Just Ask

Question: Does honey come in powder form? I suppose it does because I see granulated honey in the store.

Reply: I don't see honey powder as a form of powder. Unlike creamed honey, liquid honey which are all expected to be 100% honey, honey powder contains one or two additives such as wheat starch and Maltodextrin. These ingredients can make up to 50% of the honey powder contents.

Question: I drink green tea with honey everyday. Can I also add cinnamon and apple cider vinegar or lemon to my tea?

Reply: Many of us are tempted to mix everything beneficial together and take the concoction at one go. Well-known traditional folk remedies such as cider vinegar and honey, cinnamon and honey have their own great health benefits, the add-ons are quite harmless as they are all natural foods, but I feel it would be good to first follow one food regime at a time (eg a few weeks of taking the same combination) so that you can find out how your body responds to each of the different combinations. Only this way can you know whether the additional ingredients would make any difference.

Question: I buy Cactus Honey Powder from a Korean Grocery store. It is light yellow and has the consistency of small granules. The ingredients listed are "Pure Honey & Malodextrin." So is this Agave or Honey? Either way I like it and figure it is better than white refined sugar.

Reply: It is likely to be a dried version of the agave nectar. Maltodextrin is corn syrup, which has been reportedly linked to side effects such as high cholesterol and weight gain. Anything that has been added corn syrup is far from being a good sweetener, and in fact, worse than table sugar.

Question: I was wondering instead of fasting, can you subsitute meals like lunch for honey and water?

Reply: Yes you can, in fact honey water aids cleansing and at the same time provides energy during fasting. You can do partial fasting with honey water ie, substitute meals for honey water or a full fasting, ie using honey water to replace all meals for 1 to 3 days. Read: Fasting With Honey

Question: Is store bought pasturized honey of any use?

Reply: Raw honey is the best. But 100% pure commercial honey is still better than any highly processed sugar, corn syrup or artificial sweetener.

Question: Is there a difference in raw honey and honey in a jar?

Reply: Raw honey refers to honey that is unpasteurised, unheated. Depending on how the honey is being treated, honey in a jar could be commercial, pasteurised honey or raw honey straight from the hive.

Question: My husband has been taking his tablespoons of honey for about a month now and feels much better and has more energy. I would like to do this also, but simply can't stand the taste of honey. Do you have any suggestions where I can benefit from it without the taste?

Reply: I've enquired about some crystal honey before (may not be the same brand as what you have seen) and have been told that they contain no additives and a special process (which they can't disclose) is applied to transform liquid honey to crystal form. I'm really not sure if this processing would in any way affect the nutrition value of the honey, so I probably will remain sceptical about it until I have more info on the process itself. Moreover, I don't think liquid and cream honey does impose that much of an inconvenience to warrant an alternative form of honey.

Question: My husband has been taking his tablespoons of honey for about a month now and feels much better and has more energy. I would like to do this also, but simply can't stand the taste of honey. Do you have any suggestions where I can benefit from it without the taste?

Reply: I suspect you have not tried enough of the different varietals of honey. Taste of floral varietals can be very varied and diverse depending on the flower source and place. Explore the different types of honey and I am sure you will eventually find something that is pleasing to your palate. Meanwhile you may also consider adding honey to a beverage, pairing honey with other foods can result in different taste as well.

Question: What is creamed honey? Is creamed honey more superior than liquid honey?

Reply: Cream honey has undergone a controlled crystallisation process that results in the cream form. Both liquid and cream honey offer the same health benefits. It's possible to find both cream honey and liquid honey that are 100% pure as well as those that are adulterated. Some people prefer cream honey for the benefits of applying it on bread, while others prefer liquid for easy mixing with water. Details in: Frequently Asked Information About Honey

Question: I was just wondering if honey gets better over time? I was told this by one of my friend who used to collect honey by his own from the trees around his area?

Reply: I believe you are referring to aged honey, which is honey left intact inside the hive for a long time. The honey is not yet harvested. When it is has been harvested and extracted, the term "aging" doesn't apply anymore. That is, by keeping honey you purchase for a very long time in the bottle doesn't give you any aged honey.

Aged honey is rare because most bee harvesters are eager to get the honey as soon as possible for sale, and when immature honey is extracted, you get low quality, diluted, and easily fermented honey.

Question: I've been told that you should buy local honey - within a certain mile radius of your home - so as to get the best immunity against alergies, etc. What is that mileage?

Reply: There isn't a fixed definition to local honey, it usually means 5 mile and up to even 100 mile radius from where you live; but the nearer it is, the better.

Question: What does honey do for sinus?

Reply: It has been reported that honey kills bacteria that cause sinus infections. Refer to: Research Points to Honey as Sinus Treatment.

