Honey: Making Good Use of It

Honey is touted for its medicinal value as well as for its taste.  It has some wonderful properties, but not all the claims made for it are true.  And some individuals should NOT consume raw honey at all. 

Too Young or Frail for Honey

Don't feed a baby raw honey - at least for the first year. Honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores. Infant botulism is caused by consuming these spores, which then grow in the intestines and release toxin.

The Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Honey Board recommend that you not give honey to infants under the age of 12 months. Children over age 1 and healthy adults have the mature digestive systems necessary to prevent botulism spores from thriving.

To be on the safe side, pregnant women should refrain from consuming honey while expecting, and if they nurse, until the baby is weaned.  The same advice applies to bee pollen consumption.  People with compromised or low immune systems should avoid raw honey and bee pollen.  

Honey Benefits:

Raw honey is a natural source of minerals such as calcium, iron and potassium as well as vitamin B complex.  Pasteurized honey has been cooked to kill any spores that in its “raw” state make honey an “iffy” sweetener for persons with low immune systems.  However, the pasteurization process destroys the vitamins, which diminishes the health benefits.

Raw honey is a source of carbohydrates, both glucose (for instant energy) and fructose (providing slowly metabolized carbohydrates for sustained energy).  Any products containing fructose or complex carbohydrates are healthier sources of energy than pure glucose, such as refined sugar.  

Some findings indicate that treating wounds with honey dressings promoted healing, caused less tissue damage and reduced pain associated with dressing changes.  The causal mechanism is not understood.  More study is needed to make a definitive assertion.

Honey and bee pollen have not shown any scientific evidence of preventing or ameliorating allergies.

Talk to your doctor if you plan to eat honey (especially raw honey) or bee pollen for medicinal purposes.

Sources:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/263668-the-dangers-and-benefits-of-raw-honey/

http://www.webmd.com/balance/bee-pollen-benefits-and-side-effects

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/does-honey-help-prevent-allergies

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/peopleatrisk/ucm091681.htm

www.sjcbeekeepers.org