5 Things You Should Know Before You Buy Honey

Did you know that 75 percent of the honey sold in the US markets isn’t real? What is sold as honey has been modified into almost unrecognizable product. So, next time you go to buy honey, think of that.

1. Raw honey contains bee pollen

So what? Bee pollen isn’t bad at all. Moreover, it has long been considered to be one of nature’s most nourishing foods. It is abundant in protein, and it can affect weigh loss and improve the reaction to allergies.

2. Ultra-filtered or pasteurized honey is not a better product

Over the past few decades, honey manufacturers tried to impose to the consumers the idea that ultra-filtered and pasteurized honey is better than the unfiltered one, also known as raw. Even though honey without the pollen and the combs might taste better, but by filtering, all of the sweet, healthy bee pollen is eliminated.

Moreover, the process of ultra-filtering honey makes the consumers unable to track where the honey has been made and from what pollen. Imagine that the honey you eat is from a clover field next to a coal plant in China for example. You don’t like the idea, don’t you?

3. Many companies are now adding High Fructose Corn Syrup to honey

It was written in the Organics that high fructose corn syrup has been connected to obesity, hypertension, obesity and liver damage, and it can cause plaque buildup and blood vessel narrowing. Additionally, the high fructose corn syrup is mostly made from GMO corn. So, one way of avoiding GMO foods is avoiding honey sweetened with this sweetener.

4. Finding organic honey is a task

Honey in general cannot be considered as organic because there are too many non-organic farmers on the honey market. Another thing is that this cannot be controlled easily because bees often fly miles away from their hives to find and gather pollen. Eventually, the USDA has no standards for organic honey. Even if you do see a honey label that says the honey is organic, you don’t necessary have to believe it because it is often not true.

5. Most supermarket honey is imported from China

We have already mentioned that by ultra-filtration filtering of honey you become unable to detect where the honey comes from, so we lack reasons to trust the quality and safety of the food coming from China. Back in 2003, Smuckers recalled 12,000 cases of honey and Sara Lee recalled honey-based products from China. The reason was – the honey was contaminated with Chloramphenicol, a substance often related to leukemia.

When it comes to honey, we must admit that vegans may have the right idea. Still, if you do like honey and want to consume it or you must consume it, make sure you buy it from local sources and you know from where exactly it is.

Don’t Forget To Share With Your Friends And Family On Facebook, As You Might Help Someone In Need!

Source: iheartnature.org