This popular sugar substitute has some significant advantages—as well as some not-so-pleasant side effects.
Honey is often seen as a healthy method to satisfy your sweet appetite without turning to goods sweetened with white sugar or high fructose corn syrup, whether you drizzle it on your morning cereal or add it to your afternoon tea. The National Honey Board estimates that the average American consumes 1.3 pounds of Honey every year!
Fortunately, many of its health-promoting qualities are also rather tasty. Read on to learn about the adverse effects of honey consumption, as recommended by specialists.
1. Your blood sugar level could rise.
While Honey may not have the bad rep that other sweeteners do, it has a similar effect on blood sugar levels.
"While their chemical structures differ somewhat, your body treats all types of sugar in essentially the same way. It decomposes and either consumes the energy it produces or stores it as fat, "Vitamix certified and licensed dietitian Leigh-Anne Wooten, RD, explains.
Honey, according to Wooten, can induce a significant blood sugar surge if consumed alone, but that effect can be mitigated by combining Honey with other foods. According to Wooten, in the case of peanut butter and honey sandwich, "Honey's absorption is slowed by the fiber in the whole wheat bread, as well as the protein and fat in the peanut butter. Your blood sugar will rise, but not as quickly or as high as it would if you ate Honey alone."
2. Your intestinal health may improve.
Do you want to increase the health of your gut? Honey could be the most delicious way to reach that goal.
"Honey, especially in its unprocessed form, is a natural antibacterial. This makes it an excellent supplement to the diet of anyone suffering from gastrointestinal problems, food poisoning, or simply wishing to avoid potential gut problems, "Trista Best, RD, a Registered Dietitian with Balance One Supplements, explains it all.
"Honey is particularly effective against three of the most frequent bacterial strains E. coli, Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus," Best writes in a 2011 report published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine.
3. Your cancer risk could decrease.
One of the most unexpected adverse effects of honey consumption? It could be able to prevent you from certain types of cancer. Diana Gariglio-Clelland, RD, a registered dietician at Next Luxury, explains that citing a 2011 review of research published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, "Honey can cause apoptosis, or cell death, in human cancer cells from the breast, colon, and cervical regions. Honey's antioxidant concentration makes it beneficial in the fight against cancer."
4. Your overall inflammation level may drop.
Adding a small amount of Honey to your diet may be the most straightforward approach to lessen inflammation throughout your body. "Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and fatty liver disease are just a few of the disorders that can be caused by chronic inflammation. Honey has natural antioxidants that aid in the fight against inflammation and cell damage in the body, "Gariglio-Clelland adds.
Indigenous Honey produced in New Zealand was found to have "clinically meaningful anti-inflammatory action" in a 2012 study published in Innate Immunity.
5. Your cold symptoms might go away.
Do you want to say goodbye to that pesky cold? Honey is a good option. Honey provides better alleviation for upper respiratory tract infections than standard therapies, according to a meta-analysis published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine in 2020.