Raw honey is pure, unpasteurized, unheated, golden nectar from our good friends, the honey bees. We know that the nutritional and medical use of honey dates back to the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Greeks, with the early Mayans, Romans, and Babylonians also having employed this medicinal food [1]. As an 80,000,000-year history of association has been suggested between honey bees and the symbiotic bacteria they house, a strong argument could be made for the consumption of honey having played quite a role in the evolution of our immune system and microbiome [2]. While beeswax, royal jelly, bee pollen, and propolis also possess many benefits, here I'm going to focus on traditional honey.
Consuming raw honey may act as a form of natural immunotherapy by introducing small amounts of pollens to the body, improving tolerance to the same [3]. Additional explanations for raw honey's antiallergy potential include the suppressing of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity, the inhibition of mast cell activation by IgE (mast cells produce histamine), and the lowering of inflammation along mucosal surfaces [4] [5] [6]. All of the water-soluble vitamins, all of the major minerals, and some of the trace minerals have been detected in honey, as well as multiple amino acids [7]. And raw honey is a rich source of flavonoids, polyphenols, and other antioxidants like glutathione and superoxide dismutase, and is capable of notable antibacterial action [8] [9]. Honey has been shown to be effective in the prevention of dental caries, the reduction of dental plaque, and the treatment of gingivitis [10] [11] [12]. Looking to the gut, honey has been seen to potently inhibit H. pylori bacteria in the stomach, and thus has been used successfully in the treatment of gastric ulcers and gastritis [13] [14]. Furthermore, honey has demonstrated antifungal activity against Candida albicans, and can help heal a damaged gut mucosa [15] [16]. Honey is a decent prebiotic and probiotic food, so ingesting it raw can help support a healthy balance of gut flora [17]. And one probiotic species in particular that can be found abundantly in raw honey, Lactobacillus kunkeei, has been found to enhance secretory IgA production in humans (boosting immune defenses) [18]. Raw honey can also have nootropic effects, being able to reduce neuroinflammation induced by microglia (microglia are the main immune cells of the CNS), as well as improve memory and cognitive function [19] [20]. Applied topically, raw honey has exhibited effectiveness in treating such eye conditions as conjunctivitis (pink eye), keratitis (inflamed cornea), and blepharitis (inflamed eyelid) [21]. Applied to the skin, honey has a rich history of being an impressive wound-healing agent [22]. Lastly, natural honey may aid in decreasing one's risk for cardiovascular disease by preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins and lowering blood pressure [23] [24]. So, if you have any beekeepers near you who can provide you with local, raw honey, supporting them financially by buying their products would benefit the entire planet as bees are obviously becoming more and more integral to the survival of the biosphere. References:
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AuthorDenton Coleman is an Exercise Physiologist and Medical Researcher. Archives
October 2023
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