Honeycomb is a natural bee product consisting of waxy hexagonal cells
containing raw honey.
For thousands of
years, people have been keeping bees and eating honey.
Eating a hive is a way
to enjoy the fruits of bee labor. Doing so may bring health benefits, from a
reduced risk of infection to a healthier heart and liver.
However, eating honey
directly from a comb may also pose some risks.
This article explores
the uses, benefits, and dangers of cellular.
What is a cellular?
Honeycombs are natural
products made by bees to store honey and pollen or to house larvae.
It consists of a
series of hexagonal honeycombs made up of beeswax, which usually contain raw
honey.
Raw honey differs from
commercial honey in that it is not pasteurized or filtered.
Honeycombs may also
contain some bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly — these additional bee
products have potential health benefits in their own right. However, these are
likely to be only a small number of discoveries (1, 2).
You can eat the whole
honeycomb, including honey and the waxy cells around it.
Raw honey has a denser
texture than filter honey. In addition, waxy cells can be chewed like chewing
gum.
Summary: honeycombs are a natural product made by bees
that store their larvae, honey, and pollen. All honeycombs are edible –
including the waxy cells and raw honey they contain.
Rich in certain nutrients
Honeycombs are rich in
carbohydrates and antioxidants. It also contains trace amounts of several other
nutrients.
Its main ingredient is
raw honey, which provides small amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals—but
is made up of 95-99% sugar and water (3, 4).
Since it is
unprocessed, raw honey contains enzymes such as glucose oxidase, which give
honey antibacterial and antibacterial properties.
These enzymes are used
to process most commercial honey for heating and filtration destruction (5).
In addition, raw honey
is less likely to be contaminated with sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup
and tends to contain more antioxidants than processed honey (6, 7, 8).
Antioxidants are
beneficial to plant compounds that promote health, reduce inflammation, and
protect your body from disease. Their content in raw honey maybe 4.3 times
higher than processed honey (8, 9, 10, 11).
Polyphenols are the
main antioxidants in honey. Studies have shown that they may help reduce the
risk of diabetes, dementia, heart disease, and even certain types of cancer (12).
Honeycomb also
contains beeswax, which provides long-chain fatty acids and alcohols that are
heart-healthy. These compounds may help lower cholesterol levels (13, 14).
Summary: raw honey and beeswax are the two main
components of honeycombs. Raw honey is rich in enzymes and antioxidants, while
beeswax contains long-chain fatty acids and alcohols — all of which may benefit
your health.
May promote heart health
Honeycomb may promote
your heart health.
studies have shown
that the long-chain fatty acids and alcohols in beeswax can lower high blood
cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.
For example, one
review noted that beeswax alcohol may help reduce "bad" LDL
cholesterol by up to 29% while increasing "good" LDL cholesterol by
8-15% (14).
However, the studies
in this review used a large number of isolated alcohols from beeswax, so it is
difficult to know whether a small amount of beeswax in a honeycomb will produce
the same effect.
That is, honey itself
may have the same ability to lower cholesterol (15, 16, 17, 18).
A small study had
participants consume 70 grams of sugar or honey per day. After 30 days, the
honey group increased "good" HDL cholesterol by 3.3% and
"bad" LDL cholesterol by 5.8% (19).
what's more, replacing
sugar with honey can also help lower triglyceride levels by up to 19% (15, 16, 17, 18, 19).
In addition, honey's
antioxidants may help dilate the arteries that lead to the heart. This, in
turn, may increase blood flow and lower blood pressure, potentially reducing
your risk of blood clots, heart disease, and stroke (9, 20).
Summary: honeycombs can benefit your heart by increasing
blood flow and "good" HDL cholesterol levels while lowering blood
pressure, triglycerides, and "bad" LDL cholesterol.
May prevent infection
Honeycombs can enhance
your body's ability to fight certain bacteria and fungi.
For example, test-tube
studies have shown that beeswax extracts can prevent fungi and pathogenic
bacteria, including staphylococcus aureus, candida Albicans, salmonella
enteric, and e. coli (21, 22, 23).
Honey is also known
for its antibacterial properties. Research suggests that it may help protect
your gut from the intestinal parasite giardia (24).
However, human studies
are needed to confirm these effects.
Summary: honeycombs can enhance your body's defenses
against fungi and certain types of disease-causing bacteria. It may also help
protect your intestines from certain parasites. However, research that is more
human is needed.
May reduce cough in children
Honeycomb may also
help reduce coughing in children.
