What you should know about contents of honey
MY HONEY : 5 Stars Arising
Thank you for your support for My Honey. All 5 flavours of My Honey hail from Israel, biblically known as the land flowing with milk and honey. Israel has been truly set apart for excellence. As of 2017, Nobel Prizes have been awarded to 892 individuals, of whom 201 or 22.5% were Jews, although the total Jewish population comprises less than 0.2% of the world’s population.This means the percentage of Jewish Nobel laureates is at least 112.5 times or 11 250% above average. (Source: Wikipedia) There is something really special about Israel. It is written in Genesis 12.3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Israel).”
Bee Amazed Pte Ltd is pleased to bring you NOTHING but the BEST from Israel. As you savour and partake My Honey, remember to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6. For your support, we are pleased to present you a $10 discount voucher for your next visit to BEE AMAZED Garden.
Chemical composition of natural honey
An average natural honey contains about 200 substances, including amino acids, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. But it primarily contains sugar and water. Sugar accounts for 95–99% of honey dry matter. The principal carbohydrate constituents of honey are fructose (38.2%), glucose (31.3 %), sucrose (1.3%), maltose and other reducing disaccharides (7.3%), Trisaccharides and other carbohydrates (4.2%).
Water is the second most important component of honey (17.2%).
Organic acids constitute 0.57% of honey and include gluconic acid which is a by product of enzymatic digestion of glucose. The organic acids are responsible for the acidity of honey and contribute largely to its characteristic taste . The concentration of mineral compounds ranges from 0.1% to 1.0 %. Potassium is the major metal, followed by calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulphur and phosphorus. Trace elements include iron, copper, zinc and manganese.
Nitrogenous compounds, vitamins C, B1 (thiamine) and B2 complex vitamins like riboflavin, nicotinic acid, B6 and panthothenic acid are also found. Honey contains proteins only in minute, 0.1–0.5 percent quantities. According to a recent report, specific protein quantities differ according to the honey bee origin. Vitamins, minerals and amino acids amount to 0.5%. See Table 1.
Table 1: Average composition of honey
| Honey (Nutritional value per 100 g) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Average | ||||
| Carbohydrates | 82.4 g | ||||
| Fructose | 38.5 g | ||||
| Glucose | 31 g | ||||
| Sucrose | 1 g | ||||
| Other sugars | 11.7 g | ||||
| Dietary fiber | 0.2 g | ||||
| Fat | 0 g | ||||
| Protein | 0.3 g | ||||
| Water | 17.1 g | ||||
| Riboflavin (Vit. B2) | 0.038 mg | ||||
| Niacin (Vit. B3) | 0.121 mg | ||||
| Pantothenic acid (Vit. B5) | 0.068 mg | ||||
| Pyridoxine (Vit. B6) | 0.024 mg | ||||
| Folate (Vit. B9) | 0.002 mg | ||||
| Vitamin C | 0.5 mg | ||||
| Calcium | 6 mg | ||||
| Iron | 0.42 mg | ||||
| Magnesium | 2 mg | ||||
| Phosphorus | 4 mg | ||||
| Potassium | 52 mg | ||||
| Sodium | 4 mg | ||||
| Zinc | 0.22 mg | ||||
Enzymes
Honey contains a variety of enzymes such as oxidase, invertase, amylase (diastase), etc. The main enzymes in honey are glucose oxidase, invertase, amylase (diastase), etc. They play an important role in the formation of honey. The enzyme, glucose oxidase, oxidises glucose to gluconic acid (which helps in calcium absorption) and hydrogen peroxide (which provides antimicrobial properties). Invertase converts sucrose to fructose and glucose. Amylase (diastase) breaks down starch to dextrin and /or sugars and may help in bee’s digestion of pollen.
Sources: Traditional and Modern Uses of Natural Honey in Human Diseases: A Review Iran J Basic Med Sci 2013 Jun; 16(6): 731–742. & The Beekeeper’s Handbook 4th Edition Diana Sammataro & Alphonse Avitabile
Different blossoms, climate, bee types, soil types and local conditions give rise to distinct types of honey. A typical honey consists of all the elements mentioned above. So it is important that honey connoisseurs develop a wider range of honey in order to enjoy the full benefits that honey can provide.
Rest assured that you are getting nothing but the best from the land of milk and honey. So enjoy your honey but in moderation.
John Chong
Founder, My Honey & Bee Amazed Garden
& Friend of the Honey Bees
