With so many different types of honey on the market, how can you figure out which is the best?
Also, what’s the difference in the labels between ‘raw’, ‘pure’ and ‘organic’?
Although they are all types of honey, the little differences in the labels can mean a lot to consumers. It is best to fully understand what kind of honey and its purity that you are buying, which you wish to ultimately benefit your health.
Organic Honey
Organic honey is organically harvested and processed without any use of chemicals and pesticides. The whole process is often strictly audited by a third-party organic association, ensuring that the utmost purity and quality of the honey. Furthermore, for certified organic honey, the honeybees cannot be fed antibiotics, which is common practice in the industry. While organic honey does not contain chemicals and pesticides, it may not be raw or unheated, so do read the label carefully to check if both wordings are included.
Raw Honey
Raw Honey has not been heated until the point of pasteurisation (up to 118 degrees celsius), leaving the nutrients and enzymes present in raw honey intact. Thus, you get the full impact of all the healthy properties that honey really contains. In fact, the honey is mostly obtained by extraction, settling or straining, where the beeswax and other residue is removed.
When given a choice, raw honey can be a good selection for overall health, taste, bees and the environment.
Pure Honey
On the other hand, when buying pure honey, you are getting 100% honey without any chemicals or additives. Sometimes additional ingredients such as corn syrup is added to honey to lower costs. However, ‘pure honey’ doesn’t always inform you about where the honey is harvested or about the varietal or strain of honey that is produced, so this label can be somewhat limiting.
Why Choose Organic Honey?
There are over 300 types of honey all over the world, each one having different benefits and rich flavours that cater to your preferences. The question is: how do you choose the best honey for you?
The rule of thumb is to select honey that is as pure and natural as possible.
Organic honey is harvested from organically-grown flowers that are not contaminated by chemicals and pesticides.
Because of its rigorous inspection and high-quality standards, organic honey is considered a superior choice.
Organic honey is a good source of antioxidants that protect your body from diseases. They also have antifungal properties that destroy bacteria.
Besides health benefits, buying organic honey protects the bees and the environment. Without any harmful chemicals on the flowers, the bees can live a healthy life. In addition, having a pesticide-free environment encourages sustainable biodiversity.
FAQS
Raw honey, on one hand, is honey straight from the hive. It hasn’t been heated over 118 degrees celsius. This means that all the nutrients and enzymes found in honey are kept intact.
On the other hand, organic honey produced in bee farms follow organic livestock standards. This means that the hives from which honey was collected must be free from chemicals. Likewise, the flowers from which bees get their nectar from should also be chemical and pesticide free. Although, some organic honey can be considered raw. Be sure to check the labels for the proper certification.
There are a wide variety of organic honeys to choose from, often distinguished by the type of flowers they were harvested from. Each of them have their own benefits and unique flavors.
When stored properly with sealed containers, organic honey does not expire. Due to its antibacterial properties and low pH levels, organisms that would usually spoil food cannot survive in honey.
Pure and organic honey contains high levels of beneficial compounds that offer health benefits. Some of which include the following:
Consuming honey in moderation is an important practice for all honey lovers. The optimal amount of honey to eat per day is 50ml. However, for health concerns.
Organic honey is an incredible natural hair product, whether used by itself or an ingredient in other hair treatments. Honey promotes cell growth, retains moisture, and revives the nutrients in your hair and scalp. Because of its antibacterial properties, organic honey also alleviates inflammatory conditions of the skin.