Benefits of local honey
There’s far more to honey than just a sweetener. It has been used for generations. Most of the honey sold has been heated and pasteurised in supermarkets. Thus meaning many of the of the enzymes and positive compounds that make raw honey so nutritious are lost by this processing. Standard honey also appears syrupy and clear.
Raw honey has not been heat treated; it is often more buttery, smoother and more invisible than pasteurised honey and often contains small bits of beeswax, or ‘cappings.’ It is left in its natural state and thus includes pollen, enzymes, antioxidants and several other useful compounds that researchers are only starting to learn about.
May help with allergy
Some research supports the theory that local honey—acquired as close to where you live as possible—may help develop immunity to certain seasonal allergies. To support this theory, there is not much science, but many people believe that using honey in this manner offers allergy relief. Continuous exposure to the same allergen over time causes allergies.
Even if a particular plant is not allergenic initially, it can potentially become very allergenic if you spend much time in the same environment as the plant. Honey made by bees in the vicinity of the allergenic plant will contain tiny amounts of pollen from that plant.
This honey will act as a sort of vaccine if taken in small amounts–a few teaspoons per day–for several months, and can provide relief from seasonal pollen-related allergies.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
Honey is also rich in powerful antioxidants and cancer-fighting phytonutrients, Raw honey contains some of the compounds which are found in the honey glue while pasteurised honey does not.
Digestive Aid
In its natural, raw state, honey contains many enzymes that can help some people digest food more easily so it may also help treat ulcers and diarrhoea.
Vitamins and Minerals
The nutrient content of raw honey varies, but a 1-ounce serving contains very small amounts of folate as well as vitamins B2, C, B6, B5 and B3. Minerals including calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc can also be found in raw honey in small amounts.
Medicine
Studies conclude that honey can be used as medicine. It has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties. For this reason it can be applied topically to treat burns,
Soothing sore throat
Honey has also been found to be especially useful in treating upper respiratory infections. A study at Penn State College of Medicine in 2007 found that a small dose of buckwheat honey was more effective than an over-the-counter cough treatment for children.