Bee Honey Consumption Among the Population of Varna

Abstract

Honey bees produce unique products that provide health and promote human longevity. Honey is the best known and most widely consumed substance produced by bees. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of bee honey for the nutrition of Varna citizens and the level of their awareness about the benefits of honey and bee products. A total of 438 individuals from the town of Varna at an average age of 42,90±10,90 years (range, 27 to 83 years) were recruited. They filled-in a questionnaire about their nutritive habits in regard to honey. Respondents were divided into two age groups - aged up to 40 and above 40 years old. The study shows that people aged over 40 years consume more often honey every day compared to those aged up to 40 years (p<0,05). Besides 20,55% of all the respondents consume honey every day, 13,47% do only in winter and 14,84% - only when they are ill. Only 5,94% of the respondents do not consume honey at all. Over half of the respondents (60,50%) share that they would consume honey more often. In 46,35% of the respondents honey has been used as a sweetener. A total of 32,65% respondents replace sugar with honey always when possible, 50,68% of them do it occasionally only, and 15,30% never do it. People under the age of 40 years hardly replace sugar with honey when possible. Only 33,79% of the respondents consume honey as food. This is more common among subjects aged up to 40 years (p<0,05). In 24,20% of the cases honey is a means for treatment of diseases. The majority of respondents (92,69%) believe that bee products are useful because they are natural, contain essential ingredients for the human body and strengthen the immune system