And while too many people are still missing out on the golden goodness that is honey, its fans are split more or less into two groups. There are those who don't exactly care if their honey is raw or filtered.
And then there are those who think raw honey is the only way to go. The divide is more or less based on the health impacts honey is supposed to have. Several benefits have been proven, as outlined by the Mayo Clinic.
These include honey's ability to soothe coughs and sore throats , the sweetener's antioxidant content, and the use of medical-grade honey in treating wounds when applied topically. Of course the raw versus filtered debate is centered on the benefits that come with eating honey. If you have the choice between raw honey vs regular honey, raw honey is a better choice for health, taste, bees and the environment.
Organic Honey: Organic honey is produced from the pollen of organically grown plants, and without chemical miticides to treat the bees.
Buying organic honey ensures that you avoid contact with pesticides that may be sprayed on or near the plants visited by honeybees. Of course, bees usually fly up to 2 miles from the hive looking for flowers, which means that all the flowers within this 2-mile radius must be certified organic in order for the honey to truly be organic.
As you would expect this can be difficult to control, but an Organic certification is a good way you can be sure the apiary is taking care to ensure it. Much of the certified organic honey available in the United States is imported in large quantities from Brazil or other foreign countries and undergoes pasteurization and heavy filtration.
Look for both raw and organic on the label. Raw honey contains pollen, may be more nutritious and does not have any added sugars or sweeteners, both of which may be present in commercial honeys. If you want to be sure to get all the health benefits, then you should choose raw honey. Summary Most of the health benefits of honey can be attributed to its antioxidants and enzymes. Because commercial honeys are processed, they may have lower levels of antioxidants. Raw and organic honeys are subject to different regulations in different countries.
Honey that is classified as raw is not allowed to be pasteurized or processed. Summary Raw and organic honey are subject to different regulations in different countries. Risks of Eating Raw Honey. Raw honey can contain spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Summary While raw honey is safe for healthy adults, it can be dangerous for infants. It may contain spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum , which can grow in the gut of developing infants.
How to Pick the Healthiest Honey. When it comes to choosing the healthiest honey, you should look for one that is raw. Raw honeys are not pasteurized and bypass filtration, a process that may reduce its nutrients. A great variety of raw and unfiltered honey is available on Amazon. Summary When it comes to choosing honey, your best bet is to go raw.
The Bottom Line. Raw and regular honey are processed differently. Read this next. The Top 6 Raw Honey Benefits. Agave Nectar vs. Honey: Which Is Healthier? Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. This processing technique is done to prevent the honey from becoming granulated.
The reason beekeepers filter honey is to remove large items from their honey to produce a palatable product. One of the main reasons producers filter honey is to extend the shelf life of the honey. When the honey has undergone filtration, it appears clear and less viscous, making it more acceptable to the typical consumer at the local supermarket! Nevertheless, they are less nutritious because the processing technique reduces the number of active enzymes, vitamins, and essential minerals in the honey.
Following the heating, the honey is rapidly cooled to protect its natural color, enzyme content, flavor, and biological substance. The heating process has to be precise, else it will destroy the yeast cells in the honey completely. After the heating process is completed, and the honey has cooled, it is then strained. Straining involves filtering the honey to remove impurities and crystalized honey, leaving you with clear honey. On the other hand, unfiltered honey is a type of honey harvested directly from a hive and minimally processed.
The honey does not undergo any processing except straining to remove impurities before it is packaged. Unfiltered honey is one of the most nutritious types of honey. They do not undergo heat processing like filtered honey, which can alter the chemical composition of the honey. Unfiltered honey has more beneficial bacteria and enzymes than filtered processed honey. Also, the antibiotic properties of unfiltered honey are higher because the honey is closer to its natural state.
Hence, if you smear unfiltered honey on an open wound, some people think it may reduce the risk of infection. Because of the high nutrient content of honey, some people use it to lessen sensitivities to allergens. But if you are prone to hay fever, then you may not enjoy the strong aroma of honey. Unfiltered honey retains a little bit of the floral nectar that is usually lost in processed honey, hence the strong aroma. When considering the flavor of honey, note that darker varieties of honey are more pungent.
While filtered and unfiltered honey are two of the most common types of honey, there are several other kinds of honey. Honey is classified based on how they are processed, color, and texture. When a manufacturer says their honey is pure, what they mean is that the honey does not contain impurities. This means that the honey has been processed to remove impurities in diverse forms. Manufacturers sometimes add corn syrup when they are industrially producing honey to reduce cost.
As such, it is advisable to look for more information about honey other than a pure honey label to make sure you are getting all the benefits you can from honey when you get one.
Some manufacturers label their honey containers as raw honey. When you see a honey jar with a raw honey label, this means that the honey is pure and has not been heated to the point of pasteurization. Raw honey comes with several benefits, especially the fact that the naturally occurring vitamins, enzymes, and minerals in the honey are preserved.
Unlike pure honey, raw honey gets you the full benefits of eating honey. Most beekeepers that produce raw honey are aware that the way they care for the bees and handle the honey has a big impact on the honey. So, raw honey is handled with care right from how the bees producing the honey are cared for.
If you have to choose between raw honey and pure honey, raw honey is a better choice for taste, health, and the environment. Organic honey is another common type of honey produced from the pollen of flowering plants grown organically and without chemicals to treat the bees. Going for organic honey ensures that you avoid contact with pesticides that may have been sprayed on or near the plant the bees collect nectar from to produce honey. Note, bees can fly up to 2 miles from their hives to source for flowers.
As such, beekeepers who want to produce organic honey are cautious of plants within this 2-mile radius and must be certified organic so that the honey is truly organic. However, this can be difficult to monitor, but an organic certification is a good way you can be sure the owner of the beehive has taken care to ensure its true organic nature.
Honey can be filtered through a means that removes very small particles, most often as small as the pollen. But note that filtering honey does not mean the same thing as straining the honey. Straining honey is commonly done to remove bee parts and other large debris before packaging in jars while the honey will still retain pollen and other beneficial qualities.
Furthermore, unfiltered honey can be closer to its state straight from the hive than honey that has been filtered. Going for unfiltered honey ensures the most properties of the honey are preserved. Another way to differentiate the different types of honey is with their colors.
Honey can be dark or light -colored. Note that dark-colored honey is generally more nutritious than light-colored honey. Moreover, dark honey has a more pungent taste than light-colored honey. And most dark-colored honey contains a higher concentration of powerful nutrients and antioxidants than light-colored honey.
Generally, the antioxidants in dark-colored honey combat free radicals, molecules that damage cells. Dark honey has a distinct strong aroma, while light honey generally has a mild state. Their color, moisture, and flavor content vary widely depending on the flower nectar source. Creamed honey is a type of honey that has been processed to control crystallization. Hence, creamed honey is usually creamier and thicker than regular honey. Moreover, creamed honey is for spreading on your favorite sandwich or pastry.
0コメント