What is Raw Honey

Raw honey is the purest form of honey. Unlike the processed honey, which is filtered and pasteurized, unprocessed honey contains concentrated nectar of flowers in its natural form. Though the smooth consistency of processed honey makes it cleaner to look at, the process of filtration and pasteurization removes several important enzymes and makes it less nutritious than natural honey. Since it is unfiltered, you will find traces of beeswax, bee pollen and bits of honeycomb in it. Now that you know what is raw honey, let's find out more about its health benefits.

Properties of Unprocessed Honey

Honey in its natural form contains several important vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and enzymes. Since it contains antioxidants, it helps in fighting the free radicals. It is also an excellent source of energy. Unlike processed honey, where the bee pollen that is rich in amino acids gets removed, all these essential nutrients that are vital for growth stay intact in unfiltered honey. It is also known for its anti-bacterial properties. Since it is viscous in nature, therefore, it does not allow the bacteria to grow. Its anti-inflammatory in nature and also helps in strengthening the body's immune system.

Health Benefits

You might already be aware of the culinary uses of honey, so let me tell you how honey in its natural form can be used for treating several ailments.

Skin Conditions
Many believe that unprocessed honey can be used for acne control. Since it is anti-bacterial in nature, it may help in killing the microbes that might be causing such skin eruptions. It is also an excellent moisturizer. It can be used for treating skin conditions such as eczema and dry skin. It also provides protection against sunburns. You can also apply it on cuts, burns and wounds. It acts like a drawing agents and draws out water from wounds and doesn't allow the bacteria to thrive. It also contains an antiseptic substance called inhibine which prevents the wounds from becoming infected. It fastens the process of healing and also prevents scarring.

Stomach Problems
Unprocessed honey is a great health tonic. It is a reservoir of numerous enzymes that aid in digestion. Since it is a natural laxative, it can be used for treating stomach problems such as constipation, indigestion, diarrhea and stomach aches. It also helps in healing stomach ulcers. It is an alkaline-forming food. It is not gassy and it doesn't ferment in the stomach. It can prove beneficial in the treatment of acid indigestion and constipation. Sometimes, the stomach is unable to contain any food and as a result, one might suffer from recurrent vomiting, during such times, having unfiltered honey can prove to be a great source of energy. Take it with ginger and lemon juice. It will surely make you feel better and provide relief from nausea.

Weight Loss
Unprocessed honey helps in converting the accumulated fat into usable energy and helps one lose weight naturally. It helps in the metabolism of cholesterol and fatty acids and thus prevents weight gain. It has been found that having a glassful of warm water with a teaspoon of honey and fresh lemon juice first thing in the morning helps in getting rid of extra fat.

Sore Throat
Since it is anti-inflammatory in nature, it provides relief to those suffering from throat infections. If you are suffering from a bad cough, you will find relief after drinking warm water that has honey and lemon juice added to it. It will not only help in loosening and dissolving the mucus, it will also fight the bacteria and viruses. People suffering from bad breath can also take mix it with cinnamon.

Though the purest form of honey has numerous health benefits, it must not be given to newborns. Since the honeybees harvest the nectar directly from flowers, it could contain some chemicals the flowers might have been subjected to. Unprocessed honey could contain botulism spores which can lead to botulism in infants, refrain from giving it to infants. Besides this negative effect it might have on infants, raw honey definitely helps in promoting good health.