[Hush]

Because I just googled 'is honey vegetarian' and apparently there's a whole huge debate going on.

I mean, I know it's not technically made OF animals (unless you count bee spit and stomach fluids) but are bees really harmed in getting it?

My dad's next door neighbour keeps bees for a living (and generally honey production is limited on family businesses here) and he loves them like they're his kids. o.0 Seriously, his house is falling apart but he spends his last penny to keep them comfy and happy. (and they make GREAT honey P

I'm not desperate for honey to be vegetarian but it would be nice to know if I have to watch for it in products and such. -_-

 

[lucky_charm]

Honey is generally considered as vegetarian but not vegan.

 

[Werewolf Girl]

Honey is vegetarian it's just not vegan.

Here's a fantastic overview of why vegans avoid it, tons of info! http://www.vegetus.org/honey/honey.htm

 

[Hush]

Hmm, so that's how it is. :-k Something to consider for the future if I eventually go into veganism too. OwO

 

[AeryFairy]

Offtopic: I adore your avatar <3

 

[River]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hush

Because I just googled 'is honey vegetarian' and apparently there's a whole huge debate going on.

I mean, I know it's not technically made OF animals (unless you count bee spit and stomach fluids) but are bees really harmed in getting it?

My dad's next door neighbour keeps bees for a living (and generally honey production is limited on family businesses here) and he loves them like they're his kids. o.0 Seriously, his house is falling apart but he spends his last penny to keep them comfy and happy. (and they make GREAT honey P

I'm not desperate for honey to be vegetarian but it would be nice to know if I have to watch for it in products and such. -_-

As others said, it's vegetarian. See if you can get it from a local source though, as a lot of honey comes from china where it gets all kinds of scary chemicals in it, or so i read a few months ago.

 

[earthwhispers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by River

As others said, it's vegetarian. See if you can get it from a local source though, as a lot of honey comes from china where it gets all kinds of scary chemicals in it, or so i read a few months ago.

I have only started doing research on this for my niece's sake, but there is also evidence that honey local to you can help you in battling allergies. I am working toward veganism and my allergies are only to medications, so I avoid honey... but the evidence is compelling.

 

[nogardsram]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeaceLoveKnit

I have only started doing research on this for my niece's sake, but there is also evidence that honey local to you can help you in battling allergies. I am working toward veganism and my allergies are only to medications, so I avoid honey... but the evidence is compelling.

Are there any actual studies supporting the notion that honey can help with allergies? Aren't allergies typically to grass and do honeybees frequent grass?

While it may sound reasonable at first blush, I'm not convinced that honey will do anything for allergies.

 

[Hush]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogardsram

Are there any actual studies supporting the notion that honey can help with allergies? Aren't allergies typically to grass and do honeybees frequent grass?

While it may sound reasonable at first blush, I'm not convinced that honey will do anything for allergies.

Well I don't know about raw honey doing anything for allergies, but my doctor did recommend I use propolis nose spray back when I had horrible springtime allergies. -_- And also, honey is a natural disinfectant, it helps with throat infections and I think they use it somewhere to treat wounds. It's one of the healthiest thing you can treat your body to and it sure can't hurt...unless you're actually allergic to honey itself. O.O

@AeryFairy ~ haha, thanks, yours is adorable too! 8D

 

[earthwhispers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogardsram

Are there any actual studies supporting the notion that honey can help with allergies? Aren't allergies typically to grass and do honeybees frequent grass?

While it may sound reasonable at first blush, I'm not convinced that honey will do anything for allergies.

The evidence is only anecdotal, as far as I've discovered. The idea of it has become mainstream enough that my niece's pediatrician recommended that my sister look into it. (I'm doing the research for her.) I'm actually quite surprised there hasn't been a study on this yet. I came across a few articles, like this one, that explain why it could be possible.

Quote:

Without scientific inquiry, we're left with only theories about how honey could reduce allergies. The prevailing theory is that it works like a vaccination. Vaccines introduce dummy versions of a particular virus or germ into the body and effectively trick it into believing it's been invaded, triggering an immune system response [source: UNICEF]. This produces antibodies designated to fight off the foreign invaders. When the body is actually exposed to the harmful germ or virus, the antibodies are ready for them.

The idea behind eating honey is kind of like gradually vaccinating the body against allergens, a process called immunotherapy. Honey contains a variety of the same pollen spores that give allergy sufferers so much trouble when flowers and grasses are in bloom. Introducing these spores into the body in small amounts by eating honey should make the body accustomed to their presence and decrease the chance an immune system response like the release of histamine will occur [source: AAFP]. Since the concentration of pollen spores found in honey is low -- compared to, say, sniffing a flower directly -- then the production of antibodies shouldn't trigger symptoms similar to an allergic reaction. Ideally, the honey-eater won't have any reaction at all.

