Honey is food made by bees for bees, but many people also enjoy it. Humans have prized honey for its sweet taste for thousands of years. Some researchers say honey is more than a sweetener. It may also have health benefits, though there is little evidence for some of its medicinal uses.
Raw honey comes straight from a beehive. Some honey producers pass the substance through a coarse filter to remove foreign matter, but it remains unprocessed food. Most of the honey sold in stores goes through a heating process to make it less sticky and easier to filter.
Honeycombs are the areas bees put honey while they create it. Theyre basically small wax storage units.
No, honey isnt bee vomit. While bees do suck up nectar from flowers to make honey, it doesnt go into their regular stomach. It goes into an expandable crop, which is also called the honey stomach. This is a separate stomach and helps them turn nectar into honey. The honey will never reach the actual digestive tract of a bee.
Bees make honey from the nectar of flowers, and we use it as a sweetener. Photo Credit: iStock / Getty s
Because pasteurization exposes the honey to high temperatures, it may destroy or remove honey’s natural properties. This means that raw honey may offer more powerful health benefits, in terms of healing wounds and fighting infections, than regular honey. Many studies have found that raw honey has health benefits.
Filtered Honey vs. Unfiltered Honey
Honey can come in filtered or unfiltered versions:
Filtered honey. All or most of the small particles, air bubbles, pollen grains, comb, and other things have been taken out.
Unfiltered honey. This honey might still have some find particles or other small pieces inside the honey itself.
All honey can crystallize. Types of honey that are higher in glucose are more likely to crystallize than others. Some types crystallize very slowly such as tupelo honey and sourwood honey.â
Crystallized honey is safe to eat. You can use it as a spread or in hot drinks.
If your honey has crystallized, put the bottle in a bowl of hot (not boiling) water to soften. Dont microwave honey, as that can make it taste unpleasant.
Although it is not a rich source of nutrients, some people regard honey as a health food. There is little or no evidence for many common claims about honey, but research supports some of the following:
Anti-inflammatory effects
Honey contains antioxidants, which can protect the body from inflammation. Inflammation can lead to a variety of health issues, including heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. One study showed that antioxidants in buckwheat honey were detectable in blood plasma, showing that eating honey could enhance antioxidant activity in the body.
Cough relief for children
Health authorities do not recommend over-the-counter medications to treat young childrens coughs and colds. Some parents may look for natural remedies. In one study, 2 teaspoons of honey relieved childrens nighttime cough and allowed them to sleep. However, doctors do not recommend this practice for children less than a year old.
Minerals and compounds
Honey has about 31 different minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. It also has several important amino acids (the building blocks of protein).
Antioxidants
Honey is high in polyphenols and flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. That means they help protect your body against some types of cell damage.â
Wound and burn healing
For many years, honey has been used to treat burns and wounds. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties may ease burns and improve wound healing.â
Cholesterol
Some research has indicated that honey may help reduce cholesterol. In one study, levels of total cholesterol, LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides went down in people who had 70 grams of honey (about 2.5 ounces) each day for 4 weeks. Their HDL (or “good”) cholesterol also increased.
Honey is a safe food for most people, but not for all. Here are some potential risks of eating honey, including raw honey:
Botulism in infants
You should not give honey to infants under 12 months. Honey contains dust particles that may carry spores of the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, that causes botulism. Because a babys immune system is still developing, these spores can cause infant botulism, which could cause them to get very sick. Using honey in cooking food for children should be safe, as heat destroys most bacteria.
Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that attacks your childs nerves. The first sign is usually constipation. Your baby may also have muscle weakness, which means they might have trouble feeding and breathing, and a weak cry.
Allergies
People who are prone to allergies should be careful about eating honey. Although honey allergies are rare, they do occur. This is because of the bee pollen in the honey. Bee pollen is a mixture of pollen and digestive enzymes from bees. It can trigger a serious allergic reaction. Youre more likely to find pollen in raw honey.
Some people say that eating local honey improves their seasonal allergies. They believe the pollen in the honey desensitizes them to pollen in the air. There is not enough evidence to support this. It could be harmful to rely on honey rather than seeking medical treatment for respiratory allergies.
Symptoms and signs of an allergic reaction include:
- Wheezing
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Excessive sweating
- Weakness
Fake honey
Some honey has added fillers or ingredients. This can be anything including cane sugar, corn syrup, palm sugar, invert sugar, rice syrup, or inulin syrup.
It can be hard to look at honey and tell if its real or not, unless you test it in a lab. Its best to be aware of the ingredients when you buy honey.
Where to Buy Honey
You can find honey at many different places:
- Grocery stores
- Farmers markets
- Local beekeepers
You can also shop online to order honey to your house.
Honey prices
Honey bought in the U.S. was priced around $2.21 in 2018 and was a bit lower in 2019, at $1.97 for a container.
The Health Benefits of Honey – Dr.Berg
FAQ
Does pasteurized honey still have benefits?
Is it safe to eat pasteurized honey?
What is the healthiest type of honey?
What is the difference between pasteurized honey and pure honey?
Is pasteurizing honey necessary?
There are some debates as to whether pasteurizing honey is even necessary. This is because the heating process kills a lot of its nutritional value, and people are not sure of the advantages. With products such as cows’ milk, pasteurizing is necessary to kill many of the bacteria found that are harmful for human consumption.
Is honey good for health?
Honey may seem like a healthier sweetener but when get right down to it, it is still sugar. One tablespoon of honey, contains 16 grams of sugar (table sugar has 13 grams per tablespoon). So, you don’t want to overdo it. In one study, honey appeared to improve cold symptoms (particularly coughs), and in some cases helped people get over a cold a little faster (by a day or two). These findings were only observational and don’t prove honey cures a cold. Honey has antimicrobial properties and may help with certain skin conditions. Do not give honey to babies younger than 12 months old. There is a rare but real risk of botulism poisoning.
Does pasteurization affect the nutritional value of honey?
However, pasteurization may adversely affect the number of nutrients in the honey. Some historical evidence estimates that humans have used honey for over 8,000 years. During ancient times, people would have used raw honey, but today, most people use pasteurized honey.
Why is pasteurized honey better than raw honey?
Honey pasteurization is a process where honey is heated. This destroys yeast and gives the honey a smoother texture. It can also help manufacturers reduce production costs. ( 1) Simply put: Pasteurized honey is cheaper to produce than raw honey. This is because pasteurized honey is often heated, filtered, and diluted with cheaper ingredients.