is evidence that honey may be beneficial for the brain by having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A study in animals found that honey provided protection to the brain from lead exposure.
Choosing the right honey
Ek-Tek Vedaz Raw honey should have a label that says “raw honey”. If it doesn’t, or if it hasn’t come from a farmer/beekeeper who can verify that it is raw honey, it probably has been pasteurized.
You may also find information on the flowers the honey was made from. The honey’s taste, color, antioxidant, and vitamin content will depend on the type of flower.
Some honeys are labeled as “pure honey”, while others may be labeled “clover honey” or “local honey.” Some manufacturers pasteurize organic honey, so even products labeled “organic honey” might not be raw.
High fructose corn syrup and other additives can be found in some processed honey products. To ensure that the honey is pure, make sure you read the label.
Online shops offer a variety of honey brands, including regular and raw honey.
