Vitamins in Raw Honey

Overview
Honey has been valued for millennia; in ancient times its sweet taste was considered a gift from the
gods. It has had a wide range of spiritual, cosmetic and medicinal uses. Today raw honey is still
popular because of its many nutritional benefits including its high vitamin content. Raw honey is
Object 1

nutritionally superior to processed honey because processing significantly reduces the nutritional
content.
Object 4
2
3

Vitamin C
Raw honey is rich in vitamin C. Medical experts believe vitamin C to be one of the most effective
vitamins available to humans. It boosts the immune system, helping to protect the body from
infections and disease. Vitamin C is also great for the skin and can be topically absorbed. This
means that raw honey can be smoothed onto the skin as a face cleanser and also to ease topical
symptoms such as burns, rashes and dry skin.

Vitamin B6
Raw honey also has a high Vitamin B6 content. This vitamin is important to the human body as it is
involved in chemical reactions that take place each minute. Vitamin B6 is actually a group of three
different vitamins; pyridoxamine, pridoxal and pyridoxine. This combination works in tandem with
enzymes within the body to ensure that your bodys metabolism is functioning properly.

Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 or Niacin is also found in raw honey. Niacin can help to reduce levels of bad cholesterol
or LDL, low-density lipoproteins, and also increase levels of beneficial cholesterol or HDL high
density lipoproteins.

Vitamin B2
Raw honey contains vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin. Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin
that helps to fuel the bodys energy by converting carbohydrates into sugar. It also helps with the
break down of fats and amino acids.

Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, or thiamin, is also present in raw honey. Thiamin helps to break down carbohydrates to
fuel the body. It also neutralizes free radicals which can compromise the immune system and speed
up the aging process.
Vitamin B5
Raw honey contains vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic Acid. Vitamin B5 is present in your
blood plasma where it maintains the balance of hormones and keeps the nervous system in top
condition.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Honey

Story at-a-glance
Honey is a blend of sugar, trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids that has
antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties
Honey works as well as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough
medications, to soothe cough and related sleeping difficulties
Unprocessed honey can help treat skin infections, helps wounds heal, and improves dandruff
and itchy scalp
It takes about 60,000 bees, collectively traveling up to 55,000 miles and visiting more than 2
million flowers, to gather enough nectar to make one pound of honey
Choose raw, unfiltered honey for medicinal properties; most honey on the market is highly
processed and may even contain additives like corn syrup

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By Dr. Mercola
Honey has been valued as a natural sweetener long before sugar became widely available in the
16th century. Honey production flourished in ancient Greece and Sicily, for instance, while animals
other than humans bears, badgers, and more have long raided honeybee hives, risking stings for
the sweet reward.1
Honey is truly a remarkable substance, made even more extraordinary by the process with which it
is made. This blend of sugar, trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids is quite unlike any
other sweetener on the planet.
And while honey is high in fructose, it has many health benefits when used in moderation
(assuming you're healthy). Before I delve into those, here's a brief "lesson" on how honey is
made...

How Honey Is Made (Fascinating!)

It takes about 60,000 bees, collectively traveling up to 55,000 miles and visiting more than 2
million flowers, to gather enough nectar to make one pound of honey.2
Once the nectar is gathered, the bee stores it in its extra stomach where it mixes with enzymes, and
then passes it (via regurgitation) to another bee's mouth. This process is repeated until the nectar
becomes partially digested and is then deposited into a honeycomb.
Once there, the honeybees fan the liquid nectar with their wings, helping the water to evaporate and
create the thick substance you know as "honey." This honeycomb is then sealed with a liquid
secretion from the bee's abdomen, which hardens into beeswax. As Live Science reported:3
"Away from air and water, honey can be stored indefinitely, providing bees with the
perfect food source for cold winter months."

