Oh honey, how could you betray me…

So after the let down of agave nectar, I’ve discovered that honey is another guilty member of the processed lifestyle that I immensely disparage. Majority of the honeys that one may purchase at commercial food stores are basically processed and void of any nutrients whatsoever. No longer is the cute little bear enticing, but more like a menace. Sorry, that is a tad dramatic but I am bothered. No, processed honey will not kill you, but it’s stripped of all its nutrients and is basically no better for you than high fructose corn syrup.

Informing my dad about this was quite interesting. It just amazes me how normal americans who try and eat healthy can be so easily susceptible to the deceptions of nowadays marketing and food production. To start off, basically “grade A” and “pure” mean NOTHING. Mental note to add those to my most-hated word list, right up there with “natural.” There is no regulation behind those words, they are just nice adjectives that complement the cute bear container that contains your honey. “Unpasteurized, unheated, or unfiltered” are lovely indications of pure honey. “Pesticide free” is good as well, but this comes second. On most occasions, raw honey will have pieces or chunks in it and have a thicker, darker (sometimes less transparent) texture. Raw honey tastes and smells divine, my opinion, and is barely comparable to the processed, liquid-y honey.

As you may have wondered, price. Yes, raw honey will be more expensive. In fact, it is even considered expensive especially compared to the cute little bears, smiley-bumble bee products and whatnot. In my opinion it is worth it. Why buy processed sugar and feed it to your body, when you can spend a bit more to receive some nutrients with the calories that you’re about to consume. Maybe it’s just because I’m a freak about these kind of things, but I would rather buy wholesome ingredients to fuel my body than clothes or jewelry or whatever people buy nowadays. I am obsessed ok? At least I admitted it..

Raw honey contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (to possibly destroy free-radicals, i.e. cancer cells) that are beneficial for your body. Honey has been used in medicinal practices dating way back that consists of healing wounds and burns and has been considered an antibacterial and inflammatory agent.

Unfortunately it’s sorta high in calories. Raw honey, even in its unprocessed/unfiltered/unheated form, does have a high fructose/glucose content and isn’t the best choice for a low-glycemic sweetener. If you don’t have any specific medical conditions or allergies and you’re ok with that, then raw honey and it’s nutritional benefits will do your body good (in moderation of course, or you may gain the lbs). Honey will not provide all of your daily needed vitamins and minerals! It’s not a miracle sugar, it’s just a healthier alternative in this nutrient-void, sweet-tooth world.