What you want to know about honey.

Last Update: August 17, 2018 at 11:51 am

DATE:  August 15, 2018

SOURCE:  News for the Soul

 

What you want to know about honey.

by Dr Holly, heard Wednesdays at Noon Pacific Time on News for the Soul Radio.

 

Historically, well that’s a relative term, but in our shorter history I was a great fan of honey. As with many products, I used the phrase, the good honey is as good for you as the bad honey is bad for you. Did you know that there are over 300 different types of honey?

In general, we can say the following about honey:

1. Honey is antibacterial and antiseptic:  raw honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is released when it comes into contact with moisture. Hydrogen peroxide is both antibacterial and fungicidal. Honey was originally used for therapeutic purposes, as an antibacterial, but was replaced by antibiotics, such as penicillin and synthetic drugs in the 1940s and 1950s.

Honey is also gyroscopic, which means that it naturally attracts moisture. Most bacteria breed in moist conditions. Honey dries out wounds, preventing bacterial growth thus protecting the wounds from becoming infected.

2. Honey as a sweetener:  raw honey doesn’t cause the blood sugar to spike.  It allows a much healthier gradual increase in blood sugar levels. And we only a need a teaspoon to make a difference.
3. Dark honeys are high in antioxidants:   The darker the honey, the moreantioxidant rich the honey is. Anti-oxidants eliminate free radicals which cause inflammatory issues.  Honey has a unique anti-oxidant:  pinocembrin, an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning.
4. Honey can help you digest food better. Honey contains natural enzymes that assist digestive processes
5. Honey is said to aid sleeping. The theory indicates that a spoonful of honey before sleep provides the body with enough glucose to ‘feed’ the brain during the night. This prevents or limits the early morning release of cortisol and adrenalin (stress hormones) which disturb sleep; stabilises blood sugar levels; contributes to the release of melatonin, the hormone required for recovery and rebuilding of body tissues during rest. (According to a recent study in Hershey, Penn, USA.)
6. Honey is good for your skin. Because honey attracts moisture, it helps to nourish the skin – that is why it is often used in skin care products. Also, honey’s antioxidants compounds help to fight free radicals, which can damage skin. Some people find honey is very effective for conditions such as sunburn, acne and eczema.
7. The darker the honey the stronger the flavor. The lighter the honey the milder the taste.

And as can be expected, different types of honey can benefit different health issues:

ALFALFA

Alfalfa honey is produced extensively throughout Canada and the US. Bees feed on the purple blossoms and produce a light colored honey that has a pleasingly mild flavor and aroma.

Alfalfa is good for cardio issues like arteriosclerosis. As noted it is also an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial.

AVOCADO

Avocado honey is gathered from California avocado blossoms. The avocado honey is dark in color and presents a rich, buttery taste.

Avocado honey is rich with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and offers many of the same medicinal properties as an aloe vera plant.

BLUEBERRY

Bees feed on the tiny white flowers of the blueberry bush in New England and in Michigan. The blueberry nectar makes a honey which is typically has a light amber color and a full, well-rounded flavor.

According to the Brock University Blueberry and Buckwheat honeys have the highest antibacterial anti-oxidants.

BUCKWHEAT

Buckwheat honey is dark and full-bodied. It is produced in Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as in eastern Canada. Buckwheat honey has been found to contain more antioxidant compounds than some lighter honeys.

