People have been using honey for centuries for both food and medicinal purposes.
Many count on raw honey for more health benefits, while others argue there's no distinction between raw and processed honey.
As third-generation family beekeepers, we've been keeping bees for decades and have seen and tasted honey in every form. We've explored the research, too. Here are the reasons why raw honey is healthier than processed honey.
Raw vs. Processed Honey
To understand the health benefits of raw honey, you first have to know the main distinctions between raw and processed honey.
Raw Honey
The best way to describe raw honey is “fresh from the beehive.” Beekeepers remove it from the hive and pour it onto nylon or mesh cloth to separate impurities such as beeswax, pollen, and bits of dead bees from the honey.
It appears cloudy and dense because it hasn't been pasteurized, but it's still safe to consume. After this simple process, it's ready for packaging and enjoyment!
Processed Honey
On the other hand, producing processed honey requires several additional steps before it's bottled. These steps are:
- Pasteurization is a process that destroys yeast that affects the flavor of honey using high temperatures of heat, which makes it smoother and extends its shelf life.
- Filtration works to remove debris and air bubbles to create clear, aesthetically appealing honey.
- Ultrafiltration is an additional filtration process that further refines the honey. However, this process may also remove the beneficial nutrients and antioxidants typically found in honey.
The process of making processed honey differs from the raw process, leading to distinct differences in the quality levels of each type.
The reason honey is processed is not that it's a safer product; it's so that grocery stores can keep honey clear and pourable on their shelves for longer. Raw honey will naturally crystallize after a few months as the sugars concentrate.
However, currently, there's no legal definition of honey' in the U.S., and here's the problem with that: Lots of brands say they are raw, but no one is holding them to that promise. That means the potential health benefits you're expecting aren't there when honey gets processed through heating, blending, and sometimes adulteration with syrups.
You can tell honey isn't raw if it never crystallizes and always tastes the same.
Benefits of Raw Honey
Raw honey contains a wide variety of nutrients, including specific compounds that offer health benefits. Pasteurization and filtering processes remove or diminish specific components as a result of exposure to high temperatures, including:
- Bee pollen and propolis
- Minerals and vitamins
- Amino acids and enzymes
- Antioxidants
Raw honey offers more robust health benefits for wound repair and infection-fighting than processed honey.
Bee Pollen
The advantages of bee pollen are plentiful, and the pasteurization process removes it from the honey. Some of the benefits include:
- Antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antifungal and antibacterial properties
- Pain-relieving capabilities
All of these factors make bee pollen a crucial component of natural honey and contribute to its ability to heal abrasions and destroy bacteria.
Bee pollen also contains several minerals, including calcium and magnesium, various vitamins, and amino acids.
Bee Propolis
Bee propolis is an adhesive material bees use to construct their hives and keep everything together. Many people believe this sticky matter is beneficial for people as well.
Bee propolis also has anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects, but it may also hold anti-ulcer and anti-cancer potential. It contains potassium, magnesium, and several other vitamins and enzymes.
It's also one of the reasons why honey never expires!
How Processing Destroys the Benefits of Honey
Antioxidants lessen oxidative stress in the body. Raw honey holds flavonoids and phenolic acids with antioxidant properties. The types of antioxidants found in raw honey vary based on the flowers that the bees pollinate.
Many people think that pasteurization eliminates most of the nutritional components of honey. However, there's no formal research on exactly how pasteurization affects the antioxidants in honey, but studies show that heat processing diminishes the antioxidant concentration in several foods.
Many manufacturers also include sweeteners and other additives in their honey during processing. You'll see several honey products in stores that aren't 100 percent natural honey because they contain added sugars, such as brown rice syrup or high fructose corn syrup. Companies do this to make their products cheaper by diluting them with cheaper ingredients.
Real, raw honey doesn't have any additional ingredients other than what it takes from the hive, which is the main reason why raw honey is healthier than processed honey.
Unfortunately, you can't guarantee that your honey doesn't contain any additives, even when the label says "raw". Because there is no USDA definition of honey, no one is holding companies accountable.
Until this changes, the most important thing to do is know your beekeeper.
At Crystal's Raw Honey, we are third-generation family beekeepers who care about quality and sharing how honey flavor can vary by the state or region where it was made, and even by the types of flowers the bees fed on.
The appearance of the honey product helps you determine whether it's raw. Processed honey looks extremely clear and smooth, but raw honey has a mixture of colors and a cloudy or milky appearance. Therefore, if you're seeking honey that encompasses nutrients like bee pollen, you need to be sure the label declares "raw," and that it's coming from a beekeeper source that you can trust.
Does Raw Mean Organic?
In short, no. Raw honey isn't always organic. And some organic products still undergo pasteurization and processing.
There is no organic certification for U.S. honey. Bees fly 2 to 5 miles to collect nectar, so they naturally interact with the surrounding landscape. Because of that, trace residues can occasionally be detected in honey anywhere in the world, though the levels are typically extremely small. This is exactly why there is no USDA organic certification for honey produced in the U.S. It's simply too difficult to prove.
That means every honey labeled "USDA organic" in the U.S. is imported. And the standards vary wildly...we've seen countries whose "organic" classification would be considered conventional elsewhere. You really don't know what you're getting; you're essentially trusting the country it came from. We don't use pesticides in our production process, and we actively support efforts to reduce pesticide use in agriculture.
That's why we believe raw honey from a beekeeper you trust, where you know the source, the land, and how it's handled from hive to jar, is always the better choice.
Risks of Honey
Both raw and filtered honey are safe for people to ingest, though it's best to avoid varieties that contain additional sugars. Still, those allergic to bee pollen should stay away from bee products, including raw honey.
However, all types of honey may contain small volumes of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium can cause an unusual type of food poisoning known as botulism. Therefore, it's safe for most people over 1 year old. However, infants one year and younger shouldn't consume any honey because their digestive tract hasn't adequately developed to combat the bacteria.
Those with a major pollen allergy might react to raw honey in rare cases. For that reason, you should consider speaking with your doctor or allergist before using or consuming raw honey if you have allergies.
Crystallization
Since raw honey contains natural ingredients and is unprocessed, it may be a better option for people seeking health benefits from honey. Raw honey sometimes comes in crystal form rather than liquid. Additionally, raw honey already in liquid form tends to crystallize more swiftly than other honey.
To decrystallize, place the honey jar in a bowl of hot (not boiling) water to soften the crystals and melt the honey again. However, be cautious not to cook it, as you may destroy its healthful properties.
TLDR?
Raw honey has many benefits and is healthier than processed honey, but unfortunately there is no USDA standard for raw honey, and so honey is one of the most adulterated products in the world. The best thing you can do is know and support your local beekeeper.
We'd love to be your beekeeper. We have 35,000 hives in states and regions across the U.S. We specialize in single-varietal honey produced by our bees pollinating crops like blueberries and cranberries for farmers. The honey naturally carries subtle blueberry or cranberry notes, depending on the crop the bees pollinated.
Explore our bulk honey online for potential discounts, or shop by the jar.