Subject: Blood & Immunity + Honey

Your Blood and Immunity!

Are you hearing about different benefits of honey for us and wondering about the myths versus the truth? Here's some medical evidence which is not exhaustive shared below!

Hi Friend,

Haematology and Immunity and Natural Honey Findings!

Natural honey has been found to be beneficial to people suffering from anaemia. Ajibola et al. (2007) reported enhanced blood profiles in floral honey-fed adult rats [4]. The study recorded improved haemoglobin concentration (iron constituent of Natural Honey played an important role in this), increased erythrocyte count and elevated haematocrit in the honey eaters.

In another laboratory, Chepulis (2007) also documented enhanced haematology and immune response in rats fed 10% honeydew honey supplemented diet. The author noted higher lymphocyte count and increased neutrophil phagocytosis in Natural Honey-fed rats than control. This aligned with previous research that prebiotics can enhance immune function and Natural Honey is known to contain the prebiotics, oligosaccharides.

Human subjects administered with two honey treatments in a Californian study show that honey eaters have the benefit of haematoprotection in addition to blood proliferation. The researchers observed that the aqueous portion of the blood (plasma) is protected by honey. This is in agreement with the fact that most of the antioxidant components in processed honey are water soluble.

In summarizing the facts that honey can be considered to be a satisfactory immuno-nutrient, some workers opine that the oral administration of natural honey can stimulate and increase the production of antibody during primary and secondary immune responses against the T-cells of the thymus-dependent as well as the thymus independent antigens. [source: PMCID: PMC3583289 PMID: 22716101]

HOW WE DEFINE NATURAL HONEY

Natural Honey, by our definition as well as often referred to in studies, is honey that has been harvested from hives that have foraged nectar from plants [not sugar fed], and that has not been heated above 40 degrees Celsius and with minimal filtering through a double strainer gauze for most impurities and then stored in virgin plastic, stainless steel or preferably air-tight glass containers.

Would you agree with our definition above?

2024 © W Selzer

HOW TO DEFINE HONEYDEW HONEY

Honeydew honey is NOT collected from plant-based nectar but from secretions. Aphids secrete fluids that can be collected by honeybees and when enough of it is collected within a specific area, the result of this type of honey is called Honeydew Honey.

Honeydew is a sugar-rich sticky liquid, secreted by aphids, some scale insects, and many other true bugs and some other insects as they feed on plant sap.