Honey: One of the world's healthiest foods

Raw Honey: One of the World’s Healthiest Foods

Raw honey benefits are described in the article linked below.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=96

Just saw this link about why raw honey is one of the world's healthiest foods. Enjoy!

Benefits list: Contains beneficial bacteria & antioxidants, helps with blood sugar control, decreases stress hormones, suppresses coughs, increases athletic performance, used as topical antiseptic for wounds, and reduces cholesterol

Here is a sample paragraph or two pasted directly from the article:

A Spoonful a Day Keeps Free Radicals at Bay

Daily consumption of honey raises blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds in humans, according to research presented at the 227th meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, CA, March 28, 2004. Biochemist Heidrun Gross and colleagues from the University of California, Davis, gave 25 study participants each about four tablespoons buckwheat honey daily for 29 days in addition to their regular diets, and drew blood samples at given intervals following honey consumption. A direct link was found between the subjects' honey consumption and the level of polyphenolic antioxidants in their blood.

Tips for Cooking with Honey:

If your honey has crystallized, placing the container in hot water for 15 minutes will help return it to its liquid state. Do not heat honey in the microwave as this alters its taste by increasing its hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. To prevent honey from sticking to measuring cups and spoons, use honey that is in its liquid form.

Honey makes a good replacement for sugar in most recipes. Since honey is sweeter than sugar, you need to use less, one-half to three-quarters of a cup for each cup of sugar. For each cup of sugar replaced, you should also reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by one-quarter of a cup. In addition, reduce the cooking temperature by 25°F since honey causes foods to brown more easily.

CNN Honey Article: More reasons to buy local raw honey from The Honey Company

Even more reason to buy raw, local honey from The Honey Company!

This article was copied and pasted directly from the CNN website. It was written November 9, 2011 by Emanuella Grinberg. It can be found at http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/11/09/most-honey-sold-in-u-s-grocery-stores-not-worthy-of-its-name/?iref=allsearch. Photos are our own. 

Most Honey Not Worthy of It’s Name

76% of honey on grocery store shelves does not contain pollen. 

Local, raw, unfiltered honey, contains microscopic pieces of pollen and beneficial bee enzymes. 

Most honey sold in U.S. grocery stores not worthy of its name

Most of the honey sold in chain stores across the country doesn't meet international quality standards for the sweet stuff, according to a Food Safety News analysis released this week.

One of the nation's leading melissopalynologists analyzed more than 60 jugs, jars and plastic bears of honey in 10 states and the District of Columbia for pollen content, Food Safety News said. He found that pollen was frequently filtered out of products labeled "honey."

"The removal of these microscopic particles from deep within a flower would make the nectar flunk the quality standards set by most of the world's food safety agencies," the report says. "Without pollen there is no way to determine whether the honey came from legitimate and safe sources."

Among the findings:

• No pollen was found in 76 percent of samples from grocery stores including TOP Food, Safeway, Giant Eagle, QFC, Kroger, Metro Market, Harris Teeter, A&P, Stop & Shop and King Soopers.

• No pollen was found in 100 percent of samples from drugstores including Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS Pharmacy.

• The anticipated amount of pollen was found in samples bought at farmers markets, co-ops and stores like PCC and Trader Joe's.

Why does it matter where your honey comes from? An earlier Food Safety News investigation found that at least a third of all the honey consumed in the United States was likely smuggled from China and could be tainted with illegal antibiotics and heavy metals.

Foreign honey also puts a squeeze on American beekeepers, who have been lobbying for years for an enforceable national standard to prevent foreign honey from flooding the market.

The Food and Drug Administration does not have a standard of identity for honey like it does for milk or other products, a spokesman said.

The lack of regulation is what enables potentially unsafe honey is able to make its way into the country, Andrew Schneider, author of the Food and Safety News report.

"Where there's no pollen, there's no way for authorities to confirm where the honey came from, so it's easy to smuggle illicit honey into the country," he said.

Photo of raw honeycomb.

Honey as energy gel

Go Honey is our natural version of energy gel. Use it while exercising for a carb boost. 

What is Energy Gel? 

Energy gels are thick carbohydrate syrups used to extend muscle energy (glycogen) during exercise. They provide simple and complex carbohydrates.  Energy gels are packaged in palm-sized packets for athletes to suck syrup into the mouth.  They provide about 100 Calories (17-25 g carbohydrate) per packet. 

Energy gels are designed to deliver a quick rise in blood sugar and maintain that glucose level for up to 45 minutes during exercise.  Sometimes electrolytes and other "non-essentials" such as herbs and caffeine are added to the gel.

Honey is a great energy gel because it causes less of an insulin response than other sugars.  Honey gives athletes a slower, more sustained energy spike than sugar.  This means it creates a smaller post-sugar “fall” than other sugars.  This is because of the complex mixture of sugars in honey.  Honey contains dextrose (glucose chains), fructose, and at least 22 other, more complex, sugar types.  These sugars are not found in nectar, but are formed during ripening and storage of honey by bee enzymes (Graham, 1997).  This means they are more readily available for absorption by our tissues.  

How To Use Go Honey as Energy Gel

Consume about 1/3 of packet with 250 mL water 15 minutes before starting a run and 45 min into the run.  Repeat every hour throughout the duration of the run.  

Athletes need to consume adequate water with energy gels to prevent dehydration.  A good rule of thumb is about 250 mL (1 cup) of water for every 100 Calories consumed. When water is not consumed with energy gel, water leaves the body tissues, and enters the digestive tract to help digest it.  This means less water for muscles and can lead to dehydration.  

This product is not intended to replace proper diet and nutrition.

Why Honey?

1. All-natural energy source
2. No preservatives
3. Complex mixture of sugars
4. Honey yielded lower insulin response than sugars in 12 studies.  Honey has GI of about 32 to 85, depending on the nectar source.
5. Rich in anti-oxidants: Honey contains as many anti-oxidants as spinach, apples, oranges, and strawberries, according to a study by Gheldof and Engeseth (2003).  Researcher Gross and his team (2004) found that consuming honey increased the level of antioxidants in the blood.  Some antioxidants found in honey include chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase, and pinocembrin.
6. Indefinite shelf-life
   
   
7. Contains live bee enzymes

Why Our Honey?

1. No processing (raw and unfiltered)
2. No water added
3. 100% domestic honey, local to Northern Utah
4. Apiaries located in pesticide-free areas
5. No flavoring added
6. Conservation: The Honey Company beekeepers work to develop bee genetics to improve resistance to disease and Colony Collapse Disorder rather than medicating bees
7. Go Honey Packages are free from BPA and phthalates
8. Go Honey Packages are re-closable
9. Go Honey Packages can withstand 150 pounds of pressure with the lid properly in place

What is the Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates based on their effect on blood glucose and insulin levels.  Choosing low GI carbs reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes and is key to sustainable weight loss.  Carbs in low GI foods enter the bloodstream more slowly and causes less dramatic fluctuations in blood glucose levels. This means better energy balance, longer physical endurance, and a better refueling after exercise.  

Glucose is assigned a GI of 100 and other carbohydrates are given a number compared to glucose.  Low GI values are less than 55, 56-69 is medium, and 70 or larger is high GI. Honey ranges from 35-87 GI (median 56), depending on the variety and the sugar ratios in the honey. Typical USA honeys have GI below 55. This means honey spikes blood sugar much less than other sugars. Also, honey is twice as sweet as sugar and consumers can use about half as much to sweeten foods.