Why does Ayurveda say that honey should not be heated or cooked?
According to Ayurveda, when honey is heated above 108° Fahrenheit, it becomes transformed into a glue-like substance that is extremely difficult to digest. This substance is considered a toxin (ama), since it adheres to the tissues of the body and is very difficult to remove. Many incompatible food combinations produce ama, but heated honey is one of the most difficult forms of ama to cleanse. Furthermore, not only does heating honey make it toxic and increase ama, but new research also indicates that most of the benefits of honey — a variety of amino acids, enzymes, minerals, fatty acids and carbohydrates — are destroyed by the application of heat. Therefore, Ayurveda recommends raw, unprocessed honey. Unfortunately, many natural and organic whole grain breads and other prepared products for children, such as granola bars, crackers, and cereals, contain honey which has been cooked or baked; it is best to avoid feeding these products to growing children.
