Raw Honey - Nature's Healing Nectar
Pure raw honey is more than just a delicious sweetener. It contains nutrients that make it one of the most wholesome and nourishing sweeteners. Its friendly bacteria, phytonutrients and trace minerals harmonize the liver, neutralize toxins, and soothe pain. Honey is a gift from nature. When bees feast on flower nectar, they pollinate the surrounding flora and collect nectar to feed their hive. The bee’s natural enzymes mix with the nectar. The sweet honey that results from this mixture is then deposited into the comb of their living hive. Honey has been used medicinally for thousand of years in many different ways. When applied topically to wounds or burns it is known to soothe pain and fight infection. When eaten, the abundant antioxidants in honey help to build the immune system.1
When raw honey is collected and preserved in its pure state it is brimming with anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal phytonutrients. These nutrients soothe, nourish and tonify the digestive system. Its gentle laxative properties, healing minerals and ezymes have been shown to cure gastric ulcers and ease digestive disorders. Along with minerals and enzymes, raw honey possesses friendly bacteria- 6 species of lactobacilli and 4 species of bifidobacteria. These bacteria help to balance the flora of the digestive tract and neutralize toxins.2 Honey Tones the Liver and Balances Blood SugarHoney also tones the liver and promotes blood sugar control. It is the only natural sweetener that is composed of an equal 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Recent research shows that this combination is ideal for the liver. The fructose unlocks an enzyme that then converts glucose to glycogen. The brain needs glycogen for fuel during sleep and during physical exertion. If the liver doesn’t provide enough glycogen, stress hormones cause muscle proteins to be converted to glycogen. Over time, this process causes metabolic stress that leads to insulin resistance, diabetes and weight gain.2This unique and efficient metabolizing of honey into glycogen makes it an ideal carbohydrate source for athletes. Studies have shown that athletes who use moderate amounts of honey for fuel improve their performance. Buckwheat honey is a natural cough suppressant that is great for children. Hot water with lemon and raw honey is the most effective way to soothe sore throats and calm coughing spasms for adults and children, alike. Warning: To avoid the potential risk of infant botulism it is advised that honey should never be used for children under 2 years age.3 In addition to its throat soothing properties, the combination of honey and lemon causes fat stores to shift and become available for fuel. So drinking a small amount of honey in your lemon water, either hot or cold, is an ideal tonic during your detox routine. As with any sweetener, even natural ones, honey should be used in moderation. Its healing properties are imparted even in small doses and using it excessively will negate these effects by overburdening your liver with stored glycogen and offsetting your blood sugar balance.
Buy Honey Local and Unprocessed Heating honey destroys its nutrients and causes the honey to becomes mucus forming in the body. Thus it’s very important to consume honey that is raw, unfiltered and unprocessed. Unfiltered honey also contains residues of Propolis, a natural antibiotic produced by the bees to protect their hive. Organic honey guarantees that the bees have not been treated with chemical antibiotics or exposed to pesticides, traces of which may show up in honey.
Local raw honey is the very best form of honey! Small local apiaries (bee farms) tend to have strong healthy bees that produce superior honey. Also, local honey has been shown to decrease environmental allergies by allowing your body to familiarize itself with the local plant pollens. Look for local beekeepers in your area or search a nearby farmer’s market to find a source. Bees feast on a variety of nectar sources so you may find clover, wildflower, alfalfa, tupelo, buckwheat or orange blossom honey. Honey produced in the summer, by flower-fed bees, have the highest amounts of friendly bacteria. And in general, darker honey is more mineral rich and has a stronger taste. If you don’t find raw honey available to you locally, you can order online at SunFoods Raw honey can be found in a liquid form or in the comb or creamed. Store all honey at room temperature away from sunlight. To soften honey that has hardened, remove the lid and place the honey in a saucepan with water – heat slowly until the crystals dissolve. Honey is sweeter tasting than sugar, so when substituting honey for sugar, always use less. Remember that moderation is best. Raw honey is a precious and powerful substance – treat it with care and use like a medicine for it truly is a healing nectar! 1Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition (3rd Edition), by Paul Pitchford 2World's Healthiest Foods, by George Mateljan 3The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating, by Rebecca Wood
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