Read on Twitter
Humans and honey go way back.
A cave painting from the paleolithic depicts a man climbing a tree to harvest honey.
The first alcohol was mead. Honey, water, time.
The Hadza have months out of the year where they get 50% of their calories from honey. Annually, it's 15%.
A cave painting from the paleolithic depicts a man climbing a tree to harvest honey.
The first alcohol was mead. Honey, water, time.
The Hadza have months out of the year where they get 50% of their calories from honey. Annually, it's 15%.
Like fruit and milk, it's one of the few substances out there expressly designed to be eaten. There are no blatant antinutrients that impair digestion.
It is FOOD in the purest sense. There are caveats, however.
It is FOOD in the purest sense. There are caveats, however.
It's food meant for bees, relatively simple creatures who do not require the same level of micronutrition as more complex organisms like mammals. This is why milk is more complete than honey. Honey is rocket fuel, not a meal.
But we can definitely utilize it safely.
But we can definitely utilize it safely.
But isn't honey just sugar?
No.
Along with fructose and glucose, honey contains hundreds of compounds: phenols, amino acids, minerals. Sugar contains fructose and glucose. These differences make a real difference in how we metabolize and respond to honey.
No.
Along with fructose and glucose, honey contains hundreds of compounds: phenols, amino acids, minerals. Sugar contains fructose and glucose. These differences make a real difference in how we metabolize and respond to honey.
Take this study. People were given either honey, sham-honey (mix of fructose/glucose syrup), dextrose, and table sugar.
Compared to the rest, the honey eaters saw lower inflammatory markers, higher HDL, and lower LDL/triglycerides. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15117561
Compared to the rest, the honey eaters saw lower inflammatory markers, higher HDL, and lower LDL/triglycerides. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15117561
Then there's this one, which found no difference between honey, HFCS, or table sugar. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26338891
This study used Dutch Gold, a mass market product.
The previous study was out of Dubai and used "natural honey"; the area is known for intense, quality honey.
This study used Dutch Gold, a mass market product.
The previous study was out of Dubai and used "natural honey"; the area is known for intense, quality honey.
Darker, wilder, complex honeys have more phenolic compounds and a better metabolic effect than lightly colored, more one-note honeys.
Buckwheat honey: dark, almost black, most phenols
Canola honey (yes, it's real): pale, very few phenols, basically table sugar
Buckwheat honey: dark, almost black, most phenols
Canola honey (yes, it's real): pale, very few phenols, basically table sugar
When you pit canola honey against acacia honey, those who eat canola honey raise their serum fructose—exactly what happens when you eat HFCS. Those who eat acacia honey do not see a rise.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20823899
Honey source matters.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20823899
Honey source matters.
Now, diabetics and other people sensitive to sugar should be smart. But even type 2 diabetics have better responses to honey than glucose.
Does this mean T2Ds should start downing honey? No. But it illustrates the difference. Honey is not just sugar.
Does this mean T2Ds should start downing honey? No. But it illustrates the difference. Honey is not just sugar.
Honey for allergies?
Raw local honey for seasonal allergies is like the flu vaccine:
It's not a sure thing. The effectiveness depends on which plant pollens went into that particular batch of honey; the bees can't describe their iterative process. You make an educated guess.
Raw local honey for seasonal allergies is like the flu vaccine:
It's not a sure thing. The effectiveness depends on which plant pollens went into that particular batch of honey; the bees can't describe their iterative process. You make an educated guess.
If you know what pollen you're allergic to and find a legit source of honey using that pollen, it can really help.
Birch pollen honey improves symptoms in people with birch pollen allergies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21196761
Birch pollen honey improves symptoms in people with birch pollen allergies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21196761
Check out local smalltime honey farmers. Farmer's markets, Craigslist, roadside stands. They'll have specific honeys made with specific pollens and can give great advice.
What else is honey good for?
What else is honey good for?
WOUND DRESSING. Manuka honey is famously rich in antibacterial compounds, but even regular honey is effective against wounds.
Apply a small dollop to your bandage or directly to the wound.
Apply a small dollop to your bandage or directly to the wound.
MEAT MARINADES. It protects against lipid oxidation and formation of carcinogenic compounds when cooking.
If you look at ancient and medieval recipes, they used a lot of honey. Tastes great and protects against damage. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22063889
If you look at ancient and medieval recipes, they used a lot of honey. Tastes great and protects against damage. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22063889
How do I use honey?
Sleep aid: A tablespoon before bed makes a huge difference, especially if you're generally lowish carb and lift/stay active. Honey with warm milk is an old remedy for poor sleep.
Sleep aid: A tablespoon before bed makes a huge difference, especially if you're generally lowish carb and lift/stay active. Honey with warm milk is an old remedy for poor sleep.
Marinades: An acid (lemon, vinegar, etc), an umami source (soy sauce, fish sauce, anchovy paste), an allium (garlic, onion, shallot), and honey is a solid marinade that protects and enhances.
Yogurt: The best way to eat Greek yogurt is with salted macadamia nuts and good strong raw honey. Just try it and tell me that's not delicious.
Coffee: Coffee, gelatin, salt, honey, milk. Delicious syrupy coffee, Peat-friendly.
Coffee: Coffee, gelatin, salt, honey, milk. Delicious syrupy coffee, Peat-friendly.
Bottom line:
Carnivores can eat honey without sacrificing their ideological purity.
Lifters and anyone active can eat honey as pure rocket fuel to power the imposition of their will on the physical world.
If you want something sweet and nutritive, honey is the safest bet.
Carnivores can eat honey without sacrificing their ideological purity.
Lifters and anyone active can eat honey as pure rocket fuel to power the imposition of their will on the physical world.
If you want something sweet and nutritive, honey is the safest bet.
