Recently, in my free, Online KickSugar Support Group, we got into an intriguing online discussion about the benefits or drawbacks of honey.
Years ago, I would have been one of the first to tout honey’s virtues. However, within the last couple of years, I’ve obtained some insights and inside information about honey that has taken me quite by surprise.
Like most Americans, I’ve been assuming for years that it’s safe and healthy for everyone.
Well, it turns out that this might not always be the case. I’ve received some startling information from a scientific insider, who has witnessed honey production:
"The fact that honey is good for you is absolutely false information, and there is no scientific, medical, empirical, or metabolic credence to back it up.
"Honey has a long history of microbiological, bacteriological and mold activity in raw form and is DANGEROUS in consumption for ANY hypoglycemic, diabetic, infant, pregnant woman, women planning on becoming pregnant, nursing mothers, child, senior, heart patient, people on an prescription medication or treatment, those with weakened immune systems, those with cancer, or otherwise health compromised!"
Translation: Honey can cause problems in all kinds of people, including hypoglycemics, diabetics, pregnant women, children, seniors, heart patients, etc.
The expert continues:
"The MAJORITY of honey produced in the USA today, irrespective of USDA grading or certification or pasteurization, is not even from botanical sources of sap, nectar, pollen, flowers, etc. that wild bees, or domesticated bees (in apiary/mobile hive operations) typically enzymatically convert in their stomachs, during the mid to late spring and early summer months throughout North America."
Translation: Most of the honey that you buy in grocery and health food stories is probably not from bees or botanical sources.
Here’s where the scoop gets really shocking:
"The lion’s share of honey (over 65%) is when bees are force fed refined sugar, crystalline-based corn and chemically refined fructose, modified corn based starches or High Fructose Corn Syrup, or refined and chemically created corn-based dextrose, in closed-factory operations with 24-hour lighting to trick the bees into producing honey 24-7-365 (when botanical material is NOT available and to make more PROFIT)."
Oh, these poor bees! They’re made to eat sugar?! Wait, there’s more:
"This active and widespread practice means the bees are being stressed, which eventually weakens their own immunity, and the hives become less productive over time and/or get mite infestations killing them off.
"If you track it historically, this vicious cycle occurs in ever-increasing frequency in the north American honey supply and it leads to spikes/crashes in the industrial bulk price of honey in the market.
"Another practice is the importation of Brazilian or Asian ‘honey,’ where these same crooked practices are undertaken to avoid USDA scrutiny. In addition, they might also cut the honey overseas with cheap high fructose corn syrup to get a lower price per pound and an industrial edge over real honey production pricing."
And so, the expert concludes, "The bottom line is, there is a very good chance that the `natural’ honey you think is good for you (at a low or reasonable price) is either microbially dangerous for ingestion and/or it’s just a man-made, refined, low-cost, corn fructose-flavored sweetener that’s regurgitated by bees.
This is the part that really gets me. Honey is sugar passed through the stomachs of bees and is basically bee vomit!? Gross!
"Thus this quasi honey is actually legally allowed to be called ‘honey’, because it partially passed through the bees’ gut, but it will metabolize in your body like any other man-made, corn-based fructose — it could lead directly to body fat (adipose tissue) and triglycerides (the building block and precursor to LDL or bad cholesterol) and contribute to long-tern heart disease at ANY level of consumption.
"[Research shows that] refined corn-based fructose and high fructose corn syrup and false-labeled inulin syrup (which IS refined high fructose hydrolyzed inulin syrup) are leading ingredients in the U.S. food chain that are causing the current obesity, heart disease and diabetes epidemics (see, for example, Fat Land by Greg Critser)."
Wait, there’s still some hope for those of you who are honey lovers. You actually can still get the bona fide sweetener.
"If you want REAL honey from a botanical source, do not buy store brands or lower cost ones. You’re not even necessarily safe if you buy it from health food stores.
"Buy honey from direct producers at farmers markets during the spring and summer. If it’s too good to be true in price, generally you’ve bought something that is not real, pure or safe honey.
"By the way, articles and PR pieces circulated several years ago that honey — in combination with other starches, natural syrups, or complex carbohydrates kinesologically improve satiety (diet) and sustained (sports) energy — are categorically false, and were never published in any reputable peer reviewed journal where the results could be duplicated for verification.