Scary but true, most of the honey available for consumer purchase is counterfeit, fake, and potentially dangerous. The majority of honey sold at chain stores is pollen free, meaning it is devoid of the health benefits associated with honey. Instead, it is some ultra-filtered combination of illegal, artificial, and unsafe sweeteners, antibiotics, and heavy metals.

Raw honey is incomparable to other sweeteners – fake or real. So rich and sweet, it only takes a touch to add deliciously satisfying flavor to any dish. You can add it to your morning oats for a natural and tasty boost of energy, or slow cook some crock pot honey chicken for dinner. Besides the energy boost – instant and sustained – raw honey replenishes glycogen storages so your body doesn’t produce more stress hormones in response to intense exercise.

Raw honey is chock full of healing, providing natural anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial benefits to the body. It has been used to treat acne, sinuses, sore throat, ulcers, allergies, infections, and more. Rich in antioxidants, b vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, raw honey can improve health at the cellular level, fighting free radicals and boosting the immune system.

If you want to enjoy the myriad of health benefits along with the richly satisfying and delicious flavor, you’re better off skipping chain store bought “honey” bear and going for the real thing, pollen-rich raw honey. Buy local, support the “little guy,” and rest assured that you’re getting the real deal, i.e. actual food, not unsafe substances masquerading as honey.