There are more than 300 kinds of honey in the US, each with a unique color and flavor that is
dependent upon the nectar source. Lighter colored honeys, such as those made from orange
blossoms, tend to be milder in flavor while darker-colored honeys, like those made from
wildflowers, tend to have a more robust flavor.4

5 Honey Facts You Might Not Know

Honey, particularly in its raw form, offers unique health benefits that you might not be aware of.
Among them
1. Honey Makes Excellent Cough "Medicine"
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists honey as a demulcent, which is a substance that
relieves irritation in your mouth or throat by forming a protective film.5
Research shows honey works as well as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over the
counter cough medications, to soothe cough and related sleeping difficulties due to upper
respiratory tract infections in children.6
2. Honey Can Treat Wounds
Honey was a conventional therapy in fighting infection up until the early 20th century, at which
time its use slowly vanished with the advent of penicillin. Now the use of honey in wound care is
regaining popularity, as researchers are determining exactly how honey can help fight serious skin
infections.
Honey has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidants activities that make it ideal for treating
wounds. In the US, Derma Sciences uses Manuka honey for their Medihoney wound and burn
dressings.
Manuka honey is made with pollen gathered from the flowers of the Manuka bush (a medicinal
plant), and clinical trials have found this type of honey can effectively eradicate more than 250
clinical strains of bacteria, including resistant varieties such as:
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
MSSA (methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus)
VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci)

Compared to other types of honey, Manuka has an extra ingredient with antimicrobial qualities,
called the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). It is so called because no one has yet been able to
discover the unique substance involved that gives it its extraordinary antibacterial activity.
Honey releases hydrogen peroxide through an enzymatic process, which explains its general
antiseptic qualities, but active Manuka honey contains "something else" that makes it far superior to
other types of honey when it comes to killing off bacteria.7
That being said, research shows that any type of unprocessed honey helped wounds and ulcers heal.
In one study, 58 of 59 wounds showed "remarkable improvement following topical application of
honey."8
3. Honey Improves Your Scalp
Honey diluted with a bit of warm water was shown to significantly improve seborrheic dermatitis,
which is a scalp condition that causes dandruff and itching. After applying the solution every other
day for four weeks, "all of the patients responded markedly." According to the researchers:9
"Itching was relieved and scaling was disappeared within one week. Skin lesions were
healed and disappeared completely within 2 weeks. In addition, patients showed
subjective improvement in hair loss."

4. Help Boost Your Energy

A healthy, whole-food diet and proper sleep is the best recipe for boundless energy, but if you're
looking for a quick energy boost, such as before or after a workout, honey can suffice. This is
particularly true for athletes looking for a "time-released fuel" to provide energy over a longer
duration.10
5. Reduce Allergy Symptoms
Locally produced honey, which will contain pollen spores picked up by the bees from local plants,
introduces a small amount of allergen into your system. Theoretically, this can activate your
immune system and over time can build up your natural immunity against it.
The typical recommendation is to take about a teaspoon-full of locally produced honey per day,
starting a few months PRIOR to the pollen season, to allow your system to build up immunity. And
the key here is local.
This approach only works because it has pollen of local plants you may be allergic to. Honey from
other parts of the country simply won't work. While research on this has yielded conflicting results,
one study found that, during birch pollen season, compared to the control group, the patients using
birch pollen honey experienced:11
 60 percent reduction in symptoms
Twice as many asymptomatic days
70 percent fewer days with severe symptoms
50 percent decrease in usage of antihistamines

Interestingly enough, there were few differences between the two honey groups (those who took
regular honey, versus those who took honey that contained birch pollen.) However, the birch pollen
honey group used less histamines than those who used regular honey. The authors concluded:
"Patients who pre-seasonally used birch pollen honey had significantly better control of
their symptoms than did those on conventional medication only, and they had
marginally better control compared to those on regular honey. The results should be
regarded as preliminary, but they indicate that birch pollen honey could serve as a
complementary therapy for birch pollen allergy."

Honey for Herpes

Good-quality honey offers several topical wound-care benefits that can explain some of its success
as a remedy for herpes sores:
It draws fluid away from your wound
The high sugar content suppresses microorganism growth
Worker bees secrete an enzyme (glucose oxidase) into the nectar, which then releases low
levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with your wound
In one study, 16 adult subjects with a history of recurrent labial and genital herpes attacks used
honey to treat one attack, and a commonly prescribed antiviral drug, Acyclovir cream, during
another. (It's important to realize that neither the drug nor the honey will actually cure genital
herpes. They only treat the symptoms.)
Interestingly, honey provided significantly better treatment results. For labial herpes, the mean
healing time was 43 percent better, and for genital herpes, 59 percent better than acyclovir. Pain and
crusting was also significantly reduced with the honey, compared to the drug. Two cases of labial
herpes and one case of genital herpes remitted completely with the honey treatment, whereas none
remitted while using acyclovir.12