Question: Can honey be used for hangover?

Reply: Yes honey is known to be a good cure for hangover. Mix 1-2 tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water and drink. Repeat after 3-4 hrs if necessary.

Question: Is there a honey concoction for belching?

Reply: I would suggest mixing 1 tbs of honey and 1 tbs of apple cider vinegar in warm water, best before meal. (I've also been told that honey plus ginger juice could help as well.)

Question: I am being advised to take a spoonful honey everyday in morning before practice to enhance my running stamina. Will that really help?

Reply: Honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural sugars play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.

Question: Can honey help in constipation?

Reply: Many people find taking warm honey water first thing in the morning useful in moving the bowel. Others have also found taking the honey and cider vinegar combination helpful.

Question: My son is 4 years old. He has cold and dust allergy, always suffers from breathing problem especially during night time while he is sleeping. He is also snoring. Doctors are saying that adenoid gland is there and it should be operated. We don't want to do that. Kindly help us.

Reply: You may want to start him with a teaspoon of honey (direct or mixed with some slightly warm water) before bedtime, this could bring some relief to the infected adenoid gland. And giving it over the long run may remedy his problem. Monitor on a daily basis if there's any improvement in his condition with honey.

Question: What kind of honey shall I use for burns? Shall I just simply put it on the burn?

Reply: Any raw, 100% unadulterated honey. For severe burns, medicinal floral varietal such as Manuka honey is recommended. Simply apply on the affected area. Rinse off after 1-2 hrs. Consider using a dressing for severe burns to keep the honey there longer. Refer to: Honey as Miraculous Burn Treatment.

Question: What benefits does honey have in helping with symptoms of the common cold?

Reply: Honey water can be soothing and speed up recovery from the common cold because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

Question: Is there any way honey can be used to cure severe dental disease like bleeding gums, weak teeth, swollen mouth and stones in the mouth.

Reply: Honey and propolis have been used for treating oral and gums issues. Read:Natural Gum Disease Remedy.

Question: Is honey good for poison ivy/oak?

Reply: Yes, have heard of reports that eating honey and bee pollen regularly can be effective in countering poison ivy allergies.

Question: Will the gastrointestinal problems and constipation be solved by taking honey?

Reply: Eating honey regularly certainly can help in gastrointestinal and constipation issues if it's part of a diet that focuses on strengthening the overall body constitution.

Question: Can honey balance white and red blood cells?

Reply: Honey has been known to be helpful in promoting and regulating the healthy production of red and white blood cells. It is hence a popular tonic used during chemo treatment.

Question: Does honey cure forgetfulness and is honey good for learning?

Reply: While honey is not a quick brain memory booster, when consumed over time, before bedtime daily, it does help in overall body immunity and brain functioning.

Question: My 10 year old son is suffering from hepatitis for about 1 year now. Each time we treat him the sickness resurfaces within three months. I am hoping that there could be a honey remedy to cure this hepatitis as I do not want to continue giving him much drugs.

Reply: I haven't come across any report pointing to a clear linkage between hepatitis and honey cure. But liver health is the focal point in the honey hibernation diet. A book I read a couple of years ago also mentioned adding honey to dandelions boiled in water and that drinking the mixture could help in stimulating the liver, but no further details were given. Bee pollen is another natural bee product you may want to consider. It's ability to rejuvenate the body and stimulates organs may be helpful in treating hepatitis.

Question: Is honey good for eyes? Can it be put on the eye?

Reply: Honey is known to be an effective natural eye drop for irritable or infected eyes. It can be diluted with some water to reduce the stinging sensation during the application.

Question: Is it a fact that honey never spoils?

Reply: Yes indeed, honey if properly stored (sealed and kept in a cool and dry place), it will never turn bad. During storage, honey could lose some of its aroma and flavor but miraculously it doesn't spoil (bacteria cannot thrive in undiluted honey).

Question: If honey crystallizes, does it mean it is of low quality?

Reply: Crystallizations a natural process and does not affect the quality of the honey. Crystallized honey can be consumed without any warming or restoring to its actual state.

Question: Can honey be used for shingles?

Reply: Raw honey, a natural cure for shingles can be applied as an ointment on the rash. Drinking a mixture of apple cider vinegar (1 tbs) and honey (1 tsp) also helps to treat shingles from the inside out.

