The Health Benefits of Honey and the Different Types

Bees are amazing creatures, and the process they use to make honey is truly remarkable. Let’s explore bees and the many health benefits of honey.

About Bees and Honey

Bees and honey are the foundation of our food source. Plants can’t populate without the bees. Each beehive has one Queen Bee, several male bees called drones, and about 20,000 to 40,000 female worker bees! They literally are worker bees. Did you know that to get one jar of honey, bees fly around the world the equivalent of 3 times! You read the distance correctly; the distance they travel is equal to flying around the world three times. Bees collect the pollen from plant nectar through a magnetic charge on their legs. Once they have accumulated their quota of pollen, they return to their hive, chew it up many, many times, adding some enzymes to it, fan it to remove most of its moisture, and when it becomes liquid, they store it in the cells of the comb, sealing it with beeswax.

Types of Honey

There are many classifications and processing methods for honey. Some of the most popular varieties include:

• Wildflower Honey
• Clover Honey
• Lavender Honey
• Buckwheat Honey
• Manuka Honey

Honey can also be sold as:

• Honeycomb
• Liquid honey
• Creamed honey
• Granulated honey
• Chunk honey

When processing honey, the heat destroys some of its best properties, so eating Raw or Strained honey is best. Some of the health benefits of honey may be reduced when it is heavily processed. Most commercial honey found in grocery stores has been pasteurized and heated, which can destroy some of its naturally occurring enzymes and beneficial compounds.

Sometimes honey will crystallize, ever wonder why? Honey crystallizes because it has more glucose in it, and the glucose starts dropping out. All you have to do is place the honey in a warm water bath, and it will slowly liquefy.

The Health Benefits of Honey

Honey has been used for over 8,000 years for its many health benefits. The Egyptians used honey as an embalming fluid and for wound care. Laboratory studies have shown that honey hampers the growth of food-borne pathogens such as E. coli, and fights some common bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

What about capturing the health benefits of honey for colds and allergies? Some laboratory tests have shown that honey does have the potential to clear up stuffy noses and ease allergies. Others feel that honey-based syrups ease the early symptoms of a cold, easing inflamed membranes and soothing a cough. Honey is also often used in place of sugar as part of a healthy diet.

In summary, some of the many health benefits of honey include:

• Can be used as a natural alternative to refined sugar when consumed in moderation.
• Provides antioxidant compounds that help combat oxidative stress.
• Supports metabolism and overall wellness and may help promote healthy blood sugar levels when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
• Contains natural antibacterial properties.
• Traditionally used to soothe sore throats and coughs.
• Supports wound healing.
• Helps support a healthy immune system.
• May help maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

Manuka Honey

Manuka Honey has been studied extensively, demonstrating its antibacterial properties and effectiveness in treating leg ulcers and pressure sores by stimulating healing. These studies have shown antibacterial properties even when Manuka Honey is subjected to extreme heat, which otherwise destroys its peroxide effect.

Honey and Gut Health

One of the lesser-known health benefits of honey is its effect on gut health. Honey contains natural compounds that may act as prebiotics, helping nourish beneficial bacteria within the microbiome. A healthy microbiome plays an important role in digestion, immune function, inflammation, and metabolism. Incorporating small amounts of honey into a whole-food diet may help support overall wellness. I know when I feel a cold coming on, I reach for my Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, water, and a Teaspoon of honey!

Honey and pH

The oldest known honey was found in clay pots in Georgia and is 4,600 years old, and it is still edible! I think that says oodles about honey’s stability and its ability to withstand bacteria and other pathogens. Maybe that is why many religions mention Honey so many times throughout their text. Honey is not only very stable due to its low moisture content, but it also has a high viscosity and a low pH (between 3.2 and 4.5), making it effective against bacteria and providing for a long shelf life.

Honey is roughly:

• 38% Fructose
• 31% Glucose
• 7% Maltose
• 17 % water
• Plus a small amount of sucrose and minerals.

Remember – sugar is sugar. Honey is often considered a more natural alternative to refined sugar because it contains antioxidants and trace minerals, but it is still a source of sugar and should be consumed in moderation.

A Final Note

I enjoy using honey in herbal tea, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, and salad dressings. Whether you choose wildflower honey, clover honey, or Manuka honey, the health benefits of honey make it a delicious addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Important: Honey should never be given to children under one year of age because of the risk of infant botulism.