3 DIY Honey Home Remedies

Honey is a humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture, making it an ideal addition to
moisturizers, shampoos, and conditioners. Along with its antimicrobial properties, honey makes a
wonderful addition to homemade personal care products. The National Honey Board has a few you
can try out for yourself:13
1. Honey Hair Conditioner: Mix cup honey with cup olive oil. Work a small amount through
your hair until coated. Cover your hair with a shower cap and let sit for 30 minutes. Shampoo as
normal and rinse.
2. Honey Body Moisturizer: Mix 5 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons rose oil, and 2 cups almond
oil in a medium-sized bottle. Apply as needed onto wet skin.
3. Honey Almond Scrub: Mix 3 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and 6 tablespoons of
finely crushed almonds. Rub the exfoliating scrub onto your face gently and rinse with warm water.
The Organic Consumers Association has also published this simple honey lemon cough syrup that's
useful to keep on hand during the winter months:14
Honey Lemon Cough Syrup

Lemon helps promote health by quickly alkalinizing your body, and honey will kill most bacteria
while soothing your throat. This is a perfect choice for a quick cough remedy.

Put a pint of raw honey in a pan on the stove on VERY low heat (Do not boil honey as this
changes its medicinal properties).
Take a whole lemon and boil in some water in a separate pan for 2-3 minutes to both soften
the lemon and kill any bacteria that may be on the lemon skin.
Let the lemon cool enough to handle then cut it in slices and add it to the pint of honey on
the stove.
Let mixture cook on warm heat for about an hour.
Then strain the lemon from the honey making sure all lemon seeds are removed.
Let cool, then bottle in a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator.

This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator. To soothe a cough, take 1/2 teaspoon for a 25
lb. child and 1 teaspoon for a 50 lb. child, about 4 times a day, or as often as needed. Adults can
take 1-tablespoon doses.

Is Honey a Healthy Natural Sweetener? How to Avoid Fake

Honey
As far as natural sweeteners go, honey does have a place. The main thing to remember when it
comes to honey is that not all honey is created equal. The antibacterial activity in some honeys is
100 times more potent than in others, while processed refined honey will lack many of these
beneficial properties altogether. Your average domestic "Grade A" type honey found in the grocery
store is likely highly processed.
It's also been found that more than 75 percent of the honey on American supermarket shelves may
be ultra-processedto the point that all inherent medicinal properties are completely goneand
then smuggled into the country by the barrel drum. Nearly all of this "fake" honey is made in China.
Some of these brokers will even create bogus country of origin papers. All 60 jars of "honey" tested
by Food Safety News (FSN) came back negative for pollen, which is a clear sign of ultra-
processing.15 According to FSN:
"The removal of these microscopic particles from deep within a flower would make the
nectar flunk the quality standards set by most of the world's food safety agencies. The
food safety divisions of the World Health Organization, the European Commission and
dozens of others have also ruled that without pollen, there is no way to determine
whether the honey came from legitimate and safe sources."
In their investigation, FSN discovered the following:
76 percent of honey samples bought at grocery stores (such as TOP Food, Safeway, QFC,
Kroger, Harris Teeter, etc.) were absent of pollen
77 percent of the honey from big box stores (like Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, and Target)
were absent of pollen
100 percent of the honey sampled from drug stores (like Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and CVS
Pharmacy) were absent of pollen
The good news is all of the samples from farmers markets, co-ops, and natural stores like Trader
Joe's had the full, proper compliment of pollen, as did organic brands from common grocery stores.
When choosing honey, be sure it is raw, unfiltered, and 100% pure, from a trusted source.

