Categories
Related Products
The History of Honey
Human beings have been consuming raw honey since the dawn of time, and it isn't easy to pinpoint exactly when we started eating honey, though cave paintings found in Spain from 7000BC indicate beekeeping.
The applications of honey (natural, unprocessed honey, also known as 'raw honey') shown in many ancient cultures, such as;
The Ancient Egyptians
The people of ancient Egypt used raw honey as a way to sweeten things (like honey cakes). They also gave it to the gods and used it for embalming.
The Ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks used raw honey as medicine. Not only that, but just like the Egyptians, the Greeks also offered honey to their gods. In ancient times, Greeks also made cakes with honey (umm, are you getting hungry over there too?).
You may not believe this, but they even used honey to make cheesecakes (probably quite different from The Cheesecake Shop, LOL)!
The Ancient Romans
Beekeeping became more popular in Rome, which kept the honey flowing for the Romans to enjoy. Offering up this 'liquid gold' to their gods was also common.
It seems to be customary practice in all of these ancient cultures; the closest I came to seeing something similar was in Bali, the offerings contained lollies and biscuits.
The Romans also used honey in their cooking.
Raw Honey Vs Supermarket Honey
Unlike regular honey, raw honey has a lot of health benefits. Most commercial honey on supermarket shelves is highly processed and heated (destroying much of the nutrition and goodness).
Most supermarket brands may even be sourced from China and may not even be natural honey?
Because most store-bought honey is filtered (which removes the pollen, the pollen is essential), you won't be able to identify its botanical origin.
If the honey you were buying has no country of origin, you won't know the quality, and if it's from China, then who knows if it's even honey at all?
Supermarket Honey is a Dead Food
As we've spoken about, pasteurised milk is 'dead food' because all the goodness and enzymes are affected through the pasteurisation process.
Supermarket honey can be compared to processed milk as it goes through a pasteurisation process.
Why Pasteurise?
Honey is processed (pasteurised) to prolong its shelf life and slow down or stop it from crystallising.
Raw honey, on the other hand, is not a pasteurised product, which still contains the goodness, the pollen and the benefits for us to enjoy!
You can use honey in a thousand ways, which we will get into soon.
Honey's Nutrition
- It contains 22 amino acids & protein
- It has 27 minerals (some listed below)
- It contains vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
- It contains vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
- It has vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- It contains vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
- It has vitamin B6
- It contains nutraceuticals
The minerals found in honey are calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, selenium and zinc.
What Medical Medium Says about Raw Honey
Raw honey contains 200,000 miracle phytochemicals to stop diseases, cancers and illnesses. I love this section from @medicalmedium book 'Life-Changing Foods'...
"If you feel out of touch with miracles, reacquaint yourself with raw honey. Unprocessed honey in its raw, living form is nothing less than a miracle from God and the earth. Honey has saved human life during drastic times of starvation, and it will become critical again in the future as a good for our survival."
Raw honey (not processed) provides so much nourishment and nutrients and can help strengthen our immune system, help heal wounds, enhance sleep, strengthen the mind, increase happiness and much more!
Medical Medium says that "honey is part of our lineage. Who we are - our souls, our DNA - derives from honey. If we avoid honey, we're shutting off a part of ourselves that connects back to the beginning of human life. Trends that cut us off from honey show how disconnected we can become. Connecting with honey puts us back in touch with ourselves"
Where's the honey 🍯 pot, I say? Pass it over!
Benefits of Raw Honey
Healthy Weight
OK, this isn't a free pass to go down the honey pot! A little bit here and there can be beneficial but abusing it won't help your weight loss efforts! It's still a form of sugar at the end of the day and used with care.
Research studies show that eating honey may be linked to weight loss. The study (done by the San Diego State University) showed that by replacing regular sugar with honey, one might prevent putting on weight and lower their blood sugar. Other studies found that something in raw honey may activate appetite-suppressing hormones.
Be mindful as it is still a form of sugar. Most days, I enjoy a bit of raw honey in my bulletproof coffee or tea, or I might add it to recipes or smoothies.
Counteracts Allergies
It might seem counterintuitive, but consuming raw honey may provide relief naturally and boost immunity. The pollen in raw honey is well-known for warding off infections and relieving allergies.
Consuming raw honey each day may (over time) help to reduce seasonal allergies.
In 2013 a study was conducted where the participants were given 1g of honey per 1kg of weight each day. At the end of the study, the conclusion was an overall reduction of individual symptoms - such as allergic rhinitis.
Some folks believe that raw honey is like an allergy shot, but it has to be raw and unpasteurised!
Just one tablespoon each day is all you need!
Disclaimer: Nothing we say here is to be interpreted as health advice, and one must speak to their physician if they have any concerns about their allergies and consuming raw honey.
Energy Booster
Raw honey comprises natural sugars, water, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, and protein, so it's no surprise that exercise enthusiasts and athletes turn to honey for fuel before exercising. The form of power it provides is glycogen, this type of energy is easily absorbed.
