Honey is one of the he althiest products, combining a huge variety of nutrients in its composition, having great importance for he alth. There are many different types of honey. One of them is raw honey.
What is the difference between regular and raw honey?
Raw honey, as its name suggests, is unrefined. The main difference between raw and ordinary honey, which is also the most common in the commercial network, is the degree of purification and processing.
Ordinary honey has a transparent texture, elastic and easy to flow, it has these properties thanks to the processing, pasteurization and filtration it goes through before being bottled.
Raw honey, on the other hand, does not go through such processing, which is why its color is cloudy and the texture is harder.
Ordinary refined honey is stripped of most of its beneficial properties because of the filtration it goes through. It is not as rich in antioxidants, bee pollen and enzymes as raw honey.
Many of the he alth benefits of honey are found in its raw form. It is extremely rich in antioxidants. It is an alternative source of sugars. It is many times sweeter than regular white sugar, which means that with a small amount you can sweeten your cakes, drinks, baked goods.
It crystallizes easily, but this should not worry you because it is a sign that the honey is really unrefined. Honey has virtually no shelf life, making it a wonderful, safe product suitable for long-term consumption.
What are the three main he alth benefits of raw honey?
Powerful antibacterial properties
Raw honey has significantly stronger qualities in terms of fighting infections caused by bacteria and viruses. Raw honey is an antimicrobial and antibacterial agent. Raw honey owes this property to an enzyme in its composition, which ordinary honey does not possess. With the help of this enzyme, hydrogen peroxide is produced during the breakdown of carbohydrates and sugars in the body. This stimulates wound healing and healing processes in the body.
Rich in antioxidants
Raw honey is incomparably richer in antioxidants than other types of honey. It contains over 30 polyphenols, 22 amino acids and a huge variety of vitamins and minerals, according to realsimple.com. Polyphenols are responsible for protecting the body from free radicals, causing disease processes and cell aging. Raw honey contains an abundance of these and other useful substances that are in limited quantities in refined honey.
Raw honey contains bee pollen
Bee pollen is a component that is difficult to find in other types of honey due to their degree of purification and filtration. The pollen in raw honey adds fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to the honey. This substance actively fights inflammation, improves liver function, protects against cardiovascular diseases.