Honey Should Be Consumed Only in Moderation

Honey has many healthy attributes, but it is also high in fructose, averaging around 53 percent.
Each teaspoon of honey has nearly four grams of fructose, which means it can exacerbate pre-
existing insulin resistance and wreak havoc on your body if consumed in excess. So when
consuming honey, carefully add the total grams of fructose (including fruits) that you consume each
day, and stay below 25 grams of total fructose per day.
Keep in mind, though, that if you have insulin resistance (i.e. if you are taking drugs for high blood
pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, or if you're overweight) you'd be better off avoiding all sweeteners,
including honey, since any sweetener can decrease your insulin sensitivity and worsen your insulin
resistance. If you're healthy, however, eating raw honey in moderation could provide many of the
benefits listed above.

HONEY'S NUTRITION AND HEALTH

FACTS

Honey's Nutritional Profile

Honey is a source of simple carbohydrates. Its composition on average, is 17.1 percent water, 82.4
percent total carbohydrate and 0.5 percent proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The
average carbohydrate content is mainly fructose (38.5 percent) and glucose (31percent). The
remaining 12.9 percent of carbohydrates is made up of maltose, sucrose and other sugars.

Source of Energy
As a carbohydrate, honey supplies energy at 64 calories per tablespoon, providing fuel to working
muscles. A limited study at the University of Memphis Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory
found honey to be one of the most effective forms of carbohydrate gels to ingest just prior to
exercise. According to Dr. Richard Kreider, the studys lead investigator, honey appears to be a
carbohydrate source that is relatively mild on its effects upon blood sugar compared to other
carbohydrate sources. Continuing research is examining the effects of honey in comparison to
different types of carbohydrate gels prior to weightlifting on the effect on glucose, insulin and
markers of protein breakdown.

Other limited studies performed in Dr. Kreiders lab have shown that honey may comprise half of
the secret to post-workout recuperation. Many post-workout products on the market combine a large
amount of carbohydrates with protein. The most common carbohydrate source used is maltodextrin,
a mildly sweet carbohydrate usually derived from corn. Upon comparison of a honey-protein vs. a
maltodextrin-protein shake taken after a vigorous weightlifting workout, the honey-protein
combination fared as well in promoting markers of muscle recuperation. The honey groups blood
sugar was sustained for at least two hours post-workout.
Our data suggest that honey functions well in all of the aspects associated with post-workout
recuperation and energy repletion. In addition, honey appears to stand out as perhaps a better source
of carbohydrate to ingest with post-workout protein supplements. These findings support our
previous study presented at the annual Experimental Biology meeting in April 2000, added Dr.
Kreider.

In addition to promoting muscle recuperation and glycogen [carbohydrates stored in muscle]

restoration, honey-protein combinations also seem well suited to sustain favorable blood sugar
concentrations after training.

Vitamins, Minerals and Amino Acids in Every Bite

Honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants.
The vitamins found in honey may include (depending on floral variety) niacin, riboflavin and
pantothenic acid; minerals present include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese,
phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Just as the color and flavor of honey varies by floral source, so
does the vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and amino acid content.

Antioxidants in Honey
In addition to the nutrients that are involved in normal metabolic activity, foods contain components
that may provide additional health benefits. These nutrients are referred to as nutraceuticals.
Phytochemicals are one broad category of nutraceuticals found in plants that are actively being
investigated by scientists for their health-promoting potential. Honey has a phytochemical profile
which includes polyphenols that can act as antioxidants.

Antioxidants perform the role of eliminating free radicals, which are reactive compounds in the
body. Free radicals are created through the normal process of metabolism and contribute to many
serious diseases. Researchers at the University of Illinois, led by Nicki J. Engeseth, Ph.D. and May
R. Berenbaum, Ph.D., are studying the antioxidant capacity of common honey varieties.
Honeys Antimicrobial Properties and Benefits to Wound Healing
The use of honey as a wound dressing goes back to ancient times and has now been rediscovered
by modern medicine, according to Dr. Peter Molan of the University of Waikato, New Zealand. It
is a common observation in the many reports in medical journals that numerous benefits result from
using honey to dress wounds, says Dr. Molan. The antibacterial properties of honey may help clear
infection in wounds, and the anti-inflammatory action of honey may reduce pain and may improve
circulation which hastens the healing process.
According to Dr. Molan, Honey stimulates the re-growth of tissue involved in healing, making
healing faster and reducing scarring.

