People have been utilizing honey for more than eight thousand years; humans use honey for medicine and food. Raw honey is being utilized as a remedy. It has many medical uses and health benefits. In some hospitals, doctors use it to treat wounds. Initially, people used to utilize raw honey, but now there are different products of honey available in the market, such as organic honey or pure honey. Furthermore, many companies sell processed honey.
Processed honey is pasteurized by intense heating. This process can improve the shelf life of honey, kill Unwanted yeast, enhance the texture and colour of honey, and destroy the beneficial nutrients in honey. Moreover, processed honey also contains added sugar which is not good for health. All the health benefits are specific to raw honey. If you do not know what is raw honey and find it hard to recognize raw honey and pasteurized honey.
Read this article to learn what is raw honey.
What is raw honey?
Raw honey is the honey that exists in a hive. Raw honey is neither filtered nor pasteurized. Honey extracts fresh from the honeycomb. Organic honey or raw honey naturally restricts microorganisms' development due to its high acidic nature and low moisture. But the nectar naturally contains yeast spores that are used to produce honey that can increase and cause crystallization and fermentation in the honey. Fermentation in honey is not very dangerous but can change the taste of honey. That is why some companies pasteurize honey, which prevents it from crystallization, kill yeast, and increase organic honey's shelf life. But at the same time, it kills the beneficial nutrients from honey. And the pasteurized honey can not be called raw honey because this process changes the honey properties, and it is not the same as it is present in the hive. Following are the few benefits of raw honey.
- Raw honey contains bee pollen.
The process of pasteurization eliminates bee pollen. A 2015 report about the benefits of bee pollen showed that raw honey contains anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant effects, pain-relieving properties, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Raw honey or organic honey become more healthy and beneficial due to all these properties of bee pollen. It will kill bacteria and increase honey's ability to heal wounds. Additionally, bee pollen consists of vitamins A and C, amino acids, and limited quantities of supplements such as sodium, calcium and magnesium.
- A good antioxidants effects
Honey bees extract nectar from flowers which is a good source of antioxidants. Plant chemicals contain a good amount of antioxidants. Raw honey contains antioxidants as much as vegetables and fruits; antioxidants contain free radicals which shield your body from cell damage. Free radicals add to the ageing process and also prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. According to research, polyphenols, the antioxidant in honey, play an important role in preventing coronary illness.
- Antifungal and antibacterial properties
Raw honey consists of bee pollen, a good source of antifungal and antibacterial properties. According to research, raw honey can kill harmful bacteria and fungi. Raw honey consists of hydrogen peroxide, which is essentially used as antiseptics. For centuries raw honey is being used to heal wounds due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
- Pain-relieving and healing properties
Raw honey is utilized in medical treatments. It is effective in treating wounds and contain pain-relieving properties. It aids tissue regeneration and kills germs. According to research, raw honey reduce infection and aids the healing process. Many hospitals utilize raw honey to treat minor infections and wounds. But keep in mind, it is sterile and inspected; you can not use every honey to treat wounds. Raw honey contains anti-inflammatory property which is effective for pain-relieving. Organic honey is also used to relieve pain. It is also used to treat the common cold, Cough and heal burns.
- A good source of phytonutrient
Plants contain a natural compound which is called phytonutrient. It shields plants from any outside harm. Prevent ultraviolet radiation and keep insects away from plants. It is also responsible for antibacterial, antioxidants and antifungal properties. It is also the reason that organic honey and raw honey exhibit anti-cancer and immune-boosting benefits. But the pasteurization process destroys these beneficial properties of raw honey. That is why raw honey is not the same as pasteurized honey.
- Solve digestive problems
Raw honey is also effective in treating digestive problems, for example, diarrhoea. It has also been shown to be powerful to treat stomach ulcers. Raw honey kills H. Pylori (Helicobacter pylori), which is a typical reason for stomach ulcers. Organic honey and raw honey also contain powerful prebiotic, which means it feeds the good bacteria that live in digestion tracts. This bacteria is effective for digestion as well as overall health.
- Help in sore throat and cough
Raw honey proves to be effective in treating cold and sore throat. It is an ancient remedy to treat sore throat. Adding a spoon of honey to your tea can prevent you from every virus and have great health benefits. It likewise helps in coughs and infection. According to research, organic honey contains ingredients that are as effective as dextromethorphan, and it is a common supplement in cough medicine. One or two spoons of honey are enough to treat cough and sore throat.
Is raw honey organic?
Organic honey goes through the pasteurization and filtering process. That is why not every raw honey is organic. Organic honey usually has an organic seal, which shows that it is an organic product. But if you are searching for raw honey with bee pollen and every natural nutrient of honey, you should look for honey with the seal of raw honey. Raw honey and regular honey are safe to use and consume for everyone. But it is important to look for honey that does not contain added sugar. But the excessive use of honey can cause problems. Raw honey and organic honey contain clostridium botulinum bacteria which causes food poisoning. That is why avoid using it too much in your foods.