Honey. This five-letter word alone conjures fond memories, smiles on faces and thoughts of sweet delicious liquid elixir. It is a natural bi-product made by bees from the nectar of flowers. It contains fructose, glucose, water, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. For centuries, it has been used as a sweetener, medicine, and skincare. In ancient times, honey was also used as a sealant for documents and as an offering to gods and goddesses. Today, honey is consumed mainly for the pleasures of our palette - where we commonly put it on toast, in beverages, or on top of pancakes and waffles.
There is wisdom to the knowledge of our ancestors, and today honey has been thoroughly researched for its health benefits. These include reducing inflammation, controlling blood sugar, aiding in weight loss, and promoting healthy skin. Some research suggests that honey may help to reduce the risk of cancers such as ovarian, colorectal, and breast. Honey is also a natural source of antioxidants which may help to protect your body from damage caused by free radicals.
With such an attractive product that is in constant demand worldwide, it's not difficult to get pass greedy major honey producers who want to cash in on this. The sad reality, unknown to many consumers, is that many of what are found on supermarket shelves are not the pure elixir we think we're paying for. Many are adulterated and the way honey is processed can be rather unscrupulous.
Clean unadulterated honey is what we should be consuming - pure, organic, GMO-free goodness. Whether you're a mom or an elderly, an athlete or suffering from a health condition, this source of food and energy is something you'll want to know about. We'll deep dive into what clean honey is, the importance of not consuming adulterated honey, and how to tell what is clean honey.
What Is Unadulterated Honey?
When it comes to unadulterated or clean honey, there are four key considerations that should be taken into account.
Firstly, clean unadulterated honey is honey that has not been processed in any way. This means that the honey has not been filtered, heated, or treated in any other way. It is simply raw, unrefined honey. This avoids any contamination and basically means all that nutrition goodness stays intact as intended.
Secondly, the bees have not been fed with antibiotics. Bees in commercial bee colonies are typically fed with antibiotics as part of their feed regimen. This is to prevent them from becoming infected with diseases, such as deformed wing virus (DWV). These antibiotics are given to the bees in the form of a syrup or powder, and they are stored in the colony's food storage area.
What do antibiotics do to humans if taken frequently? Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections. They work by killing the bacteria. If antibiotics are taken frequently, they can have harmful effects on the human body, especially killing good gut bacteria. The most common side effects of antibiotics being diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. These effects can be serious and can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and even death. Now, we're not saying consuming honey containing antibiotics can lead to death but you certainly don't want your body to be unnecessarily fighting these effects.
Thirdly, the farms where the bees are at do not use pesticides. Pesticides are chemicals used to control pests in agriculture, forestry, and other industries. While pesticides are often effective in controlling these pests, they can also have harmful effects on the body. In recent years, there has been a growing concern over the use of pesticides in honey production. This is because many pesticides can end up contaminating honey, which can then be consumed by humans. Not only is this unsavory, but it can also have harmful effects on the body.
Pesticides can harm the body by disrupting the natural chemical balance in the body, causing health problems such as cancer. Additionally, pesticides can contaminate food and water supplies, posing a health risk to humans and animals.
Lastly, the bees are not fed with sugar. Google "bee sugar feeding" and you'll literally find videos teaching you how to feed bees with white refined sugar. That sugar in turn is what becomes of the honey you buy. What's wrong with eating all that sugar? The same issues you get when you consume sweet sugary foods regularly - weight gain, diabetes, etc. In fact, in some parts of Asia, they even feed the bees with soft drinks. Can you imagine that?
When you eat too much sugar, your body starts to break it down into glucose. Glucose is the main energy source for your cells and is what your body uses for energy when you're not getting any other nutrients from food. Glucose is also stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen, which can be used as energy when you need it most. When you have too much glucose in your blood, it could lead to diabetes.
Why Is It Important To Be Aware Of Unadulterated Honey?
The honey industry is rife with adulteration and goes all the way back in 1770 when the first recorded incidence of sugar feeding took place. The most common way that honey is adulterated is by adding other sweeteners, such as corn syrup, to make it more palatable. This makes the honey less nutritious and can also change the flavor. It is important to be aware of the different ways that honey can be adulterated in order to make sure that you are getting the purest form possible.
There are a few reasons why unadulterated honey is important for our health. The first reason being that unadulterated honey has been shown to have antibacterial properties. In a study published in the journal Food Chemistry, researchers used unadulterated honey to treat food poisoning bacteria. They found that the unadulterated honey was more effective at killing the bacteria than commercial honey products.
Another reason why unadulterated honey is important for our health is because it is a source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are chemicals that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are created when the body breaks down food or when it oxidizes molecules in the environment. It is also a good source of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
Finally, unadulterated honey has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. In a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers used unadulterated honey to treat inflammation in rats. They found that the unadulterated honey was more effective at reducing inflammation than commercial honey products.
The Dangers Of Consuming Honey That Has Been Fed With Antibiotics, Exposed To Pesticides And Fed With Sugar.
Think about it, what do bees need to produce honey? Nectar. Where do they get nectar? From the flowers of the farm or where they're at. What happens at a lot of farms who want to control pests? They spray pesticides and herbicides. What's the problem with these chemicals? Pesticides and herbicides are chemicals used to kill pests and weeds, such as insects, rodents, and fungi. However, overuse of pesticides has led to the development of pesticide-resistant pests, which can be very difficult to control. Additionally, pesticides can have harmful effects on humans and the environment. For example, pesticides can contaminate water supplies and damage plants and wildlife. But more importantly, long term exposure to these chemicals have been linked to leukemia, lymphoma and cancers of the brain, breasts, prostate, testes and ovaries etc.
Honey that has not been treated with pesticides and herbicides is a more desirable option obviously. Not only is the notion of eating contaminated honey unsavory, but it can also have slow long-term harmful effects on the body. For example, antibiotics can cause bacteria to form in honey, which can then cause food poisoning. Additionally, exposure to pesticides can damage the immune system and increase the risk of cancer. By consuming honey that has been treated with these chemicals, you are taking these risks into consideration.
What Are The Benefits Of Unadulterated Honey?
There are many benefits to consuming unadulterated honey. Honey is a natural sweetener that is high in antioxidants, which can help protect the body against disease. Honey has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body. In addition to these health benefits, unadulterated honey is also an environmentally friendly choice because it does not contain any pesticides or other harmful chemicals. In addition,
1. Honey has been used as a natural medicine for centuries.
2. Some research suggests that honey may help to reduce the risk of cancers such as ovarian, colorectal, and breast. Honey is also a natural source of antioxidants such as phenolic acids, which may help to protect your body from damage caused by free radicals
3. Honey is a great source of carbohydrates and is also high in manganese, magnesium, and zinc.
4. Honey is also a good source of Vitamins B6, B12, and C.
5. Honey is a great source of energy and has been used as an energy booster.
How Do You Tell If The Honey Is Unadulterated?
This is probably one of the toughest questions to be answered. To be most certain, sending the honey to a lab is going to be the surest way but also the most expensive way to assess if the honey is clean to run them yourself. Instead, look at the company that is selling the honey and what information they provide on their website or the product label. Is purity of product something they take great pride in and feature. Has the company conducted any tests to assess the presence of chemicals such as pesticides or antibiotics? Have they tested to show what kind of sugars are found in the honey? There are other home tests you can try for yourself but this will probably be the most certain way to know what you're paying for.
Clean unadulterated honey is the best type of honey for any one. It has many benefits and can be used in many different ways. We just need to be more conscious of what we buy to be sure we truly are reaping the benefits of this wonderful goodness of nature.
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