National Honey Board - www.honey.com/

Honey
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 1,272 kJ (304 kcal)
Carbohydrates 82.4 g
Sugars 82.12 g
Dietary fiber 0.2 g
Fat 0g
Protein 0.3 g
Vitamins
(3%)
Riboflavin (B2)
0.038 mg
(1%)
Niacin (B3)
0.121 mg
(1%)
Pantothenic acid (B5)
0.068 mg
(2%)
Vitamin B6
0.024 mg
(1%)
Folate (B9)
2 g
(1%)
Vitamin C
0.5 mg
Minerals
(1%)
Calcium
6 mg
(3%)
Iron
0.42 mg
(1%)
Magnesium
2 mg
Phosphorus (1%)
 4 mg
(1%)
Potassium
52 mg
(0%)
Sodium
4 mg
(2%)
Zinc
0.22 mg
Other constituents
Water 17.10 g

9 Surprising Benefits of Honey

Italiano Espaol Deutsch
Honey has been used by countless cultures all around the world over the past 2,500 years. While
the numerous health benefits of honey have made it an important element of traditional medicines
such as Ayurvedic treatments, scientists are also researching the benefits in relation to modern
medicine, particularly in the healing of wounds.
It is known as Honig in German, Miele in Italian, Shahad in Hindi, Miel in French and Spanish, Mel
in Portuguese, in Russian, Honing in Dutch, and in Greek; there is almost no part in the
world where honey is not widely used and celebrated as a part of the cultural diet.
But what makes honey so popular? Most likely, it is the ease with which it can be consumed. One
can eat it directly, put it on bread like a jam, mix it with juice or any drink instead of sugar, or mix it
with warm water, lime juice, cinnamon and other herbs to make a medicine. It is savored by all due
to its taste as well as health benefits, making it extremely useful and versatile.

Health Benefits of Honey

Its benefits include the following treatments, taken from both traditional and modern medical
experts.
Sweetener: It can be used as a substitute for sugar in many food and drinks. It contains about 69%
glucose and fructose, enabling it to be used as a sweetener that is better for your overall health than
normal white sugar.
Weight Loss: Though it has more calories than sugar when honey is consumed with warm water, it
helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly, honey with lemon juice or cinnamon help
in reducing weight.
Energy Source: According to the USDA, honey contains about 64 calories per tablespoon.
Therefore, it is used by many people as a source of energy. On the other hand, one tablespoon of
sugar will give you about 15 calories. Furthermore, the carbohydrates in it can be easily converted
into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs, since it is very easy for the body to digest this
pure, natural substance.
 Improving
Athletic Performance: Recent research has shown that honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and
helps in boosting the performance of athletes. It is a great way to maintain blood sugar levels,
muscle recuperation, and glycogen restoration after a workout, as well as regulating the amount of
insulin in the body, as well as energy expenditure.
Source of Vitamins and Minerals: It contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. The type of
vitamins and minerals and their quantity depends on the type of flowers used for apiculture.
Commonly, honey contains vitamin C, calcium and iron. If you check the vitamin and mineral
content in regular sugar from any other source, you will find it to be completely absent or
insignificant.
Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties: It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, so it is
often used as a natural antiseptic in traditional medicines.
Antioxidants: It contains nutraceuticals, which are very effective for the removal of free radicals
from the body. As a result, our body immunity is improved against many conditions, even
potentially fatal ones like cancer or heart disease.
Skin Care with Milk and Honey: Milk and honey are often served together, since both of these
ingredients help in creating smooth, beautiful skin. Consuming this combination every morning is a
common practice in many countries for this very reason.
Honey in Wound Management: Significant research is being carried out to study its benefits in
the treatment of wounds and the Nursing Standard explains some of these benefits in wound
management in the document. These have been listed below:
Honey possesses antimicrobial properties.
It helps in promoting autolytic debridement.
It deodorizes malodorous wounds.
It speeds up the healing process by stimulating wound tissues.
It helps in initiating the healing process in dormant wounds.
It also helps in promoting moist wound healing.
These healing powers are not overstated. The Waikato Honey Research Unit provides details about
the world-wide research that is being carried out on the benefits of honey in medicine. Furthermore,
BBC reported in July of 2006 that doctors at the Christie Hospital in Didsbury, Manchester are
planning to use it for faster recovery of cancer patients after surgery. Such research will provide
scientific evidence for the so-called beliefs held by honey lovers all over the world and will help
in propagating the benefits to more people.
Now that you know the benefits of honey, how do you eat it? You can eat it raw, add it to water or
different beverages and you can also add it to several recipes.

