'Bee' Grateful for the Health Benefits of Raw Honey
By Donna Kostiew
If you're like most people, you have probably purchased that cute little bear sitting on the grocery store shelf filled to the top of his head with honey. Maybe you needed some honey for a recipe, or perhaps you like a spoonful of it in your tea. Regardless, he won you over. But chances are that he actually isn’t filled with raw honey, and if honey is important to you, then you may want to keep reading.
Most honey that you find at the grocery store has had its pollen removed during the purification process. It is also during this process that many of the health benefits you have come to know about honey are stripped away as well. So stop missing out on what is actually missing from the honey in that cute bear’s belly and head on over to the raw honey aisle.
Raw Honey Benefits
Raw honey has not been processed like many of the honey products found on the grocery store shelves. The upside to that? You can reap all of the following health benefits by choosing it in place of all the others.
- Illness and disease – Raw honey is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which boosts the body’s immune system and helps to prevent illness and diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
- Acne – Raw honey contains hydrogen peroxide, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties which help to clear your skin and rid it of the bacteria that often cause acne.
- Sore throat – Skip the trip to the drugstore. Studies have shown that raw honey is often more effective than cold medicines when it comes to a sore throat, and a single dose of honey can help reduce mucus secretion and coughs.
- Energy - Raw honey is an excellent source of natural energy. It is the perfect choice for both pre-workout fueling and post-workout recovery
- Eczema - The anti-inflammatory agents and moisturizing properties found in raw honey can help calm and soothe troublesome eczema.
- Cuts/wounds - The natural antibiotic and antibacterial properties of honey aid in treating cuts and wounds. Raw honey inhibits bacterial growth, promotes healing, reduces swelling, and prevents infections.
Finding Raw Honey
The first choice of many for a raw honey source is often a local beekeeper. If you can’t find a beekeeper in your area though, raw honey can be purchased locally at farmers markets or at health food stores. It may not be as easy as reaching up and grabbing that cute little honey bear off the top shelf at your grocery store, but the health benefits alone make the extra effort worth it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in La Verne, Calif.