White Honey: Benefits, Nutrition, Facts And Precaution

Honey is a natural creation, deemed the most beneficial food across the world. It is the most loved & popular natural sweetener with loaded health benefits. Serving as a base for many medicines, especially in Ayurveda, honey has been valued for ages. Depending upon the nectar of the flower sources, the color, flavor & aroma of the honey types vary dramatically.

White honey is one such honey type that holds a place in the list of popular varieties. Despite its name, white honey is not exactly white in color but is lighter in color than other honey varieties. It is a smooth honey variety with a creamy texture and the natural goodness of beneficial compounds. This special honey gets all the prominence and popularity in recent times because of the beneficial compounds it has but before that –

What Is White Honey?

White honey is produced by the bees that feed on the nectar of Sage, Fireweed, Alfalfa, and White Clover. It is one of the rarest honey varieties and has a creamy white texture.

Also called as Kiawe honey, this honey variety is extracted as a liquid and naturally crystallizes to a creamy texture. It has a subtle flavor that goes well with cakes and other baked goods. The potential health benefits of White honey make it a rare, expensive & exquisite honey variety.

What Bees Make White Honey?

White honey is not a common honey variety. Bees that suck the nectar of Alfalfa, Sage, Fireweed, White Clover & Kiawe flowers produce white honey. These bees gather enough nectar to fill their stomachs and mix it with the “bee enzyme” present in their mouth. This enzyme is emitted from bee organs. Once this process is completed, the bees return to their hives and pass on the nectar to other bees from mouth to mouth. This process helps in reducing the water content of the nectar.

Soon after this process, the nectar is stored in the waxy cells of the hive. As still, the water content is high honey bees start to fan their wings over the wax cells to reduce the water content of the nectar. By doing this, they will disperse a portion of unwanted water.

Now the water content is less than 20% and the process is again repeated until the water content becomes too low.

Benefits Of White Honey

1. Is a Powerhouse of Antioxidants –

Raw white honey is loaded with beneficial antioxidants called phenolic & flavonoids. These antioxidants help the body to fight free radicals and protect it from cell damage. Antioxidants also help in slowing the aging process and reduce the risk of cancer & heart disease.

2. Strengthens the Digestive System –

White honey additionally helps in treating digestive system issues like ulcers and diarrhea. It works on the well-being of the stomach and thus supports digestion. Consuming 1-2 spoons of white honey on an empty stomach provides instant relief from stomach pain and helps in healing ulcers.

3. Natural Cough Suppressant –

White honey is a natural cough stopper and a powerful sore throat remedy. Mixing honey in a glass of warm water or a cup of hot tea with lemon acts as effectively as dextromethorphan, a common over-the-counter cough medicine ingredient. According to the Researchgate study, it is proven that regular consumption of honey cures respiratory issues such as cough, cold & sore throat.

4. Wound Healer –

The amazing anti-inflammatory properties of white honey help in healing & reducing the pain of wounds, cuts & burns. Being a strong antiseptic, raw honey is used as an active ingredient in most healing remedies.

5. Energy Booster –

During physical exercise, carbohydrate is the primary source of energy. Natural honey contains 17 grams of carbohydrates and offers slow-burning fructose to the body. This slower release of fructose assists athletes to sustain long periods of physical activity by providing an energy boost.

6. Ideal for Baking –

White honey is additionally good for baking purposes. Compared to other honey varieties, white honey has the property to retain moisture for a longer time. The light & mild taste also makes this honey type an excellent sugar alternative for baking purposes.

7. Skin & Hair Care –

Raw honey is a common ingredient in most skin & care products. The healing & antioxidant properties of white honey make it the best natural product to reverse skin aging. Both consumption and topical application as hair & face mask work wonders to enhance your beauty.

Can White Honey Treat Eczema?

As we know that honey is rich in various beneficial properties making it capable of treating skin conditions like eczema, a study proved. Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant are some of these properties. A small study carried out to test the benefits of honey on eczema has proved that it helps retain moisture and works well in preventing dry patches on the skin thereby providing relief from the skin issues. It can be the best home remedy if applied in the correct way.

1. Take authentic raw white honey and apply a thin layer of it to the affected skin region.

2. Cover the area with a gauze or bandage.

3. Leave this dressing on overnight.

4. Remove the bandage and wipe off the dressing with light hands.

5. Clean the skin area with mild soap & warm water.

Another advantage of using honey is that it keeps the skin hydrated and traps moisture. This is a key to getting faster relief from eczema. However, the application of honey can cause minor itching, redness or swelling in some people. It is recommended to quickly get medical help in case you experience any trouble in breathing, omitting, fainting or wheezing symptoms.

Honey seems to be a popular ingredient in the skin care industry right now; however, it has been used for ages for cosmetic purposes. People praise this natural ingredient for its numerous benefits like moisturizing the skin, reversing skin aging signs, clearing up acne & blemishes and making the skin look radiant.

Does White Honey Differ From Regular Honey?

We all know honey is generally available in light or dark colors. As honey gets its color from the pollen & nectar collected by the bees, it results in different shades of honey from one season to another. It is generally considered that light-colored honey offers a mild taste whereas dark-colored honey has a strong taste.

As white honey is a light-colored honey variety it offers a subtle taste that is loved by all. This monofloral honey type in its raw & unfiltered form holds all-natural properties. Regular honey, on the other hand, may contain less antioxidant content and nutrients as it is pasteurized. Regular honey is pasteurized to enhance its appearance, increase its shelf-life, and kill yeast cells that can affect the taste of the honey.

How To Store White Honey?

Honey is one of the common things found in the pantry. It never goes bad and can be stored easily. To increase the shelf life of white honey, it is recommended to keep it in its original container, for example, a glass jar or food-safe plastic jar. It should never be stored in a metal container as it can oxidize.

Refrigerating honey isn't required, as it begins to solidify when stored in cool temperatures. Crystallized honey is difficult to use and requires warming. Storing it at a normal room temperature is always suggested. Also, avoid any moisture content in the honey by ensuring it is stored in an airtight container. Use a dry spoon to take honey from the jar as even a water drop can cause fermentation.

Which Honey Is Better – Lighter Or Darker?

There is a wide variety of flowers blooming across the world. The different flowers result in different colored honey, having different tastes and aromas. Lighter honey varieties usually offer a milder taste, whereas darker honey varieties are strong & bold tasting, for hardcore honey lovers. The only added benefit of darker honey varieties is the higher content of antioxidants. Both honey types are beneficial for the body and it all depends on your taste and which one you choose.

Some Careful Considerations –

Natural honey holds some risks because of the microbial content in it. Honey is especially risky for babies under the age of 1 year as it can cause botulism. This resembles food poisoning caused by harmful microorganisms. People with weaker immune systems should also avoid the consumption of white honey as it causes sickness. Also, if you are sensitive to bee pollen or honey bees, it is good to consume it after consulting your doctor. Breastfeeding & pregnant women should never take honey without proper consultation.

White honey can unarguably be the fundamental ingredient for a well-balanced body. You have studied various well-being advantages of white honey that can work wonders to help you stay fit & healthy always. Shop for the premium quality white honey available at the Geohoney store today & get a jump on a healthier future. Let’s all thank these little bees for their immense contribution to our food supply system and the delectable honey we get from them.