Dark "honeydew" honey contains more antioxidants than light honey

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 by: M. T. Whitney
Tags: dark honey, honey, superfoods

(NewsTarget) The most healthful form of honey does not come from nectar, but rather from honeydew, a new Spanish study says. The darker honey, produced when bees collect honeydew from plants, has more antioxidants than other forms of honey.

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What you need to know - Conventional View

• Honeydew is created from the secretions of aphids and other bugs feeding on plant sap.

• The researchers looked at 36 varieties of Spanish honey and found those with honeydew had stronger antioxidant properties.

• Antioxidants fight the damage caused by free radical molecules in the body.

• Experts say that all forms of honey are good for you. However, it is 80 percent sugar and should be used in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

• A 2004 U.S. study showed that eating four to 10 tablespoons of honey caused antioxidant levels to rise among its study participants, according to the web site HealthDay.com.

• Honeydew honey is not found easily in the United States and may require importation. Some countries see it as a delicacy.

• The study was published in the February issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

• "Besides its value as a great sweetening agent, honey has proved that it also has effective antioxidant and antibacterial activities," study co-author Rosa Ana Perez, a researcher with Madrid's Instituto Madrileno de Investigacion y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario, told the web site HealthDay.com.

What you need to know - Alternative View

Statements and opinions by Mike Adams

• The healthiest honey is raw honey that is not processed, pasteurized or heated. "Cooking" honey breaks down the sugars, giving it a higher glycemic index when consumed.

• Honey has antibacterial properties and can be used externally on scrapes, small cuts or other skin wounds to prevent infection.

Resources you need to know

• Airborne New Zealand honeydew honey: http://www.airborne.co.nz/hnydew.htm

Bottom line

Honey is a good source of antioxidants, and dark honey offers the strongest health benefits.