While strong and dark, it has a high level of anti-oxidants.  It is considered one of the most valuable honeys native to Europe.  In comparison to other bright honeys, it contains more magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, nickel, bohrium, iodine and cobalt. If buckwheat honey is freshly extracted, it has: 51.6% fructose, 46.59% glucose and 0.27% sucrose.  There has been established that there is a lot of vitamin C (2.9 – 11.9mg %), B1, B2 and PP.  When it comes to the enzymes, content of the buckwheat honey is the richest among other Polish honeys. It has very high antibiotic qualities. According to research, its antibiotic characteristic is slightly better than Manuka honey’s (http://www.slavicapiary.com/buckwheat-honey-and-its-health-benefits/)

It is recognized to have an impact on:

• artheriosclerosis
• bacterial infection
• diabetes (type 2)
• liver (detox)
• microcytic anemia (iron deficiency)

CLOVER

Clover honey has a pleasing, mild taste. Clovers contribute more to honey production in the United States than any other group of plants. Red clover, Alsike clover and the white and yellow sweet clovers are most important for honey production. Depending on the location and type of source clover, clover honey varies in color from water white to light amber to amber.

Again, there are many different types of clover and thus clover honey…but in general, clover honey is known for:

• promoting wound healing and treating burns
• regulating blood pressure
• control liver issues
• regulating cholesterol
• providing anti-oxidants
• mucus thinner and thus eliminates coughing

EUCALYPTUS

Eucalyptus honey comes from one of the larger plant genera, containing over 500 distinct species and many hybrids and produced in California. As may be expected with a diverse group of plants, eucalyptus honey will vary greatly in color and flavor and tends to present a stronger flavored honey with that slight medicinal scent.

Eucalyptus honey is good for:  respiratory, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, antiseptic, antibacterial and stimulating health benefits – not bad for a teaspoon of honey…but you have to take it regularly.

FIREWEED

Fireweed honey is light in color and comes from a perennial herb that creates wonderful bee pasture in the Northern and Pacific states and Canada. Fireweed grows in the open woods, reaching a height of three to five feet and spikes attractive pinkish flowers.

There are over 50 types of Fireweed but they do apparently help to strengthen the immune system, respiratory system and improve the condition of the body.

MANUKA

Manuka honey, primarily produced in New Zealand, is used as a natural product both internally and topically on the skin. The bees gather nectar from the flowers of the Manuka bush, which is indigenous only to New Zealand. The honey making process is enriched by the pollution free environment of New Zealand.

Manuka honey has been found to be effective against Helicobacter pylori aka H. pylori, which is pathogenic to the stomach and intestines and is involved in the formation of gastric ulcers and 12-duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori taken from the ulcer with biopsies was sensitive to a 20% solution of Manuka honey. The growth of these bacteria was completely discontinued with 5-% solution of Manuka honey. (http://keepingbee.org/manuka-honey-cancer-manuka-honey-reviews/) Note there are many controversial theories about how and why H. pylori grows.

• This same site claims that Manuka honey impacts on the following: 
  • Bacteria Escherichia coli
  • Propionibacterium
  • Proteus vulgaris
  • Pseudomonas
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Citrobacter freundii
  • Proteus mirabilis
  • Salmonella
  • Streptococcus faecalis
  • Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Helicobacter pylori

NEEM

Neem honey is not in this list but I will put it in anyways.  Neem is a well recognized Ayurvedic plant utilized to treat:  allergies, diabetes, high blood pressure, dental & throat infections, skin conditions

ORANGE BLOSSOM

Orange blossom honey is produced in Florida, Southern California and parts of Texas, and is often a combination of citrus sources.  It is usually light in color and mild in flavor with a fresh scent and light citrus taste.

Orange blossom honey contains:  quercetin, hesperitin, luteolin, kaempferol,  galangin, naringenin and isorhamnetin — antioxidants with anti-inflammatory,  anti-allergy, anti-cancer and immune supporting effects in the body

SAGE

Sage honey, primarily produced in California, is light in color, heavy bodied and has a mild but delightful flavor. It is extremely slow to granulate, making it a favorite among honey packers for blending with other honeys to slow down granulation.

Sage honey is a very pale honey and has less than 20% of the anti-oxidants of its darker cousins…but it still maintains all the other benefits of honey:  enzymes, antibacterial, antifungal, etc

TUPELO

Tupelo honey is a premium honey produced in northwest Florida. It is heavy bodied and is usually light golden amber with a greenish cast and has a mild, distinctive taste. Because of the high fructose content in Tupelo honey, it granulates very slowly.

