The Health Benefits of Raw Honey & The Science Behind It

Written by Susan Fox, Health Writer

Highlights:

Honey is rich in enzymes, vitamins, minerals and contains antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antibiotic capabilities.
Honey is the only food that will not spoil.
Replacing sucrose with honey can help prevent weight gain and activate hormones that suppress the appetite.
The Almased Weight Loss Phenomenon is made with raw honey in a unique fermentation process that supports immune system health and helps to control hunger.

Most of us learned in early childhood that the taste of sweetness was a good thing. All sugary confections were a delight to eat, though accompanied by stern warnings. “No, it will spoil your appetite,” “Just one piece is enough,” and “Only after you’ve eaten your dinner” are but a few of the rebukes we know so well.

Still, there were seasonal events like holidays and celebrations that rewarded us with their unique version of a guilt-free splurge. Some of our most pleasant memories are associated with Christmas cookies, Halloween candy, and Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. Add to that some Valentine chocolates, marshmallow bunnies with springtime jelly beans, and birthday cakes throughout the year.

Most of us want to be healthier, and many of us would love to shed a few unwanted pounds. But, to surrender our sweet tooth?

What if you could enjoy the pleasure of sweetness and not experience cravings?

What if you could even feel good about it?

There is another option, and it’s called honey! We all know it well - yet there are tremendous benefits of honey that may surprise you, and the raw honey benefits are spectacular.

The Health Benefits of Raw Honey

Many individuals are unaware that raw honey is a powerhouse of health benefits.

The health benefits of honey establish it as much more than just a sweetener. Honey nutrition is pure liquid gold. According to Chief Knowledge Officer, Dr. Charles Shively, Ph.D., RPh, from AskDrS.org, “Honey is rich in enzymes, vitamins, minerals and contains antimicrobial, antioxidant and antibiotic capabilities as well.”

“Honey has been used in medicine for hundreds of years. The antifungal and antibiotic properties in honey help in promoting autolytic debridement (shedding of dead tissue) while stimulating healthy tissue growth. Because honey is antiseptic, it also soothes and heals your skin, including acne.”

Yes! The healing properties of honey are that good for you! Honey is such a unique substance that bacteria cannot grow in it. Honey is the only food that will never spoil!

Dr. Shively goes on to say, “importantly, these characteristics of honey allow it to have value in supporting many different aspects of our health.

First, consuming honey has been shown to help with weight loss where it assists with the digestion of foods which can contribute to the reduction of the extra fat stored in the body. There are at least eight (8) digestive enzymes in honey, the most prominent being diastase (amylase) and saccharase (sucrase). Weight loss of 5% to 10% has been shown in clinical studies to help improvements in blood pressure, blood lipid profile (i.e., cholesterol), sleep apnea and reduction of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.”

Also, “Honey provides an energy source for many body functions as the carbohydrates available in honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs.”

“One more reason why honey is good for you is that athletic performance can be improved. Honey helps maintain appropriate blood sugar levels while offering glycogen restoration after a workout. The net result is that honey can regulate the amount of insulin in the body as well as supporting energy expenditure. Riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, manganese, iron, and copper are present in honey. All of these have specific roles in maintaining our health.”

“Keep in mind that all honey is not created equal. Its sources and the subsequent processing greatly impact the quality of the honey and its ability to deliver health benefits.” Raw honey is processed directly by nature.

According to Registered Dietitian, Daniel Solomon, RDN, LDN, “Switching from sugar to pure raw honey can have enormous health benefits. Raw honey is a pure, unfiltered and unpasteurized sweetener created by bees from flower nectar.”

“Most of the honey consumed these days is processed honey that has been heated and filtered, removing important nutritional content from the honey. In contrast, pure raw honey does not rob you of its amazing nutritional content and health benefits.”

Is Honey Good For You?

So, in answer to “is honey good for you?” - An emphatic: Yes! NO empty calories here. Every drop of nature’s nectar brings value to your health and beauty, inside and out.

Dr. Shively advises those wishing to use a natural sweetener should always choose honey. “The synthetic sugar replacements (Nutrasweet and others) are not good substitutes as a sweetening agent.”

“Raw honey is an all-natural occurring ingredient that has many anti-inflammatory components and works to adjust chronic inflammation in the gut and intestinal tract (microbiome) and the subsequent metabolic disorder effects (diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension).”

Honey is one of the three highly regarded ingredients that make up Almased. The Almased Weight Loss Phenomenon™ is a unique dietary supplement and meal replacement that has been clinically confirmed in more than 15 years of research to support weight loss and overall well-being.