Question: I want to buy a local, bulk, honey made from desert flowers and jar it to give as gifts to family and friends back in the Midwest. I will be buying glass jars with metal lids with the 'rubbery' lining in them for a tight seal. My question is this: Do I need to heat the honey to get a 'vaccuum seal' or is that not necessary? I've been trying to find an answer on the Internet. Some say not to heat the honey to the point necessary to get the vaccuum seal because it will kill the natural proprties of the honey and that it isn't necessary since covered honey won't spoil, anyway. However, wouldn't the USDA or some such organization require such a process for the jars of honey that are sold to consumers and if so is it safe to assume that commercially packaged honey isn't as nutritious as raw honey? If I ever sold a jar of honey would I need to jar it in a commercial manner? What's the best way to jar honey to satisfy ALL requirements and/or concerns?

Reply: Commercial honey (in supermarts and stores) have certain requirements from the USDA for honey bottling and packaging and I believe one of the requirements is to have the honey pasteurized. Different countries have different requirements for certain food items. The reason for pasteurizing is not related to any health reasons (unlike for milk) but for pure marketing reasons. All natural honey crystallizes over time and affects the appearance of the honey on the shelf and its sales. Pasteurization retards the crystallization process and helps the honey to stay in nice liquid form. However any heating at high temperature is not good for the honey as it kills the live enzymes and reduces the health benefits of the honey. But if you are buying the honey not for commercial purpose but for personal distribution, I don't see why you need to heat up the honey to get the vacuum seal. I'm not sure what kind of heating is involved in the vacuum sealing, but with tight containers and proper storage away from the heat, honey does not spoil. So I would say, don't apply any heat to the honey and keep all the live goodness in the honey for your family and friends.

Question: Can you tell me what the ratio is when baking with honey as to with sugar?

Reply: As a rough guide, when using honey, use half of what you would use for table sugar, as honey is almost twice as sweet as sugar. For Eg, if you use 2 spoons of table sugar, you only need 1 spoon of honey. However, you may only want to note that different varietals of honey have different degree of sweetness.

Question: How is honey digested?

Reply: I'm not sure if I've understood your question correctly, but the glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.

Question: Which type of sugar is found in honey?

Reply: Honey is made up of natural sugars - fructose and glucose.

Question: How much fat is there in raw honey? I'm on a diet but would like to start taking it.

Reply: Honey is a form of sugar, there is no fat in it. But when you eat more than what your body needs, regardless of whether it is sugar, fat, milk, or honey, the excess calories are stored as fat which leads to weight gain.

Question: I recently bought a few bottles of honey stored in bottles made of glass. I left them in my car for about 5 hours. The weather was hot. When I reached for the bottles, they were shattered and the honey spilled as if the honey expanded in the bottles and exploded.

Reply: The fermentation in the honey could have been accelerated by the higher temperature in the car. The moisture level of the honey could be rather high for this to happen. Moisture content is is related to various factors, such as the source (eg weather) of honey and harvesting process, eg extracting when honey is still not mature, etc.

Question: Why does honey crystalize sometimes?

Reply: Crystallization of honey is a natural process due to its inherent property (some varietals crystallize faster than others and sometimes due to the environmental temperature or the way it is processed and handled.

Question: I have transported honey also while moving and it might has exposed to temperatured of upto 120-140 degree farenheit. It is liquid and smells ok. Is it safe to eat?

Reply: 140 Fahrenheit might affect the quality of the honey but doesn't seem like a temperature that would cause the honey to become inedible.

Question: If I put honey in a heated liquid... does that kill the benefits of it the same as the cooking does?

Reply: It's advised that honey be added only when the liquid (eg coffee, tea) has cooled down to some extent. The experts don't seem to have any number to explain how much of the goodness (live enzymes) s affected during heating, but most would concur that raw honey is the best. However, I also notice certain popular practices like the Ayurveda have many healing concoctions that are cooked and boiled with honey. So, some cultures seem to have a different take on this. I totally agree that raw honey is the most ideal, but I personally do use honey as an ingredient in baking and cooking as I believe it is still a more superior form of sweetener compared to highly refined table sugar or corn syrup. (Tip: I sometimes adjust recipes by adding the honey last after all the heating and cooling down.)

Question: I chanced upon your website and after reading about the benefits of honey, I went to buy a bottle over the weekend. Although I stored the bottle in a air-tight container, the ants are still coming. Can I keep it in the fridge? I don't mind the crystallization or hardening of honey, I'm just worried that some of the enzymes or anti-microbial properties might be destroyed by storing it in the fridge. Could you please advise if there are any negative impact to the honey?

Reply: I suppose it depends on how frequent you are taking in and out of the fridge. For long period of continuous storage, leaving in the fridge is fine. But if you are having it regularly or daily and you need to restore the honey to room temperature to be consumed or so that it can be easily mixed with other food, then the frequent change of temperature may alter the properties of the honey and affect the quality.

