Raw Honey - Natural Antibiotic

 Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar collected from flowers - the type of honey consumed by people is made by honey bees (Apis genus).

Used as a sweetener in foods and drinks - has a distinctive flavor. 1 teaspoon of honey contains 22 calories.

Honey can contain dormant bacterial endospores of Clostridium botulinum, which can be harmful to infants < 1 year old - since the spores can transform into toxin-producing bacteria in an infant's immature GI tract

Honey should be used in moderation to prevent its sugar content elevating INSULIN levels -possibly causing:

•   Overweight

•   High blood pressure

•   High blood cholesterol

•   Diabetes

Raw honey contents

Typical raw honey contains:

1 tsp.honey contains 4 g fructose - since it is advisable to limit overall daily fructose intake to ~ 25g, you should therefore consume honey in moderation

Minerals - E.g. magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, chlorine, sulphur, phosphate and trace minerals copper, iron, chromium, manganese, selenium.

Vitamins - depending on the quality of the nectar and pollen: B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3.

Pollen - rich in antioxidants, protein and enzymes

Flavonoid antioxidants - can neutralize oxygen radicals:

•   Pinocembrin (possibly unique to honey)

•   Pinostrobin -supports enzyme acitivity

References

Honey as a topical antibacterial agent for treatment of infected wounds

"Health Benefits Of Honey". Bees-Online:An Educational web site about Honey Bees and Beekeping.