Almased is made from non-GMO soy, yogurt, and enzyme-rich honey in a special fermentation process that releases bioactive peptides. Added to the final product in raw form, honey gives Almased the slightly sweet taste without the need for added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

What is the benefit of including raw honey in Almased?

Containing incredible nutritional value, raw honey has health powers that stem from the combination of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help boost the immune system.

That sounds great, but, how can the raw honey in Almased assist with weight loss?

In a study from the University of Wyoming, raw honey was found to activate hormones that control and suppress the appetite - reducing sugar craving and offering potential weight-lowering effects. In another study from San Diego State University, the scientists found that replacing sugar with honey could help lower blood sugar levels and prevent adding on extra pounds.

Honey Enzymes For The Gut

There are at least eight (8) digestive enzymes in honey. The most prominent enzymes in honey are diastase (amylase) and saccharase (sucrase). Weight loss of 5 to 10% has been shown in clinical studies to help improvements in blood pressure, blood lipid profile (i.e., cholesterol), sleep apnea and reduction of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.

Honey Fuels the Body

Honey provides an energy source for many body functions as the carbohydrates available in honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Glucose is transported in the blood from the small intestine to the liver. In the liver, glucose is stored as an energy-available glycogen or converted to needed fat. One tablespoon of honey provides 64 calories in contrast to one tablespoon of white sugar (15 calories).

Running on Honey

Athletic performance can be improved when honey is consumed as it is an excellent ergogenic (facilitates healthy exercise) aid that helps maintain appropriate blood sugar levels while offering glycogen restoration after a workout. The net result is that honey can regulate the amount of insulin in the body as well as supporting energy expenditure.

Honey's Micronutrients

Riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, manganese, iron, and copper are present in honey. All of these have specific roles in maintaining our health. Interestingly, their quantity present depends on the type of flowers used during apiculture (the raising and keeping of bees). Most healthcare professionals agree that honey blended from different flora (polyflora) is healthier than monofloral (one flower nectar source for the bees).

Honey As Medicine

The use of honey in medicine has occurred for hundreds of years and has shown significant value in wound management (treatment of wounds). As there are antibacterial, antifungal, and antibiotic properties available in honey, it helps in promoting autolytic debridement (shedding of dead tissue) while deodorizing malodorous wounds and stimulates healthy tissue growth.

Honey, You've Lost Weight!

Raw honey and weight loss go hand in hand. Importantly, these characteristics of honey allow it to have value in supporting many different aspects of our health. Firstly, the consumption of honey has been shown to help with weight loss where it assists with the digestion and breakdown of the foods that are eaten into more weight-friendly substances which can contribute to the reduction of the extra fat stored in the body.

Hear what some of Almased’s successful winners at weight-loss have to say:

“The thing I like best was that I was never hungry” - Carol E., from Idaho

“Almased is now a staple in my house. I like having it handy for a quick meal replacement [recipes] if I’m in a hurry, and I always have a measured amount with me when I’m on the go.” - Rosemary R., from Massachusetts

“...the amazing thing is how easy to follow the program is. You can take it everywhere and OMG their recipes are to die for. You’ll be amazed by how fast the weight comes off. One more thing, I love the Almased website, they’re always posting new information to help keep you on the program. If you ever have a question, they always get back to you in a very short time. Almased keep up the great job!!!” - Robin Raskin

“Try Almased! Keeps you full and you feel good about the choice to put healthy ingredients in your body.” - Becky Ruppel

Even so, should we still be worried about the natural sugar in Almased?

One 50 gram serving of Almased contains only 15 grams of sugar originating from skim-milk cultured yogurt and raw honey. This small amount of sugar is combined and consumed with a high amount of protein; lowering the glycemic index of Almased and having little impact on blood sugar level compared to high glycemic index foods. The slow release of sugar allows the body time to respond with appropriate insulin levels, helping the body metabolize sugar more efficiently.

Solomon says, “Switching to raw honey could even accelerate weight-loss when compared to diets containing sugar or high fructose syrup. It is one of the best natural sweeteners available.”

Charles Shively adds, “the consumption of raw or natural honey is a powerful health addition to one’s daily nutritional needs.” Almased chooses the ingredients for its product that offers the best health benefits, one of which is raw honey.

Want to learn more about honey and weight loss tips? Go here.

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The Health Benefits of Honey: The Science Behind Honey