Children are prone to
upper respiratory tract infections, which can lead to coughing. Studies have
shown that honey may help suppress this cough (25).
In one study, eating
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of buckwheat honey 30 minutes before bedtime was more
effective at reducing cough-related discomfort in children than cough syrup.
Children who took
buckwheat honey also slept better than those who took cough syrup or didn't
take it at all (26).
Honeycomb may provide
the same benefits because it is rich in honey.
That is, honey
contains the spores of botox, which can harm babies. Therefore, children under
12 months of age should not be given honey or honeycomb (27, 28).
Summary: honeycomb is rich in honey that may help
reduce cough in children. However, due to the risk of botulism, it should not
be given to children under one year of age.
Potential sugar substitutes for diabetics
For people with
diabetes, honeycombs can be a good sugar substitute.
This is partly because
honey is much sweeter than sugar, so it takes less amount to achieve the same
sweetness. In addition, honey appears to raise blood sugar levels more than
refined sugar (29).
That said, honey still
raises blood sugar levels – so people with diabetes shouldn't consume too much.
What's more, the
alcohols found in beeswax may help reduce insulin resistance, a condition that
can lead to high blood sugar levels.
A small study of
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) found that beeswax
alcohol extract reduced insulin levels by 37%, a condition in which fat
accumulates in the liver and is often accompanied by insulin resistance. (30）。
These lower insulin
levels may indicate decreased insulin resistance, which may also benefit people
with diabetes.
Keep in mind that
higher-quality research is needed.
Summary: hive sugar tends to have a lower effect
on raising blood sugar levels compared to refined sugar. What's more, compounds
found in honeycombs may help reduce insulin resistance — but more research is
needed.
May improve liver function
Honeycombs may also contribute
to a healthier liver.
In a 24-week study,
patients with liver disease were given a mixture of beeswax alcohol daily. Notably,
48% of people in the beeswax group reported a reduction in symptoms – such as
abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea – compared to only 8% in the placebo
group.
In addition, 28% of
patients taking beeswaxol returned to normal liver function – compared to not
in the placebo group. (30）
While these results
may seem promising, it's unclear how many calls you will need to consume to
reap the same benefits. Therefore, more research on humans is needed before
strong conclusions can be drawn.
Summary: beeswax alcohol found in honeycombs can
improve liver function and alleviate symptoms in patients with liver disease. However,
more research is needed.
How to use it
Honeycomb can be eaten
in a variety of ways.
While you can eat it
as is, it's perfect to accompany hot bread or English muffins. Honeycomb can
also be used as a sweetener in homemade desserts – or for pancakes, oatmeal, or
yogurt.
Some people may also
like to put a hive on top of a salad or next to fruit, delicatessen, or aged
cheese.
You may find
honeycombs at local health food stores or farmers' markets, but you can also
buy them online.
When choosing
honeycombs, keep in mind that the darker the honey color, the richer its
beneficial compounds, such as antioxidants (31, 32).
The honeycomb will
remain at room temperature for a longer period. The longer you keep it, the
more likely it is to crystallize – but its crystalline form is still edible.
Summary: honeycomb can be used as a sweetener or
as a side dish for a variety of dishes. You are most likely to find honeycombs
at local farmers' markets and should store them at room temperature.
Potentially dangerous
Honeycombs are
generally considered safe to eat.
However, because it
contains honey, it carries the risk of contamination with botulinum toxin
spores. These are particularly harmful to pregnant women and children under 12
months of age (27, 28).
In some cases, eating
hives in large quantities can lead to stomach obstruction (33).
To minimize the risk
of this happening, it's best to avoid eating a lot of hives every day — or
simply spitting out waxy cells.
In addition, people
who are allergic to bee venom or pollen may be careful when consuming a hive,
as it may cause allergic reactions (34).
It's also important to
note that despite the many potential benefits, honeycombs are still high in
sugar – so it is best to eat them in moderation.
Summary: eating small amounts of honeycomb is generally
considered safe. However, due to the risk of botulism, if you are pregnant, you
should not give it to your baby or eat it. Because honey has a high sugar
content, so it is best not to overeat honey.
Conclusion:
Honeycomb is a natural
bee product consisting of waxy hexagonal cells containing raw honey.
Honey and its hives
are edible and offer many health benefits, such as fighting infections and
improving heart health. Honeycombs can also enhance liver function and serve as
a sugar substitute for people with diabetes.
That said, honeycombs
are still rich in sugar, so they should be consumed in moderation.