What is raw honey?

Raw honey is honey that comes directly from the hive, unprocessed and unpasteurized. It retains all its natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, making it a superior choice for those seeking the purest form of honey. Unlike commercially processed honey, raw honey is not heated or filtered, ensuring that all its beneficial properties are preserved.

Nutritional benefits of raw honey

Raw honey is packed with essential nutrients and offers numerous health benefits. Key benefits include:

• Rich in antioxidants: Raw honey contains antioxidants like phenolic compounds, which help protect the body from oxidative stress and inflammation.
• Enzymes for digestion: Contains enzymes such as amylase, which aids in the digestion of carbohydrates, making it easier for the body to break down and utilise food.
• Vitamins and minerals: High in vitamins such as B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and essential minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
• Natural energy source: Provides a quick and natural source of energy due to its natural sugars, fructose, and glucose.
• Prebiotic effects: Promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, supporting digestive health and overall wellbeing.

Why avoid processed honey?

Processed honey, often found in supermarkets, undergoes pasteurisation and filtration, which can strip it of its natural nutrients and beneficial properties. Key drawbacks include:

• Loss of nutrients: Heating honey can destroy its natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, reducing its health benefits.
• Addition of sugars and syrups: Processed honey may contain added sugars or high fructose corn syrup, which can be harmful to health.
• Reduced antibacterial properties: Pasteurization diminishes honey's natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
• Lack of trace pollen: Filtering removes trace amounts of pollen, which are essential for allergy relief and provide nutritional benefits.

Environmental benefits of raw honey

Consuming raw honey supports sustainable beekeeping and environmental health. Bees play a crucial role in pollination, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health. Buying raw honey from local beekeepers sustains small-scale farming and promotes eco-friendly practices. Sustainable beekeeping maintains healthy bee populations, essential for pollination and food production, preserving environmental balance.

Uses of raw honey

Raw honey is incredibly versatile and offers a wide range of health benefits, making it a great aid for culinary and medicinal applications.

• Natural sweetener: Use raw honey as a healthier alternative to sugar in teas, coffees, and recipes.
• Antibacterial and healing: Apply to cuts, burns, and wounds for its natural antibacterial and healing properties.
• Skincare: Incorporate raw honey into homemade skincare products for moisturising and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Cough and sore throat remedy: Mix raw honey with warm water, lemon, and ginger to soothe sore throats and alleviate coughs.
• 2-ingredient Pre-Workout with Raw Honey: Mix celtic sea salt and raw honey to get the benefits of electrolytes from salt and nutrients from honey for energy while avoiding artificial pre-workout. 

How to identify quality raw honey

To identify high-quality raw honey, look for labels indicating raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized. This ensures the honey retains its natural benefits. Local sourcing is crucial; buying from local beekeepers ensures freshness and supports local agriculture. Raw honey often crystallises, a natural process indicating purity. Quality raw honey may also contain trace amounts of pollen, visible as tiny particles.