Raw honey is universally used in many foods and recipes and is loved for its natural sweetness and depth of flavour. The individual taste and aroma of each honey is determined by the nature of the particular flowers the bees collected pollen from.
In addition to these wonderful attributes raw honey provides a good number of natural health benefits including:
● Containing a number of nutrients – in addition to natural sugars raw honey contains a number of vitamins and health promoting polyphenols.
● Being rich in antioxidants – to gain the benefit of honey’s bioactive compounds and antioxidants (such as phenolic acids and flavonoids) it must be raw and not heated. These compounds have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
● Improving cardiovascular health – one scientific review found that raw honey helped reduce blood pressure, regulated blood cholesterol levels and regulated the heart beat – all factors promoting a healthy cardiovascular system.
● Is an effective healer of wounds and burns – this function has been recognised since ancient times. When raw honey is applied to wounds, skin conditions and burns it can be an integral part of an effective treatment plan. Researchers believe that the healing potential of raw honey comes from its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
● Is better for blood sugar regulation than refined sugar – while also raising blood sugar levels, raw honey contains antioxidants that may provide protection against type 2 diabetes. Additionally, researchers have conjectured that raw honey could increase levels of a hormone – adiponectin – that acts to regulate blood sugar levels.