Unprocessed honey, also known as raw honey, hasn't been heated or pasteurized. Most raw honey is merely filtered to remove large particles of honeycomb or dirt. Processed honey has been heated above 160 F to 180 F to discourage crystallization of the honey. Raw honey contains enzymes from the digestive system of bees that are destroyed by heat. It may also contain traces of pollen. Some people feel raw honey is more healthy than processed honey because of the presence of these enzymes and pollen.
Antibiotic Activity
When researchers at the Amity Institute of Biotechnology in Uttar Pradesh, India, studied the ability of raw and processed honey to kill various bacteria, they found that both forms of honey performed equally well. Honey inhibited the growth of staphylococcus, E. coli, pseudomonas and salmonella. The research, published in "Biotechnology Research International" in 2011, suggests that honey could be used as a topical dressing to fight many types of bacteria in wounds, but processed honey would work just as well as raw honey.
Honey and Exercise
Honey contains carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. It's easily digested and palatable to most people, making it a good energy source for endurance athletes such as marathon runners, triathletes and bicycle racers. But both raw and processed honey contain the same number of calories and the same vitamins and minerals, the choice of raw versus processed honey depends on the athlete.
Honey and Allergies
Some people favor the ingestion of raw honey as a cure for allergies. They reason that the small amount of pollen in raw honey will promote an immune response to fight allergies. However, a study of 26 allergy sufferers in Connecticut published in the February 1988 issue of "Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology" did not find that honey was any more effective than a placebo in fighting allergies.
Precautions
Do not give raw honey to infants under 1 year of age. Raw honey may contain botulism spores. The number of these spores is small enough that the spores don't affect adults and older children, but infants' immune systems aren't yet developed enough to fight them. People with compromised immune systems should also avoid raw honey.
References
- "Biotechnology Research International"; Antibacterial Efficacy of Raw and Processed Honey; D.P. Mohapatra, et al.; December 2010
- University of California, Davis Department of Entomology; Show Me the Honey --- UC Davis Nutritionist Extols Benefits of Honey; September 2009
- "Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology"; Effects of Ingestion of Honey on Symptoms of Rhinoconjunctivitis; T.V. Rajan, et al.; February 1988
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