Organic vs. Regular Honey: Health Benefits & Differences

Honey is a natural byproduct of the pollination process of honeybees. Honey is used as a sweetener for many foods and as a holistic remedy for sore throats and coughs. Whether a honey is certified "organic" may not affect its taste, but some believe it can be more beneficial to the body than ordinary honey.

Identification

• A food labeled as "organic" is one that has been manufactured, cultivated, or processed as naturally as possible, without the use of pesticides or insecticides, chemically altered animal feeds, or environmentally intrusive production measures. Certified organic foods follow standards regulated by the National Organic Program.

Benefits

• Organic and conventionally made honey contain carbohydrates and proteins, which have been found to be effective in "muscle recuperation," according to Dr. Richard Kreider as quoted on Foodreference.com. All honey contains small amounts of several vitamins and antioxidants which are beneficial to the body.

Considerations

• Although organic honey supposedly contains no traces of pesticides or antibiotics which may or may not be present in microscopic amounts in conventional honey production, there has been no hard evidence to suggest that organic honey is healthier or better for the body than regular, traditional honey.