Raw honey is honey in its unprocessed and natural state from the beehive. In its raw unpasteurized state, it contains numerous vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, chromium, selenium and zinc. It also has flavonoids and phenolic acids that act as antioxidants to help neutralize free-radicals which contribute to cell damage and various diseases.
Raw honey has also been shown to be beneficial for a healthy gut as it contains high amounts of prebiotics, which feed beneficial gut bacteria and enables them to thrive. Unprocessed honey also contains other substances such as bee pollen and bee propolis that give raw honey additional benefits. The pollen and propolis have been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-cancerous properties, amplifying the many benefits of raw honey.
Raw honey has an extraordinary effect on human metabolism. Rather than spiking blood sugar levels, it instead regulates and stabilizes it. This is because honey is made up of both fructose and glucose in a near equal ratio. These sugars are directly absorbed by our bodies and are easier to digest than table sugar for example. The glucose and fructose in honey is then utilized by the body to create glycogen which is then stored in the liver.
Research Studies
Research from Xavier University in New Orleans concludes that consuming raw honey daily helps treat seasonal allergies due to pollen.
A study by the University of Bonn in Germany showed that there is potential for using honey as an antibacterial agent on patients with suppressed immune systems.
Penn State University Medical School concluded in a cough suppressant study that honey was superior to the most common over-the-counter cough suppressant available.