Factors Governing the Benefits of Honey

The benefits of honey that we get greatly depend on its quality. Not all of it is created equally, so
quality is different, and subsequently, the various types do necessarily provide the same benefits.
Both the price and the health benefits of honey are dependent on its quality, so it has become very
important for both the manufacturers and consumers to understand the various factors that affect the
quality of honey. Some of these factors include the type of flowers used in the formation of the
honeycombs, the blending process, storage conditions, temperature of heating, and many more.
These factors have been explained in more detail below:
Type of flowers: According to the Honey Research Center at the University of Waikato, New
Zealand, there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions on the properties of honey, especially the
antimicrobial properties, based on the type of flowers used for its production. However, extensive
research has been carried out on the honeydew variety obtained from the conifer forests in the
central European mountains and the manuka variety obtained from New Zealand. The above
mentioned honeydew kind has been found to have high microbial activity while manuka kind has
been found to have high non-peroxide activity.
Blending: It is also believed that polyfloral honey (which is obtained from more than one flower)
provides more benefits than monofloral. Hence many companies sell blended honey as it offers the
benefits from a variety and is therefore considered to be healthier than non-blended.
Storage: When stored for a long duration, it becomes darker in color. It loses some of its properties
and may also ferment if the water content is too high. Therefore, prolonged storage should be
avoided, while newly harvested honey is almost always preferred.
Heating: Heating honey leads to drastic changes in its chemical composition. As a result, heating to
high temperatures reduces its benefits. It is no wonder many people prefer raw or organic or raw
organic honey. While raw by definition signifies less processing (and no heating), organic honey is
prepared using stringent organic production methods and processing standards, in which heating to
high temperatures is not allowed.
Water Content: Honey can also undergo fermentation. If the water content is high (above 19%),
the chances of it becoming fermented are high. You can measure the water content using a
refractometer. Furthermore, freely flowing honey either contains higher water content or has been
heated to disturb the natural crystallization process, thereby reducing the benefits it will confer to
you.
Color: The color is a very useful tool to judge its quality. Light colored honey is more valued than
dark colored as the former has a delicate flavor. It becomes darker upon storage and heating.
Filtration: Most of the benefits are due to the presence of the pollen within the honey. Without the
pollen, it is a glucose-fructose solution, and is just as bad for you as sugar. Unfortunately,
companies market the transparent clear product as good quality, while in reality, ultra-filtered honey
does not have many health benefits at all. That being said, you should be very cautious while
consuming pollen-rich honey. If you have pollen allergy, avoid consuming it.

What is Organic Honey?

