The News On Food

Natural honey – how is it made?

There are seven known species of the honey bee which are part of the genus apis and only members of the genus apis are considered true honey bees. A honey bee makes natural honey by collecting pollen from plants and depositing it in the nests which they make from wax, ingesting the pollen and regurgitating it until it is a desired quality. The moisture is evaporated down to approximately 17% during the process of making natural honey and the honey bees aid in this process whilst inside the nest, by fanning their wings. In the process of making natural honey, the honey bees add an enzyme called invertase, that converts sucrose into glucose and fructose, put in simple terms. The process of evaporation prevents fermentation and the enzyme that changes the composition of honey prevents bacteria and mold, etc from growing. Once the process of making natural honey is complete, the honey bees seal the comb with bee wax.

Natural honey can have various flavours and colours and these are a result of the location of the bee hive and the surrounding plants where the bees collect their pollen. Natural honey can also vary depending on whether the bees are mono-floral; collecting from only one type of plant or Poly-floral where the honey bees have access to more than one plant source.

For those of you interested in further information about natural honey and bees,  you can visit the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council or International Bee Research Association.

Natural honey – what to be aware of

Aside from the various flavours and colours of natural honey the main thing to be aware of is the process of the removal and treatment of natural honey. Honey bees themselves also need to be left with honey as they need it to survive.

It is not recommended to give natural honey to infants under 12 months. Honey naturally contains botulinum endospores and therefore infants can contract botulism due to the fact that they have an immature digestive tract. This point aside, natural honey has many health benefits that have been known for years.

If you are suffering from food intolerance symptoms that are related to salicylate, a naturally occurring chemical in honey, then you best use a pure maple syrup such as Spring Tree Pure Maple Syrup – Grade A, 32 oz or golden syrup as an alternative. You will need to use the alternatives to natural honey until you can sort out your food problems and take further steps to heal your body. After all, you don’t really want to miss out on the health benefits of natural honey for the rest of your life. For those suffering from food intolerance symptoms, you should be aware that natural honey is considered very high in salicylate content according to the Friendly Food cookbook.

Raw, natural honey; honey that has not been heat treated has a higher nutritional content than natural honey that has been heat treated. Many types of honey that are available through your grocer have been heat treated. The important thing to be aware of, is the temperature at which the natural honey has been heated. Natural honey that has been heated above 37 Degrees C starts to lose its nutritional content and the higher the temperature, the more the honey is effected and the more you should steer clear of it. Honey that is heated on a low setting still has health benefits. However, consuming raw, natural honey, is the best way to have your honey, honey

Sadly, there are people out there that are making fake honey instead of letting the bees do their wonderful work to produce natural honey. If you are in doubt about whether you have natural honey or fake honey, you can do a couple of simple tests. Take a teaspoon of honey and drop it in water. If it dissolves, then it is not natural honey. You can also try a dollop of the honey on paper towel to find out if it is natural honey. If the honey is absorbed then it is not natural. Raw honey tends to have white bubbles around the top and have specs of dust because it is pure and these particles can end up in natural honey due to the removal process.

I have one last point about what to be aware of with natural honey. Natural honey does have a tendency to absorb smells so be sure to keep it well sealed, preferably in a glass jar. The great thing about natural honey is that it does store for a long time due to its properties, so there is no need to refrigerate it.

Bee Hive Collapse Concerns and supply of natural honey

Unfortunately, not all is well in the bee world. There has been a spread of bee hive collapses, or what is called Colony Collapse Disorder and this in turn has a huge impact on the production of natural honey and also the food sources due to the lack of pollination. This is something we should most certainly be concerned about because without bees to contribute to the food chain, humans will cease to exist. You can read more by clicking here and I encourage you to make a donation at this website.

Natural honey – health benefits

The Farmacist Desk Reference has some great information about using natural honey to keep you healthy. According to the Farmacist Desk Reference, honey is good for the brain, heart and as a nerve cleanser. You can also use it for a sore throat, to apply topically and to simply put you to sleep at night. It is also good for those who want to get a better night’s sleep without the need for a midnight toilet stop.

Due to a large amount of research into the health benefits of natural honey, doctors are now coming to realise just how powerful natural honey is and the many uses for it as a healer. I am hoping that more of these natural products come full circle as we start to realise the negative impact that pharmacy drugs are having on our health. Natural honey is a wonderful alternative to sugar and is often times added to tea.

You would no doubt have heard of Manuka honey which is primarily produced in New Zealand. Manuka honey is a monofloral natural honey with a high anti-bacterial potency. It can be used for acne, reflux, burns, ringworm and it now seems for Staph infections (MRSA).

There are so many different varieties of natural honey that it will depend on your location as to the availability of flavours of natural honey. The types of plants that the bees have had access to in their area and close to their hive, will determine what you will see on your grocer shelves.

So, are you ready to experience the wonderful health benefits of natural honey? Put natural honey on toast, put it on your skin, put it on your sores, take a teaspoon a day directly or add it to your tea, to name a few. Click on the jar of natural honey on the right to make a start toward a healthier lifestyle.

← International delivery is offered on this fabulous Manuka honey product.

Disclaimer:

I’m no medical expert and information contained on this blog is written through my own experience. Please consult an appropriate professional about your situation.