Alternate Names

Raw Honey

Description

A sweet viscous substance produced by bees from the nectar of flowers. It's sweetness is comparable to table sugar and comes in a variety of golden hues depending on the flowers used to produce it. It is very commonly used as an alternative to sugar in sweetening baked goods or beverages.

Additional Information

Humans have been collecting honey for at least 10,000 years and it is used in many cultures across the planet. It has a very low water content and therefore is often used as a natural anti-bacterial and preservative. Recently it has been shown (1, LINK NAME) that honey can help reduce weight gain and even help control diabetes in animal models.

Found In

baked goods, beverages, spreads, sauces, some beer

Possible Health Effects

Honey should not be given to infants as it can contain the spores of a bacteria that are dangerous for their immature digestive tracts.

Allergy Information

See Possible Health Effects section

Online Resources/Related

• The National Honey Board, What is honey?, 2010, The National Honey Board
• Nutrition Research, Honey promotes lower weight gain, adiposity, and triglycerides than sucrose in rats., 1/31/2011, Nemoseck TM, Carmody EG, Furchner-Evanson A, Gleason M, Li A, Potter H, Rezende LM, Lane KJ, Kern M.
• FAO/WHO Food Standards, Codex Standard for Honey, Revised 2001, FAO/WHO Food Standards

Print Resources

• Winter, Ruth. A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, 7th Edition: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods. Three Rivers Press, 2009

Copyright April 1, 2011 Be Food Smart