Raw honey stands out not just for its natural sweetness—but for its ancestral, therapeutic power. Long before synthetic supplements and artificial sweeteners, raw honey was revered across cultures as a healing agent. And now, modern science is catching up, confirming what our ancestors knew: raw honey does more than taste good—it nourishes your gut, supports your brain, and fuels your body on a cellular level.
Let’s unpack why this golden nectar is nothing like regular sugar, why raw honey matters, and how it can help heal your gut and microbiome.
Sugar vs. Honey vs. Raw Honey: Not All Sweeteners Are Equal
White sugar is a highly processed product stripped of any nutritional benefit. It offers empty calories, spikes blood sugar, feeds harmful gut bacteria, and over time contributes to insulin resistance, inflammation, and disease.
Regular honey, while better than white sugar, often goes through high-heat pasteurization and filtration, destroying much of its natural value—especially the enzymes, B vitamins, and antioxidants that make honey so therapeutic.
Raw honey, however, is completely different.
What Makes Raw Honey "Raw"?
It’s never heated above hive temperature (about 95°F) and remains unfiltered or only gently strained. This preserves its:
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17+ live enzymes
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Natural B vitamins
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Electrolytes like potassium and magnesium
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Antioxidants and phytonutrients
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Prebiotic properties that feed beneficial gut bacteria
This difference is crucial—especially when it comes to gut health.
Raw Honey and Gut Health: A Natural Prebiotic
Your gut is home to trillions of microbes. Together, they form your microbiome, which influences nearly every part of your health:
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Digestion and nutrient absorption
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Immune function
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Brain health and neurotransmitter production
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Hormone regulation
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Metabolism and energy
When your gut is out of balance (a condition called dysbiosis), you’re more prone to:
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Bloating and digestive discomfort
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Brain fog and fatigue
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Skin issues
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Food sensitivities
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Inflammation and weakened immunity
Raw Honey to the Rescue
Raw honey is a prebiotic, meaning it feeds your good bacteria (like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus). This helps them flourish, crowding out harmful microbes like Candida and other pathogens.
It also:
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Reduces gut inflammation
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Helps repair the intestinal lining
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Supports production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which fuel colon cells and strengthen the gut barrier
The 17+ Enzymes in Raw Honey and Why They Matter
Raw honey contains a unique mix of live enzymes that support digestion, immune health, and metabolic function. Heating destroys these enzymes, which is why raw honey is the only form that retains full therapeutic value.
Key enzymes in raw honey include:
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Amylase (Diastase): Breaks down starch into simple sugars
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Invertase: Converts sucrose into glucose and fructose
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Glucose Oxidase: Produces hydrogen peroxide, offering antibacterial properties
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Catalase: Balances hydrogen peroxide by converting it to water and oxygen
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Phosphatase: Assists in mineral absorption
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Protease: Breaks down proteins into amino acids
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Lipase: Breaks fats into fatty acids
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Beta-glucosidase: Helps break down plant compounds and supports detoxification
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Peroxidase: Aids immune function
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Pectinase: Improves digestion of pectin in fruits
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Maltase: Breaks down maltose into glucose
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Oxidoreductase: Supports detox and cellular repair
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Isomerase: Helps with sugar conversion and flexibility in metabolism
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Diaphorase: Contributes to redox balance in the body
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Transglucosidase: Aids carbohydrate metabolism
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Ribonuclease: Assists in breaking down RNA during cell turnover
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DNAase: Removes damaged DNA fragments from cells
Raw honey doesn’t just give your body energy—it gives it the tools to digest, detox, and rebuild.
The Gut-Brain Connection
Your gut is often referred to as your second brain. Around 90% of your serotonin and 50% of dopamine are made in the gut, not the brain. That means your mental health is closely tied to your gut health.
When your microbiome is balanced:
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Mood stabilizes
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Anxiety decreases
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Mental clarity improves
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Sleep becomes more restorative
Because raw honey supports a healthy gut lining and fosters beneficial bacteria, it indirectly promotes:
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Focus and cognitive performance
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Stress resilience
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Healthy sleep patterns (especially when taken before bed to stabilize liver glycogen)
Raw Honey Recipe Ideas
Here are five simple and functional ways to use raw honey in your everyday life.