Some people have the opinion that all honey available in the market is natural and obtained from
the wild. Others feel that during its production carried out on chemically sprayed farms it cannot get
contaminated with the pesticides sprayed on the crops and weeds.
However, the truth is that the bees may also get affected by the extensive pesticide usage which
goes on in the chemically treated farms. The issue is so severe that the Russian president, Vladimir
Putin, warned Barack Obama in May 2013 that if the excessive control of pesticides is not reduced,
it could lead to a globally volatile situation as the bee population throughout the world becomes
more and more affected. If pesticides can kill the bees, how can they not affect the honey produced
by these bees? Moreover, non-organic production involves extensive usage of antibiotics for disease
control. It should also be noted that so far, there is no scientific proof that organic honey is
healthier than non-organic.
Then why should you eat organic honey? Well, many people prefer to be cautious. Most of our
decisions are based on our beliefs and conscience. Since organic production involves following
stringent guidelines, people feel secure when they eat organic type as compared to when they eat
non-organic. Given below are some of the ways in which pesticide and antibiotic contamination of
honey can take place:
Contamination of Pesticides in Honey
It can be contaminated with the pesticides sprayed on crops through one or more of the following
ways:
-In some cases, when the plants and weeds containing flowers have been sprayed with pesticides,
the bees are poisoned with pesticides.
-At times, the pesticide is sprayed on the bees directly.
-In many cases, the bees collect nectar and pollen that has been contaminated with pesticides.
-When pesticides are sprayed, part of the amount is accumulated in water on or near the plants.
When the bees drink this water, they are also contaminated.
-On some occasions, the pesticide gets sprayed on the bee hives or gets transported to it from the
sprayed plants.
Residues of Antibiotics
Conventional the bees are given large doses of antibiotics to help protect them from diseases, but
unfortunately, the honey also becomes contaminated with these antibiotics. In 2002, samples of
Chinese honey were tested for the presence of antibiotics in Europe. Several samples were found to
contain traces of antibiotics, which led to a ban on imports of Chinese honey in Europe. The ban
was later removed in 2004 due to improvements in Chinese veterinary standards and imports of
honey from China were resumed.
What leads to this antibiotics contamination? Unlike organic production, conventional honey
production does not involve stringent guidelines for the quantity and mode of transmission of
antibiotics to the bees. As a result, apiculturists have a free hand when using these antibiotics. When
farmers use excessive quantities of antibiotics the chance of contamination increases.
What is the problem with residues of antibiotics being found in honey? The antibiotics given to the
bees are veterinary antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, streptomycin and sulfonamides. Large
doses of chloramphenicol administered into the human beings may cause cancer and aplastic
anemia. Similarly, high doses of streptomycin and sulfonamides are harmful to the human body.
Many countries have not banned the usage of these harmful drugs in apiculture. The EU has banned
all three while the US has thus far only banned chloramphenicol.

Where to buy raw honey?

You can buy raw honey at many grocery stores and health food stores. Local farmers markets are
also great places to pick it up. Large big-box stores in the west, such as Walmart and Target, are also
reliable places to find raw honey. Since it can be locally produced, you can also find this beneficial
product at co-ops around the world.

Where to buy local honey?

Some of the best places to find raw honey are in the local neighborhoods near you. As a cottage
industry that has gotten a major boost in recent years, local farmers markets and co-ops almost
always have raw honey for sale. You can also go to larger stores and chains, which have seen the
trend and gotten on board. Try everything from small health foods stores to major big-box brands,
such as Target and Walmart.

What does honey do for you?

Honey does a number of things for the body, including strengthening the immune system, healing
wounds and burns, preventing infections, soothing inflammation in the respiratory system,
eliminating coughs and colds, balancing blood sugar and increasing athletic stamina. There are
dozens of reasons why it has become such an important staple in our diet, due to the many minerals
and nutrients it contains.

What are the health benefits of honey?

The health benefits of honey are quite impressive, and since it is such a concentrated source of
nutrients, it can be added to many different meals. Honey is able to monitor blood sugar levels,
increase energy in a healthy and sustainable way, soothe inflammation throughout the body, protect
heart health, and help to speed the healing process of wounds, and prevents infections.

What is in honey?
Honey contains a number of minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and
calcium. There are also important antioxidants, such as flavonoids and alkaloids. There are also
trace amounts of more than 15 amino acids found in honey!

Where to buy honey?

Some of the best places to buy honey are local farmers markets, grocery stores and medical stores.
Many people make their own honey, and it can help your allergies if you eat honey that contains
some of the pollen from where you live. It can help your system become accustomed and not react
as quickly!

Is pure honey good for you?

Yes, pure honey is very good for you. Although it is high in sugar, there are also numerous
antioxidants and organic compounds that make it well worth consuming. Also, pure honey is
unprocessed, which you wont find in many of the major labels and brands of honey. Locally
produced honey, otherwise known as raw honey, is the healthiest type of honey you could possibly
buy.

Is organic honey good for you?

Organic honey is indeed good for health. It is unprocessed, so it retains all of the minerals and
antioxidants, which is what you want. If you process honey, very often youre only left with sugar,
which is arguably the worst part of honey!

What makes honey organic?

Honey is considered organic when it is locally grown and not processes. Organic honey is also
known as raw honey, cannot contain any pesticides or environmental pollutants. Since it does not
go through the traditional process for safety, these standards must be upheld for honey to be
considered organic. Also, non-organic sugars, antibiotics or honey cannot be used at any point in
organic honey.