I have a little raw honey bought locally in my tea everyday. Most store bought honey is usually pasteurized and therefore lacks the very nutrients that make honey a great food choice. The process of filtration and pasteurization removes the phytonutrients and pollen that make honey beneficial to us. Some of the benefits of raw honey are that it is high in antioxidants, contains vital minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc and has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Labels such as ‘pure’ honey might make people believe it’s the real deal but that’s just another marketing term. Pure doesn’t equal raw and doesn’t come with the same nutritional profile. Please note, honey is still sugar of course.

Another example here is raw orange juice. Raw orange juice is a great source of natural vitamin C and a healthy carbohydrate. Only one cup of raw orange juice contains about twice the required daily vitamin C amount. It also is high in folate and potassium which in their natural form are very beneficial. However if we look at the reconstituted orange juice with preservatives, ‘natural flavors’, synthetic vitamin C and acidity regulators (330) all of the above health benefits are gone. You get zero while adding a dose of ingredients your gut does not like.

Raw milk is the perfect food. It contains a balanced ratio of fats, carbs and proteins. It also contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, iron and the vitamins A, B2, B12, K and D in their natural form. Once pasteurized these health benefits are stripped as the process alters the enzymes, proteins, fats, and sugar in the milk. Exactly why so many people today have issues with dairy. It’s not dairy’s fault! It’s the processing of it. Raw milk comes rich in natural enzymes and vitamins which the body can use adequately. The synthetic vitamins added back into the milk simply don’t function the same way in the body. Selected Coles supermarkets sell a great raw milk ‘Made by Cow’. We absolutely love it.

Choose raw foods whenever you can and your gut and gut microbiome will thank you!