 

[Cultus]

Well I am sold on the argument that honey is vegetarian and not vegan. Thank Heavens I have not been a honey lover at any point. So my conscience is clear.

 

[nogardsram]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hush

Well I don't know about raw honey doing anything for allergies, but my doctor did recommend I use propolis nose spray back when I had horrible springtime allergies. -_- And also, honey is a natural disinfectant, it helps with throat infections and I think they use it somewhere to treat wounds.

I'm aware that honey has been/is used for other medicinal purposes. I was specifically referring to the claim I hear/read (especially lately, with allergy season starting up), that honey helps with allergies, usually along the claim that it has pollen in it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hush

It's one of the healthiest thing you can treat your body to

Hmm... I'm not sure of that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hush

and it sure can't hurt...unless you're actually allergic to honey itself. O.O

And unless you're not a typical honey bee.

 

[nogardsram]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeaceLoveKnit

The evidence is only anecdotal, as far as I've discovered. The idea of it has become mainstream enough that my niece's pediatrician recommended that my sister look into it. (I'm doing the research for her.) I'm actually quite surprised there hasn't been a study on this yet. I came across a few articles, like this one, that explain why it could be possible.

Yeah, I'm aware of that, and like I said at first blush it does kind of sound reasonable. I still think it's in the realm of conjecture with no evidence for support (at least the pollen aspect).

I remember reading some other studies earlier in my life regarding this and there was no supporting evidence. I'm not interested in researching it again, but here's a wiki link with some references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#O...l_applications

 

[Puppet Master]

Like previously said, honey is vegetarian but not vegan. If you're bored out of your mind: http://www.veggieboards.com/newvb/showthread.php?93127

 

[Nishani]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puppet Master

If you're bored out of your mind: http://www.veggieboards.com/newvb/showthread.php?93127

 

[Snowcone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puppet Master

Like previously said, honey is vegetarian but not vegan. If you're bored out of your mind: http://www.veggieboards.com/newvb/showthread.php?93127

I actually started reading that thread. Stupid boredom and short attention span...

 

[Tofulicious]

They should start putting 'Not suitable for vegans' on honey products so people don't get confused.

 

[Capstan]

Just to add my 2¢ worth, I worked for a season in a commercial bee-keeping operation. It was a pretty typical business, like thousands of others all over. It had about 1000 hives, spread over a 3-county area, on farmland. It produced enough honey- 100 to 150 barrels- per year, to allow the owner to vacation in Mexico.

The bees suffer from malnutrition. All of their honey, except the "royal jelly," is taken from them, and they're fed a cheap, low-grade sugar water, made from corn syrup. The bees aren't strong enough to fight off disease and parasites, so they have to be medicated all year long, with antibiotics and such. Worker bees die by the tens of thousands. Only rapid procreation keeps their numbers up.

First thing, after the spring thaw, the hives are inspected. Each hive has its own queen. Any queen deemed to be weak or unproductive is removed and destroyed, bashed with a hammer or underfoot, then replaced with a new queen, shipped in through the postal service. Fully half of the queens are destroyed this way, because they aren't profitable.

Hundred of boxes of live bees were loaded onto a flatbed semi-trailer, covered with a tarp, then shipped at high speed 1000-miles to California, to pollinate almond trees, then trucked back.

IMO, the industry is brutal.

 

[Earthling]

Thanks for that, Capstan. It was very useful to see a first-hand account of what goes on at these places.

 

[Pirate Ferret]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capstan

Just to add my 2¢ worth, I worked for a season in a commercial bee-keeping operation. It was a pretty typical business, like thousands of others all over. It had about 1000 hives, spread over a 3-county area, on farmland. It produced enough honey- 100 to 150 barrels- per year, to allow the owner to vacation in Mexico.

The bees suffer from malnutrition. All of their honey, except the "royal jelly," is taken from them, and they're fed a cheap, low-grade sugar water, made from corn syrup. The bees aren't strong enough to fight off disease and parasites, so they have to be medicated all year long, with antibiotics and such. Worker bees die by the tens of thousands. Only rapid procreation keeps their numbers up.

First thing, after the spring thaw, the hives are inspected. Each hive has its own queen. Any queen deemed to be weak or unproductive is removed and destroyed, bashed with a hammer or underfoot, then replaced with a new queen, shipped in through the postal service. Fully half of the queens are destroyed this way, because they aren't profitable.

Hundred of boxes of live bees were loaded onto a flatbed semi-trailer, covered with a tarp, then shipped at high speed 1000-miles to California, to pollinate almond trees, then trucked back.

IMO, the industry is brutal.

oooohhh can i keep what youve said and get it out whenever people say honey's not cruel?

I didnt realise the poor bees were given antibiotics too : (

(obviously its a good thing that theyre given medication when theyre ill, but bad that theyre forced to need it in the first place)