As with most plants, there are a wide variety of Tupelos – the best for honey is said to be the pure white tupelo.  Along with antibacterial and anti-fungal benefits, tupelo honey to soothe coughs, sore throats, burns and as an anti-inflammatory, but research about its health effects is inconclusive.  But it does contain: ” 25.95 percent dextrose, 43.27 percent fructose, 1.21 percent sucrose, 7.97  percent maltose and 1.1 percent higher sugars. It also contains thiamine,  riboflavin, ascorbic acid, nicotinic acid, sodium, potassium, magnesium,  manganese, iron, copper, calcium and phosphorous”  (http://www.livestrong.com/article/486562-tupelo-honey-benefits/#ixzz2Wa1i3JAy)

WILDFLOWER

Wildflower honey is often used to describe honey from miscellaneous and undefined flower sources.

HONEY BLENDS

While different types of honey are available, most honey, especially honey supplied in bulk, is blended to create a unique and consistent taste and color.

But honey, like most other foods in today’s world can have its challenges:

1. What are bees fed?

• Bee keepers will feed their bees high fructose corn syrup, or other syrups to help the bees establish their honey combs
• Some bee keepers will continue to feed their bees syrup to increase the production of honey
• Some bee keepers will feed the bees syrups during the winter
• This all has an impact on the nutrient profiling of the honey

 

2. What else are the bees given

• Are the bees given anti-biotics

 

3. What are the bees feeding on

• We would want the bees to feed on organic foods, but how organic are the crops in the surrounding area
• There are no government bodies regulating the use of the term organic or how we define organic:
  1. What is in the air – we are now finding that there is a lot more pathogenic material in the air than we ever believed there to be historically
  2. What is in the rain water or ground waters
  3. What is in the ground from surrounding areas
  4. How do you monitor what your bees are feeding on

 

4. There are different ways of processing honey:

• is it pasteurised (pasteurization degrades the enzymes, minerals and vitamins)
  •  is it ultra filtered – filtering removes the pollen and its benefits)
  •    is it a blend of different honeys from different countries (which almost all supermarket

honey is, even when it is organic)
•    are the bees aren’t given antibiotics

 

So what is the answer? Go and ask your local bee keeper what and how he supports his bees. Or like my partner and I did, set up your own bee hives. It is a fairly simple task.

One additional note, if you can’t set up your own bee hives at least put up a hive for mason bees – there are over 140 different varieties. They are 10x better at pollinating – which we desperately need. AND they do not sting like honey bees do. The males do not have a stinger and the females will only sting if trapped or squeezed. All the females are fertile unlike the honey bees who have one fertile bee per hive, ie., the queen bee per hive.
Here’s to your health!

Make an appointment with Dr Holly: 604 764 5203 OR drholly@choicesunlimited.ca

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Here’s to your health!

For more information, contact: Dr Holly at drholly@choicesunlimited.ca

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References:

http://www.aggressivehealthshop.com/eucalyptus-honey-1kg-raw-organic.html

http://www.honeyviewfarm.ca/the-news/healthy-honey/118-antibacterial-activity-in-blueberry-honey

http://www.slavicapiary.com/buckwheat-honey-and-its-health-benefits/

http://www.slavicapiary.com/buckwheat-honey-and-its-health-benefits/

http://www.slavicapiary.com/buckwheat-honey-and-its-health-benefits/

http://www.naturalnews.com/035493_raw_honey_health_benefits_antibacterial.html

http://www.theresearchpedia.com/health/superfoods/honey/benefits-of-clover-honey

http://keepingbee.org/fireweed-honey/

http://fitho.in/health/blueberry-honey-benefits/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/511345-what-are-the-benefits-of-orange-blossom-honey/

http://www.healthreform.biz/health/sage-honey-everything-you-need-to-know-about-sage-honey/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/486562-tupelo-honey-benefits/