For thousands of years, people have kept bees and consumed their honey. One way to enjoy the fruits of bees' labor is to eat honeycomb. This may provide health benefits ranging from reduced infection risk to a healthier heart and liver. Consuming honey straight from the comb, on the other hand, may pose some risks. Honeycomb is a natural product made by honey bees to store honey and pollen or to house their larvae, according to the Department of Food Engineering, Central Food Technological Research Institute. It is made up of a series of hexagonal beeswax cells that are filled with raw honey. Raw honey is distinct from commercial honey in that it has not been pasteurized or filtered. Honeycomb may also contain bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, all of which have potential health benefits of their own. However, these are most likely to be found in trace amounts.
Honeycomb is rich in carbohydrates and antioxidants. It also contains trace amounts of several other nutrients. Its main component is raw honey, which offers small amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals — but is composed of 95–99% sugar and water according to a study by Peter B. Olaitan and colleagues. Because it hasn’t been processed, raw honey contains enzymes like glucose oxidase, which gives honey antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Honeycomb may also benefit your cardiovascular health. According to research, the long-chain fatty acids and alcohols found in beeswax may help lower high blood cholesterol levels, which are a risk factor for heart disease. According to James L Hargrove and colleagues' 2004 review, beeswax alcohols may help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol by up to 29% while increasing "good" HDL cholesterol by 8-15%. Furthermore, the antioxidants in honey may aid in the dilation of the arteries leading to your heart. As a result, blood flow and blood pressure may increase, potentially lowering your risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke.
Honeycomb may also help your body's defenses against fungi and some types of pathogenic bacteria. It may also help protect your gut from parasites. More human research, however, is required. It may also aid in the reduction of coughing in children. Upper respiratory tract infections in children can cause coughing. According to research, honey may help suppress this cough. However, honey contains C. spores. Botulinum bacteria, can be harmful to infants. As a result, children under the age of 12 months should not be given honey or honeycomb. Diabetes patients may benefit from honeycomb as an alternative to sugar. According to a 2009 study by Mohsen Bahrami and colleagues, this is due in part to the fact that honey is much sweeter than sugar, so smaller amounts are required to achieve the same level of sweetness. Honey also appears to raise blood sugar levels less than refined sugar.
Honeycomb beeswax alcohols may improve liver function and reduce symptoms in people with liver disease. More research, however, is required. Honeycomb can be eaten in a number of ways. While it can be eaten on its own, it also makes an excellent spread for warm bread or English muffins. Honeycomb can also be used to sweeten homemade desserts or as a topping for pancakes, oatmeal, or yogurt. Some people enjoy honeycomb on top of salads or alongside fruit, charcuterie, or aged cheeses. Honeycomb is most likely to be found at your local farmers market and should be stored at room temperature.
Honeycomb, according to Alina Petre, is generally considered safe to eat. However, because it contains honey, it is susceptible to C contamination. Spores of Botulinum. These are especially hazardous to pregnant women and children under the age of one year. Large amounts of honeycomb may cause stomach obstructions in some people. To reduce the likelihood of this occurring, it may be best to avoid eating large amounts of honeycomb on a daily basis — or simply spit out the waxy cells. Furthermore, people who are allergic to bee venom or pollen should exercise caution when eating honeycomb, as it may cause an allergic reaction. However, honeycomb is still high in sugar and should be consumed in moderation.
ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. Can You Eat Honeycomb? Benefits, Uses, and Dangers
By Alina Petre, MS, RD (NL) on February 5, 2019
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/raw-honeycomb
2. Processing of Honey: A Review
R. Subramanian, H. Umesh Hebbar & N.K. Rastogi
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10942910600981708
3. Honey: a reservoir for microorganisms and an inhibitory agent for microbes
Peter B. Olaitan, Olufemi E. Adeleke, and Iyabo O. Ola
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2269714/
4. Nutritional significance and metabolism of very long chain fatty alcohols and acids from dietary waxes
James L. Hargrove, Phillip Greenspan, Diane K Hartle
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14988513/
5. Effects of natural honey consumption in diabetic patients: an 8-week randomized clinical trial
Mohsen Bahrami, Asal Ataie-Jafari, Saeed Hosseini, Mohammad Hasan Foruzanfar, Mazaher Rahmani, Mohammad Pajouhi