1. Raw Honey Fat Bombs
Ingredients:
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2 tbsp raw honey
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2 tbsp grass-fed ghee, butter or coconut oil
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1 tbsp almond butter
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1 tbsp raw cacao powder
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Pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
Melt the ghee, butter or coconut oil, mix all ingredients, pour into silicone molds or an ice cube tray, and freeze until solid.
Perfect for: Pre-workout fuel or a clean mid-hike energy source.
2. Gut-Healing Honey Lemon Ginger Tonic
Ingredients:
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1 tbsp raw honey
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Juice of half a lemon
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1 inch grated ginger
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Pinch of sea salt
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8 oz warm (not hot) water
Instructions:
Stir well and sip first thing in the morning.
Perfect for: Supporting digestion and immune function.
3. Raw Honey Electrolyte Smoothie
Ingredients:
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1 frozen banana
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½ cup coconut water
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½ cup full-fat Greek yogurt or kefir
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1 tbsp raw honey
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1 tbsp chia seeds
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Dash of sea salt
Instructions:
Blend until smooth.
Perfect for: A natural post-workout electrolyte boost.
4. Honey Tahini Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
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1 tbsp raw honey
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2 tbsp tahini
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1 tbsp lemon juice
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1 tsp apple cider vinegar
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Water to thin
Instructions:
Whisk all ingredients together and drizzle over greens or roasted vegetables.
Perfect for: Adding healthy fats and enzymes to any meal.
5. Bedtime Honey-Calm Tea
Ingredients:
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1 tsp raw honey
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Chamomile or lavender tea
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Optional: pinch of cinnamon or magnesium powder
Instructions:
Brew tea, let it cool slightly, then stir in raw honey and sip slowly.
Perfect for: Supporting deep sleep and overnight recovery.
Not All Honey Is Created Equal
Avoid:
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Crystal-clear honey in plastic bears (often cut with corn syrup)
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"Organic" honey imported from China or Brazil (often misrepresented)
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Honey products with added “natural flavors”
Look for:
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U.S. sourced or local
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From small, transparent producers
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Naturally crystallized (a good sign of raw integrity)
Why Hunghee Uses Raw Honey
At Hunghee, we source only local, raw honey — never heated above hive temp, never diluted, and never stripped of nutrients.
We combine this with organic grass-fed ghee for slow-burning fat-based energy and ancient sea salt for essential electrolytes. The result? Clean, high-performance fuel rooted in ancestral wisdom.
“During very long aerobic exertion efforts, like a marathon or beyond, we will need to refuel during races and in training in order to avoid complete depletion of glycogen stores. This is probably best done with “clean” source of carbohydrates, like dextrose or honey, rather than highly processed gels and other supplements. For efforts that aren’t long and intense enough to deplete glycogen, carbohydrates are not necessary during workouts and consumption of a carnivore diet after exertion will allow for full replenishment of glycogen stores.” Dr. Paul Saladino, Carnivore Code
Final Thoughts: Sweet, Smart, and Ancestral
Your gut does more than digest food—it trains your immune system, produces neurotransmitters, and determines how you feel each day. Supporting it with real, unprocessed ingredients like raw honey is one of the simplest, most powerful things you can do.
So skip the synthetic energy gels, ditch the processed sugar, and reconnect with a food that’s been nourishing humans for millennia.
Hunghee Ancestral Energy is grounded in primal nutrition—packed with the most bioavailable animal-based nutrients and fueled by fat for performance, clarity, and adventure. Whether you're chasing peaks, hitting the gym, or just managing the chaos of everyday life, Hunghee's 1oz on-the-go packs deliver clean-burning, fat-fueled energy rooted in evolutionary wisdom. Made with organic grass-fed ghee, local raw honey, and ancient sea salt, Hunghee is fuel the way nature intended.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition or before starting any new fitness or nutritional program.