Question: Would you be so kind as to let me know if honey in a honey comb is more healthier than processed honey in a bottle? It seems tastier in the comb and lasts longer.

Reply: Processed honey has been pasteurised, so if possible, get raw honey which keeps all the healthy live enzymes in it. The chances of getting fake or adulterated honey in honeycombs are pretty low, so you can be quite assured the honey in it is raw and pure. I wouldn't judge comb honey as tastier as this taste is highly dependent on the floral varietals of the honey and individual's preferences. As for which would last longer, as long as it's pure 100% honey (ie no other ingredients/water are added), regardless of whether it's pasteurised or raw honey, there is no expiry date with proper storage.

Question: How do I store my open jar of raw honey?

Reply: Store the honey in an airtight container/jar away from direct sunlight or heat. There's no need to put it into the fridge.

Question: Is it OK if I use metal spoon to scoop honey from the jar?

Reply: There may be a concern if it's about long storage time. But in this case, I think it's perfectly fine, the contact time is too short for any reaction between the honey and metal. And in fact beekeepers' equipment for honey extraction are all made of metal.

Question: Can you use honey in place of sugar in gluten free bread recipes?

Reply: Yes, honey is a common ingredient in gluten free bread recipes. It can be used in place of sugar.

Question: Does honey have a expiration date?

Reply: When kept in the right conditions (air tight container, away from sunlight/heat), honey has no expiry date.

Question: Is it true that honey turned toxic if mixed with hot water. If so, can you provide me the scientific explanation behind?

Reply: Ayurveda might have certain beliefs about mixing certain foods such as honey and milk, honey and hot water, but I haven't come across any related explanation. Nevertheless, I wouldn't add hot water to honey as this would destroy the live enzymes in it.

Question: Why does honey crystallizes? Does all honey crystallizes?

Reply: Honey crystallizes when one of its main component, glucose, separates out of the supersaturated honey solution. Crystallisation is a natural phenomenon and happens to all honey (some floral varietals crystallise faster than others). To regain the original state of the honey, just place the bottle over warm water (about 40--50 degree Celsius).

Question: My pure honey has crystallized. Can I heat it before baking? I understand I can put it in a micro oven to heat up.

Reply: Don't heat the honey directly over a heat source. Warming it over a bowl of warm water (40C to 50C) will easily convert it from the crystalline state to the liquid state without deterioration of its properties.

Question: My husband brought home a honeycomb from a recent trip to France. It says it is from "summer 2009", Breton region. It appears to be "capped", but it tastes very much like mead! Could it have fermented in the comb if it were capped? Should I just add it to mulled wine and enjoy the alcohol content?

Reply: Yes, capped honey can also ferment if humidity is high. I don't see why you can't add it to mulled wine.

Question: How many calories are there in one tsp of honey?

Reply: One teaspoon of honey has about 20 calories.

Question: When I was a kid honey was always solidified, never in a liquid state like honey you buy today. Is liquid honey chemically altered to maintain fluidity?

Reply: The original state of honey is liquid (viscosity varies according floral varietal and environmental factors). Over time, honey inevitably undergoes crystallisation, a natural process that does not affect honey quality. Some honey varietals crystallise faster than others.

Question: I am trying to get a count of the grams of fructose I consume in a day (to keep it low). How many grams of fructose are in a Tablespoon of raw honey?

Reply: A tbsp of honey is about 20g, so based on a 80% sugar composition and 1:1 ratio of glucose and fructose, the amount of fructose would be approx. 8g. PS: The effect of fructose of honey and fructose in other foods such as corn syrup or even fruits on our body is different.

Question: I heard that it can take a long time to digest honey. True or False?

Reply: Honey is a simple carb, which is easier to digest and allows slow and steady absorption of sugar and limits the conversion and storage of fats.

Question: I am helping a young lady with her wedding. She wants to give 4oz. jars of honey as favors. My question is how to seal the jars. We are using honey from a local beekeeper.

Reply: Air-tight containers are good enough. Manufacturers use wax to seal their caps on the bottles or induction sealing, which are not expected to be found in the domestic setting.

Question: I would like to know, what is the percentage % of enzymes found in the raw honey?

Reply: The enzymes present in honey have been identified (e.g glucose oxidase, amylase, etc) but not isolated for quantification or measurement. The amount of enzymes is known to be small, but they spin off powerful effects.

Question: What is whipped honey? What are the properties or benefits of it if any?

Reply: Whipped honey is also known as creamed honey which cream-like and can be spread on toast like butter. There is no special health benefits in cream honey, only its form is different.

Question: I have read that honey puts on weight as it contains sugar. Is this true? I take honey everyday as I thought it was good for you.

Reply: Honey is a natural sugar, unlike highly processed table sugar, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.