To Bee or Not to Bee

One of the major decisions I've struggled with in becoming vegan is whether or not to consume honey. Most strict vegans do not consume honey, as they consider it an animal product. Some people make the claim that insects are not animals, and in this case could make the argument for using silk as well. I personally think that there is no distinction between insect and animal, as they are both living creatures, and I aim to honor all life.

That being said, I am not opposed to people consuming animal products from their own, well- loved, well-treated, non-suffering animals. For example, I know people who eat goat cheese made from the milk of their own beloved goats. I think that this still honors life. For health reasons, I definitely believe that animal products should be limited, though.

So that brings us back to honey. The bees certainly make the honey, but for some reason it seems so much different to me than meat (of course), milk, or eggs. Although there are valid arguments out there that consider the fact that honey is made from waste products of bees, and it is their own food source, therefore we should not take it from them. This, I understand.

However, I have done a lot of research, and I have learned that organic, raw, local honey has incredible health benefits. There are also some local holistic beekeepers who ensure that the bees are well provided for, have a high quality of life, and do not sugar-feed or otherwise pollute the honey.

Organic, raw, unheated honey is even safe for infants, as the existence of botulism only occurs in heated and processed honey. Here you can find out more.

It is important to note that regular honey you can buy in the store is highly processed, stripped of vitamins and minerals, and has no health benefits. Avoid buying this type of honey. Learn the differences between organic, raw and processed honey. Organic, raw honey has an extremely long shelf life.

Raw honey also promotes wound healing. Medicinal honey has been proven to help heal burns and other skin issues. Here and here are a little more about that.

It's also full of enzymes, phytochemicals, vitamins and nutrients.

It is important, though, to realize that if you rely on sweeteners (sugar, honey, syrup, etc) for your food, you should be careful because all of them are simple carbohydrates, which enter the bloodstream rapidly, causing blood sugar levels to increase, and possibly leading to insulin issues. If you want to use a sweetener, try stevia (see previous blogs).

Raw honey is great medicinally. 1 teaspoon per day has great health benefits, especially if taken along with raw apple cider vinegar.

Just make certain that you are getting local, UNHEATED, raw, organic honey. Talk to the beekeepers. Make sure they aren't sugar-feeding the bees, or otherwise treating them as less than the amazing life they are.

We must honor bees, because they pollinate most of our food.

More on Sweeteners

Many people whom I've recently spoken with about health/ diet/ nutrition are making me think more about artificial sweeteners. For people trying to give up sugar for whatever reason (calories, the use of animal products in its refinement, better overall health, etc.), it can be hard to find alternatives. I listed many options in my post about sugar, but feel the need to address aspartame in its many forms. From powdered drink mixes, to cereals, sodas, granola bars, and even juice, aspartame is a much-consumed alternative. Many products that you might be attracted to due to their "sugar-free" declaration, are in fact sweetened with aspartame.

I've always heard negative things about this sweetener, and I've done some more research on it. It has been linked to numerous health problems, and even the onset of several diseases. Although the FDA deems it safe, you should research it for yourself.

Check here and here for lists of health problems and dangers associated with aspartame.

So if you choose not to consume it anymore, what what can you replace it with?

Other than different types of sugars which might still contain those calories you are trying to avoid, the best option, in my opinion is Stevia.

To Order Stevia Leaf from Mountain Rose Herbs, Click on the Photo.

As found on wikipedia,

Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

With its extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Medical research has also shown possible benefits of stevia in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

Stevia is a natural sweetener, and though it has been questioned (as all sweeteners are) in terms of safety, it's dangers are minimal compared to those of other, artificial sweeteners. Reference this post for more information on the chemistry and safety of stevia.

Stevia is readily available at your local market or health food store, and will meet most of your sweetening needs. I've never baked with stevia, but I've heard that it works well.

If you are interested in convenience, like powdered drink mixes, or sodas, check these sites:

Stevita and Zevia

And I'm sure you can find more stevia products, if you look.

Happy, healthy sweetening to you all.