Health Benefits of Local Raw Honey

When you think of honey, you probably just think of it as a sweetener. I know I love the taste of it and add it to many dishes and drinks. But did you know how healthy it can be for you, particularly when pure and locally sourced? On this page, I’ll go into many nutritional reasons why you should be adding honey to your diet more regularly.

Why is Local Honey So Healthy?

Honey has been used for centuries as a medicine to help with healing and rejuvenation. The honey that you pick up at your grocery store is processed through heat and pasteurization, which kills most of the enzymes and compounds that make locally-sourced honey so much more nutritious for you.

So how can you tell the difference? Processed honey has a more clear look to it and is rather syrupy. When you get raw honey, which has not been heat-treated, it has more of a buttery look to it, much more of a solid state, and a darker tone. You may even have tiny pieces of beeswax in it, called “cappings”. Since it is in its natural state, none of the enzymes, pollen, antioxidants and other compounds are stripped from it – you get all the good stuff!

Benefits

Protection from Allergies

When you are getting honey that is raw and sourced locally, it can help you build an immunity to allergies. It is especially important that this honey is from nearby you so that it has exposure to the same allergens in which you reside. This happens because bees in your area are in the same environment as you and come in contact with the same plants as you. When honey is produced by these bees, it acts as a vaccine of sorts against allergens in those plants.

Help With Digestion

When it is in a raw state (natural), honey has enzymes in it that can aid in the digestion of certain foods. It particularly is helpful in warding off (or getting rid of) diarrhea and also believed to help with stomach ulcers.

Antioxidants

Honey is jam-packed with phytonutrients that can help prevent cancer as well as many antioxidants. These are all found in the “honey glue” called propolis that bees utilize when sterilizing their hive. These properties are absent when buying processed and pasteurized honey from the store – another reason to go with local, raw honey!

Tons of Vitamins and Minerals

Even in just a small serving, honey gives you a healthy dose of Vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, and C. On top off that, add magnesium (a highly sought ingredient in testosterone boosters), iron, phosphorus, manganese, potassium and more!

Topical Application

You know how silky smooth honey can be, which is why it can be used as a topical salve as well. There are many anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties in honey that make it a great antiseptic for your skin and is great for treating burns.

Related reading: try this skin serum for anti-aging!

Conclusion

Next time you buy honey, shop local! There are numerous benefits of local honey as described above. Beyond that (if you ask me), it just tastes better, too!