Honeyis a natural remedy that people have used for more than 5,000 years.
Raw honey, in particular, has numerous scientifically supported health benefits.
Its used for wound treatment,diabetes,asthma, digestive conditions, arthritis, cancer, and more.
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Raw honey comes straight from the hive and is not filtered or pasteurized.
Regular honey goes through processing that could destroy some of the honeys healthiest compounds, like antioxidants.
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What Is Raw Honey?
Experts recommend using raw honey to help manage certain diseases and conditions.
Whats the Difference Between Raw and Regular Honey?
While raw honey comes straight from the honeycomb, regular honey is processed more.
Once extracted from the hive, honey is often heated to thin out so its easier to filter.
Its then filtered to remove impurities.
Processing, especially with heat, removes or changes some of the beneficial compounds in the honey.
Regular Honey May Have Hidden Sugars
Honey is often used as an alternative to sugar.
However, some processed honey includes added sweeteners, such as corn syrup or brown rice syrup.
This fraudulent practice can be hard to detect.
Some tests have been developed to identify whether additives are present.Testing honey is not a common practice, though.
This doesnt mean processed honey is bad for you; it seems to be less beneficial.
Disadvantages of Eating Raw Honey
Raw honey is safe for most people, except infants.
In babies under 12 months, eating honey can cause abotulisminfection.
Keep in mind that honey is primarily composed of sugars.
Is Raw Honey Organic?
Raw and organic do not mean the same things on food labels.
Organic honey may be either raw or processed, while raw honey might not be organic.
Check labels so you know youre getting the product you want.
How to Tell If Your Honey Is Raw
Raw honey should be clearly labeled as such.
If it doesnt say its raw, assume its processed.
Some people prefer the texture of minimally processed honey to that of raw honey.
With most honey on the shelf, its difficult or impossible to discern how its processed.
You may want to source honey from local beekeepers, which allows you to ask questions about processing.
Whether you should choose organic raw honey depends on your personal feelings about organic vs. nonorganic food products.
Raw honey has health benefits that processed honey does not.
Honey is not safe for babies under 12 months.
Older children and adults are not at risk from raw or processed honey.
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