Who doesn’t enjoy some tasty bee regurgitation from time to time?
This funny cartoon is part of the Hank D. and the bee series from the talented Joe Mohr. Natural (or "raw") honey has been used for thousands of years to treat all kinds of sickness and ailments.
But how do you know if your honey is "raw" honey? Statistics show that most of the honey in American homes is NOT.
Organic Lifestyle Magazine says,
"The National Honey Board says that 82 percent of households currently use processed honey. The differences between processed honey and raw unprocessed honey are vast. Processed honey has been heated and pasteurized. High fructose corn syrup might be added. Processed honey is not antibacterial and is dangerous for diabetics and infants under 12 months old. It is not in any way healthy."
Raw honey, on the other hand, is VERY healthy. It’s also low on the glycemic index scale, which means it’s a great alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.
According to Benefits of Honey, raw honey is the only form of honey that provides the sought-after and touted health benefits. Raw honey isn’t as pretty and smooth as commercial honey, but you’re not buying it for the looks anyway.
According to the Benefits of Honey information, there is no uniform code or legal governing of the phrase "raw honey"…but that’s not really a bad thing.
If you’re looking for maximum health benefits, you should be buying locally produced honey anyway. Raw honey produced from bees that pollinated locally occurring flowers can be very helpful in keeping allergies at bay.
How about trying to find a local bee keeper and honey provider near you this weekend? The National Honey Board’s HoneyLocator is a good place to start.
If you find some raw honey, please tell us what you thought of it in the comments.
I think every little step toward living green is an awesome one… but eco-snobbery sucks! My goal is to help newbies learn the most important steps toward living green — individually and collectively. Personally, I strive to have as little impact as possible on Planet Earth while I'm here.
