Raw Honey.

Raw honey is honey which has been extracted from the hive and which has not been processed – that is, not heated nor pasteurized. Know why raw honey should be preferred and also know why and how it can be dangerous.

Raw Unfiltered Honey.

Composition and Appearance of raw honey.:

• Contains fine crystals,
• is slightly turbid,
• may contain bee pollen,
• may contain parts of bee wings,
• contains propolis which is a naturally occurring antibiotic formed by the bees.

picture showing really raw honey.

Raw Honey vs Commercial Processed Honey.

It is right in saying that there are great things to hear about raw honey. Raw honey differs from the commercially available honey in the fact that commercially available honey is produced by processing the raw honey and in this process, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, present in raw honey, are lost to a great extent.

Raw Honey Benefits.

Since ancient times, raw honey has been used as an anti microbial agent. It has also been used as a topical application on minor wounds . This is because the hydrogen peroxide present in raw honey gets released after it comes in contact with the body fluids in the wound and we know of the anti septic properties of hydrogen peroxide. Honey benefits, as described in Benefits of Honey, are more potentially seen with raw honey. Modern research also corroborates raw honey’s anti bacterial properties.

Composition of Raw Honey.

Honey and its composition explains the various nutritional ingredients of honey. The beneficial  properties are attributed to raw honey composition which is as follows:

• Low ph,
• low protein content,
• low water activity,
• high osmotic pressure,
• high carbon to nitrogen ratio,
• high content of reducing sugars,
• chemical agents like benzyl alcohol, lysozyme.

Dangers of Raw Honey.

Raw unfiltered honey may contain suspended particulate matter such as bee pollen and parts of bee wings. Secondly and more dangerously, raw unprocessed honey is sometimes found to contain spores and toxins of  Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria which produces a very powerful neurotoxin. This bacteria causes botulism  which is a terminally paralytic disease. Honey is never to be fed to infants under the age of 12 months. Honey can be safely consumed after the age of 12 months.

Summary for raw honey:

• Never feed raw honey or any honey to infants under age of 12 months.
• Choose your honey well before you buy raw honey.
• Raw organic honey will give you maximum health benefits of honey.

Related posts:

1. How to Choose Honey.
2. Clover Honey and its Benefits.
3. 10 Benefits of Honey.
4. Manuka Honey and its Benefits.
5. Honey and its Composition.
6. Honey and Cinnamon.