5 Health Benefits of Raw Honey
Raw honey has been used in Traditional Medicine for hundreds of years. Recent studies have confirmed the many benefits of raw honey.
Read this article to discover 5 health benefits of raw honey and how it should be used.
1. Allergy-Fighting Pollens
Raw honey is not heated or pasteurized. This allows it to retain the natural pollens from the flowers where the nectar was collected. These pollens are credited with helping allergy sufferers find relief from seasonal allergies. The theory behind how this works is that by consuming the pollens in the raw honey the individual becomes desensitized to those pollens. This is why raw local honey is recommended for allergy sufferers. The local honey has the best mix of pollens for your area.
A 2013 study found that ingesting honey improves the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is an allergy response that causes itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing. The study proved that substantial doses of honey (one gram per kilogram of body weight) consumed daily, reduced the allergy response over an eight week period.
2. Immune Boosting Antioxidants
Raw honey contains beneficial levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants block free-radicals within the body that can cause disease. Raw honey contains polyphenols which are powerful antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
A 2004 study showed a direct link between the consumption of raw honey and the level of antioxidants in the bloodstream. In the study, individuals took 4 tablespoons of Buckwheat honey per day for 29 days.
3. Natural Cough Suppressant
Raw honey has been shown to be just as powerful as over-the-counter cough medicines in suppressing coughs. A 2014 study showed honey to be more effective than diphenhydramine in treating young patients with acute cough symptoms.
For a cough, give one-half to two teaspoons of honey at bedtime. Do not give honey to children under one year of age.
4. Powerful Energy Source
Raw honey contains natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It provides energy in the form of liver glycogen, which is easy for the body to absorb. This makes raw honey an ideal fuel for before and after workouts.
Most athletes require 30-60g of carbohydrate per hour to maintain glycogen levels. A tablespoon of honey contains 17g of carbohydrate – so two to three tablespoons every hour is recommended.
5. Wound Healing Antibacterial
Raw honey is naturally antibacterial and effective at healing wounds. In fact, when raw honey combines with body fluids it produces low levels of hydrogen peroxide. Adding raw honey to wound dressings can also help prevent the bandage from sticking to the wound.
For the treatment of wounds, honey is typically applied to the affected area every 24 to 48 hours.
Health-Boosting Raw Honey
At World of Honey, all the honey we sell is raw. This allows you to enjoy these 5 health-boosting benefits. To learn more about what makes raw honey so unique read our article “Raw Honey vs Regular Honey”.
