DIY, Product Information
Health Benefits of Raw Honey Vs Organic Or Pure
By Caryn Gehlmann, Clinical Aromatherapist & Passionate Beekeeper
At the grocery store, you can see pure honey, organic honey, natural honey, local honey, filtered honey, unfiltered honey, and raw honey. Isn’t honey just honey? Good question! I’ll address that in just a moment. Are there any significant health benefits to raw honey? Yes!
Did you know that it takes 12 bees their entire lifetime to make just one teaspoon of honey? Don’t feel bad about using their honey. As worker bees, their job is to bring it in and they just don’t stop, so each hive has 60-80 pounds of extra honey that the beekeeper can harvest every year, without hurting the bee colony. In fact, this process helps keep the colony healthy.
What are the differences between raw honey and pure, organic, filtered, or unfiltered honey?
Raw honey is 100% honey from the hive, with pieces of honeycomb and other debris removed. It’s not heated for pasteurization, therefore naturally-occurring enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and pollen are preserved and you get the full benefits. And the flavor is outstanding.
Pure honey is also 100% honey, but it might be heated for pasteurization and filtered a number of times, which reduces some of its health benefits.
Organic honey comes from the pollen of organically grown plants — no pesticides on the plants and no chemical miticides for the bees. An organic label doesn’t mean it’s raw honey — check the label as it may have added sugar or syrups. And the Country of origin matters! Much of the certified organic honey available in the United States is imported and undergoes pasteurization and heavy filtration.
Unfiltered honey means it’s been strained to remove larger particulates, leaving in pollen and wax particles, which gives it a cloudy appearance.
Filtered honey has a longer shelf life, as the smallest particulates are removed, including the pollen. The honey may also be heated to make it more fluid. Again… check the label.
I encourage you to buy locally and talk with the beekeepers about how it’s produced. That way you’re getting all the benefits you can from honey that’s produced in the most bee- and environment-friendly way.
e3’s delicious raw honey is our favorite. It comes from the Applegate Valley in Oregon, straight from the beehive. This means it contains healthful bee pollen, bee propolis, and plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Check out three amazing benefits of using raw honey below.
Health benefits of raw honey
Raw honey has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Plus there are numerous studies that show it’s good food for the heart! Honey should be eaten in moderation because it is a type of sugar. However, the health benefits of raw honey are many. Honey even has a hormone — adiponectin, which studies have shown helps reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar regulation, and help protect against metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Shiny, Silky Hair Recipe
Add 1 tsp of honey to 1/2 cup of warm milk. Mix well. Massage into hair from scalp to tips. Wash it out with shampoo. Honey has moisturizing qualities so it feels wonderful.
Radiant Face Recipe
Put a dollop of honey in the palm of your hand and add a little warm water. Massage it over your face. Either rinse with lukewarm water or leave it on for 20 minutes for a rejuvenating facial mask, then rinse.
Milk & Honey Bath
Add 3 Tbls of honey, 2 Tbls of olive oil, and 1 cup of whole milk to your bath water and relax. Soooo luxurious.
Skin Relief Straight Up
Acne: Dab some honey on the pimple and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse off and repeat each day until it’s gone. (e3’s Lavender Honey is a good choice for this treatment.)
Mosquito bites, scrapes, and minor cuts: Wash the area. Dab a little honey on the bite or wound to reduce itch and irritation. Cover with a bandaid. Its antibiotic properties help prevent infection.
Calm Your Cough Recipe
Boil a cup of water
Squeeze the juice from half a lemon
Add a thin slice of fresh ginger or 1/8 tsp powdered ginger
Add a teaspoon of honey, or to taste (e3’s Immune Honey includes even more immune support.)
Stir to melt and feel its soothing power. You can also use a cup of chamomile tea, a slice of lemon, and 1 tsp honey to soothe insomnia or anxiety.
As you can see the health benefits of raw honey are seemingly endless. I’d love to hear how you use raw honey… as a food, beauty product, or in your first aid kit. In addition to e3’s Raw Honey, we have Immune Honey, and Lavender Honey with even more benefits. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter for more tips, savings, and a 20% coupon for your first order.