Fast Facts About Raw Honey

  • The beekeeping practice (also known as apiculture) is believed to date have begun as early as 700 B.C.
  • Throughout history, honey has been highly revered. In the Bible, it was even mentioned and used by God to motivate the Israelites (“Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey” [Exodus 33:3])
  • Ever since, honey has been used for medicinal purposes. Back then, it was also widely used to embalm the deceased. It also played a role in many other religious ceremonies.
  • Thanks to its sweet properties and rarity, honey has also been deemed sacred for many centuries.
  • Honey was also used as energy source by runners during the ancient Greece Olympics.
  • When processed and overly heated, many of honey’s health benefits are eradicated.

What is Raw Honey?

In a nutshell, raw honey is unfiltered and unpasteurized.

It is one of the world’s most beloved sweeteners made by bees from flower nectars.

Unlike its processed counterpart, raw honey’s amazing health benefits and nutritional value are intact down to the very last drop.

Raw honey has been known to help with several health conditions including management of hypertension, management of cardiovascular conditions, sleep disorders, seasonal allergies, among others.

For those who are trying to lose the excess weight, honey can be used to replace diets that contain high sugar, corn syrup, or fructose.

How is Raw Honey Different from Commercial Honey?

Raw Honey

  • Still in its crude form (it is taken direct from honey comb cells)
  • Typically has bee pollens and propolis (enhances its health benefits further)
  • Not filtered or pasteurized
  • Has no added additives or preservatives
  • Can’t be heated over 95 degrees

Commercial Honey

  • Has been heated excessively (in the process, all the minerals, natural enzymes, and vitamins has been destroyed)
  • Processed and filtered (propolis, pollen, and beneficial phytonutrients have been eliminated)
  • Sometimes chemically refined
  • Is sometimes derived from bees treated with antibiotics or inorganic hives
  • May contain additives
  • Has been pasteurized and filtered

What Are the Basic Nutrition Facts About Honey?

Aside from being used as a natural sweetener, honey is regarded as one of nature’s purest foods.

Honey has also earned the reputation “functional food” because aside from being natural, it has many peerless and proven health benefits.

Honey’s nutritional value is unbelievably impressive.

  • It contains 22 amino acids
  • It has 27 minerals
  • It has over 5,000 enzymes
  • Vitamins in honey include riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6
  • Minerals in honey include iron, calcium selenium, phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium
  • Honey has also been known to effectively counteract detrimental free radical activity, thanks to its nutraceuticals

Just a tablespoon of honey already contains 64 calories.

Honey also has a healthy glycemic load per tablespoon.

What’s even amazing is unlike white sugar, raw honey will not cause sugar spikes or elevated insulin release.

While considered more affordable, honey will take a lot of effort to produce.

Not everyone may be aware of it but thousands of hours of pollen collection from more or less 2 million flowers will be needed to produce just a pound of pure honey.

Honey is around 18 percent water.

However, honey that is of exceptional quality has minimal water content.

Best of all, honey will not need special storage or refrigeration—you can consume it straight from the jar!