Antioxidant-Rich
Raw honey (unlike commercial supermarket honey) contains beneficial antioxidants for good health and disease protection.
As you're probably aware, antioxidants help to protect us against the damage that free radicals can cause. Free radicals, when left unchecked, can cause oxidative stress, rapid ageing and illness.
Antioxidants also help to boost our immune system, which naturally helps defend our body against diseases.
The polyphenols in raw honey are known to help protect us from cancers and heart disease (in moderation, remember).
Raw honey also contains flavonoids that may be beneficial, particularly pinocembrin. Pinocembrin may induce apoptosis (death of cancer cells).
Help Sleep
Raw honey has been shown to help with sleep in several ways, such as;
- Fuelling your brain helps to prevent waking up during the night (low fuel in the brain can trigger one to wake up)
- Helping to release your sleep hormone - melatonin
Natural Wound-Healer
Raw honey has healing capabilities, and many studies have shown antibacterial properties. If you have a wound, you may wish to wrap it up in a honey-infused bandage to help speed up the healing process?
Raw honey can even help treat burns when applied directly to the burn area (or wound area) or as a dressing that gets changed every 1-2 days.
Aid for Diabetes
Again, this may sound counterintuitive, but please listen for a moment.
When you combine raw honey with cinnamon, it may help manage blood sugar issues. When observed, Raw honey creates a lower elevation of plasma glucose levels in people with diabetes than dextrose or sucrose.
If you have diabetes, it may be wise to go slowly and monitor things closely to see how your body responds? Work with your physician if you are unsure.
Cough Syrup the Natural Way
Have you ever had a cough and treated it with raw honey? Raw honey may be as effective as an over-the-counter medicine and is 100% natural!
You know that what you're putting into your body is good for you.
Ways to Use Raw Honey
- Natural Face Mask: When combined with other ingredients, raw honey makes a powerful and nourishing natural face mask. Add 1 tbsp of raw honey into a bowl with 1 tbsp of plain yoghurt and 1 tsp of turmeric powder, and you have a skin-brightening face mask! If you have a more oily skin type, add a squeeze of lemon juice, which acts as an astringent. Never use hot water on your face as it’s way too harsh!
- Improve Digestion: take 2 tbsp of raw honey to counteract indigestion.
- Exfoliate: Raw honey is excellent for nourishing the skin and as an all-body exfoliant. It is not a cheap option, but it is very effective. You will need to have access to a bathtub for this one. Fill a bath with warm water and add 2 cups of raw honey. Would you even like to add a few drops of lavender essential oil? Soak in the tub for 15 minutes, and then add one cup of sodium bicarbonate (bicarb soda). Soak for a further 15 minutes. This bath softens and exfoliates your skin in a gentle but effective way!
- Help You to Sleep Like a Baby with Raw Honey & Reishi Mushroom: Reishi is one of the most potent herbal tonics on the planet and can help bring about balance. Add 1 tbsp of raw honey to a glass of milk before bed and if desired, add 1 tsp of organic reishi powder (this combo is powerful for inducing sleep, and reishi has many benefits).
- Support Your Microbiome: Raw honey is a natural probiotic. Probiotics can help your gut flora environment be more balanced (also known as your 'gut microbiome').
- Eczema Relief: Raw honey is incredible for many skin issues, and eczema is no exception! Use raw honey directly on affected areas and perhaps add a bit of cinnamon? This combination is incredibly healing. Consuming raw honey can be helpful, too, as raw honey can help with gut health, and as you may know, eczema is often caused by gut flora imbalance.
- Urinary Tract Infection: UTIs are the pits! That is where raw honey comes in. Raw honey can be beneficial for a UTI as it has antibacterial qualities. Enjoy 1-2 tbsp of raw honey daily to help with this problem.
The uses of raw honey are endless! You can do so many things with it and enjoy it in many foods and beverages.
Raw honey enhances life; be sure to choose one 100% natural, preferably Australian, and made in Australia.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3601686/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29652864/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5822819/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5822819/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24188941/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1431562/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5822819/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5661189/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1431562/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22419319/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15117561/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-honey/art-20363819
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3144338/
https://www.drgrotte.com/honey-medicine.shtml
https://dailyhealthpost.com/honey-promotes-sleep/
https://www.webmd.com/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2013/379850/
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf025692k
https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040330/honey-sweetens-your-health
https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/nutrition/a765285/honey-the-facts/
https://www.honeyassociation.com/about-honey/history
https://au.latinhoneyshop.com/blogs/news/11-shocking-facts-about-supermarket-honey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24188941/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21504975/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21310307/
Trader Joe's Organic Raw Honey | ALDI REVIEWER. https://www.aldireviewer.com/trader-joes-organic-raw-honey/
Disclaimer: this article is for informational purposes only and not to be taken as advice. It is always recommended to seek professional medical advice from your trusted health practitioner.
