WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF RAW HONEY?
What are the health benefits of raw honey?
Raw honey can contain nutrients that are not processed honey. Possible health benefits include reducing cough, healing wounds, treating diarrhea, etc.
Honey offers many health benefits. Raw honey, which comes directly from the hive, contains healthy animal pollen, propolis and many antioxidants.
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Studies have not shown that raw honey has more health benefits than regular honey, but some people believe that the processing and pasteurization of regular honey reduces many of the benefits. Some people believe that this is why raw honey offers more health benefits than regular honey.
In this article, we compare the health benefits of raw honey and regular honey.
What is raw honey?
Raw honey is unpasteurized or unfiltered.
Honey is a sweet, golden liquid made by bees. Bees store their honey in small hexagonal cups called honeycombs. Raw honey comes directly from the honeycomb.
Honey from the hive contains bee pollen, beeswax and parts of dead bees. Honey producers often pass raw honey through a filter to remove as many impurities as possible, but some often remain. It’s always good to eat.
Unlike raw honey, regular honey undergoes a pasteurization process. This means that the producers heat to kill the yeast cells that can affect its growth, increase its life, and make it more beautiful and beautiful. However, pasteurization can damage the nutritional value of honey.
Some historical evidence estimates that humans have been using honey for over 8,000 years. In ancient times, people used unprocessed honey, but today, most people use enriched honey.
In fact, honey provides the following benefits:
- antibacterial action
- therapeutic effects
- Food antioxidants
- anti-inflammatory effect
Raw honey also contains bee pollen and bee propolis, a glue-like substance that bees use to hold the hive together. Regular honey may not have the same level of propolis and bee pollen as raw honey.
A 2017 study on honey and a 2015 study on bee pollen and propolis report that bee pollen can provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.
Health benefits of raw honey.
1. Antioxidant effects
Natural honey contains many compounds that act as antioxidants, including phytochemicals, flavonoids and ascorbic acid.
Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in the body by eliminating free radicals. Scientists have linked oxidative stress to many chronic health problems, including many cancers. By eating foods rich in antioxidants, people can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Some people believe that pasteurization reduces the number of antioxidants in honey, which means that pasteurized honey does not provide the same benefits as raw honey.
There is no specific research on how pasteurization affects the antioxidants in honey, but studies show that additional heating can reduce their antioxidant content.
2. Nutrition
Honey contains nutrients that can make it a healthy addition to food.
The nutritional and chemical composition of raw honey varies between countries and regions and depends in part on the types of flowers from which the bees collect their nectar. Despite these factors, honey still contains good compounds, such as antioxidants, amino acids and vitamins.
One tablespoon or 21 grams (g) of raw honey contains 64 calories and 16 grams of sugar. These values ​​may vary depending on the model and batches.
Natural honey contains small amounts of the following vitamins and minerals:
- Niacin
- riboflavin
- pantothenic acid
- calcium
- magnesium
- Manganese
- potassium
- phosphorus
- Zinc
Honey usually contains sugar. A little more than half of the sugar in honey is fructose. Research has linked fructose to various health problems.
However, even with its fructose content, honey can be a better choice than table sugar. Some studies show that honey can protect against diabetes and that some types of honey can help improve cholesterol levels.
People with diabetes or those following a low-sugar diet may choose to consume honey in moderation to avoid dramatic changes in their blood sugar levels. Pure honey has a glycemic index (GI) of 58, which means it has a low impact on blood sugar levels. Learn about GI measurements here.
3. Antibacterial action
Honey can help heal wounds and prevent infections. Honey is a poison and a poison. It contains hydrogen peroxide and glucose oxidase and has a low pH, which means it can kill harmful bacteria and fungi. In addition, due to its unique chemical composition, it does not promote the growth of yeast or bacteria.
Due to its antibacterial activity, people can use it to clean wounds,
Studies have shown that honey, which is an unprocessed type of honey, can kill pathogens, including:
- Escherichia coli or E. coli, a bacteria that causes food poisoning and wound infection
- Staphylococcus aureus or S. aureus, the microbe responsible for skin infections
- Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori, a bacterium that causes stomach ulcers and chronic gastritis
4. Wound treatment
Many studies have shown that honey works well as a healing dressing.
Research confirms that honey is useful in the treatment of wounds due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some evidence also shows that honey has anti-bacterial properties.
Also, honey is acidic, which helps release oxygen from the wound and promotes healing.
Apply the extracted honey directly to the small cut and burn, then put a gauze or bandage over the wound.
5. Remove the cough
Many studies have shown that honey can be as effective as, or more than, some over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines. Many cough medicines are not suitable for young children, so honey may be a good choice for children over one year of age.
A meta-analysis shows that honey may be an effective way to reduce the severity and frequency of childhood cough. A small study found that a mixture of milk and honey kind of reduces cough in children as well as over-the-counter medicine.
6. Treating diarrhea
Raw honey can have a mild effect on digestion, helping to reduce the symptoms of diarrhea.
A study of 150 children with severe gastroenteritis found that those who received honey from the oral rehydration solution had better relief from diarrhea than those who did not receive honey. Children who received honey have less movement and recover faster from the disease.
To help treat mild diarrhea, try taking a teaspoon of raw honey or mixing honey with juice. Avoid drinking too much alcohol, as too much sugar can make diarrhea worse.
7. Protect the brain
Raw honey has anti-inflammatory properties.
Some evidence suggests that honey may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit the brain. An animal study found that rats who ate honey were protected from brain damage caused by lead exposure.
In addition, one study says that unsweetened honey may contain substances that help fight inflammation in the hippocampus, the part of the brain involved in memory.
Risks
As long as a person is not allergic to bee pollen,raw honey is generally safe to use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that people should not give honey to babies under 1 year old because of the risk of infant botulism. Honey is good from 1 year. This applies to both raw and after honey.
Choosing the right type of honey
Processed honey will have a label that says “pure honey.” If the label does not include the word “raw” or does not come from a farmer or beekeeper who can certify that it is raw, the manufacturer may cover it up.
The label can also describe the type of flower bees used to make this honey. The type of flower determines the taste, color and antioxidant and vitamin content of honey.
Most brands of pasteurized honey have a label that says “pure honey.” Others may say “honey clover” or say they are from a local area. Even the products called “honey oil” may not be raw, because some manufacturers make honey nutritious.
Some processed honey products contain high fructose corn syrup or other additives. Check the label to make sure the honey is pure.
Raw honey has become popular in recent years and people can buy it in many food and health stores. Farmers markets also sell raw honey, sometimes from a beekeeper.
When raw honey becomes “sugar”
Raw honey can crystallize after months of storage. This means that the honey acquires a grainy or sweet taste. Crystallized honey is safe to eat and tastes great. To rehydrate the honey, use a gentle heating method:
- Boil a pot of water and remove it from the heat.
- Put a bag of honey in hot water. Do not allow the water to reach the top of the honey bag to avoid damaging it.
- Remove the honey bag after a few minutes. If it is still hard or crystalline, repeat the process.
Do not cook honey quickly or put it directly into boiling water or on a hot stove, as this can destroy some of the nutrients.
