Honey is sometimes referred to as a sweetening agent that is highly beneficial as compared to other products of the same nature. This sugary substance produced by honeybees has been available for human consumption for centuries, and thus there are many studies that could easily and effortlessly back up its claim of being good for your health. However, honey, just like any other food item, can be harmful to your health if not consumed in a limited and organized manner. Also, the purity of honey being consumed is also of great importance.
Knowing the best honey for your consumption is critical. Sometimes inferior products or even adulterated ones can create some sort of a mixed-opinion among people who are trying to include it into their diet. Hence, we are here to provide you with a list of these ‘so-called’ harmful effects of honey so that you can include it into your diet in a manageable quantity.
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Table of Contents
Side-Effects Of Honey
Just like in the case of any other food item, honey must be incorporated into one’s diet in a balanced quantity. Not doing so might just make things worse.
There are few adverse-effects of heavy honey consumption that you must take care of. Here we listed negative effects of honey.
1. Infant Botulism
It is highly advised for you to avoid adding honey into your infant’s diet (especially if she is less than a year old). Honey is known to contain botulism spores, which can be responsible for secreting toxins that the infant’s system is too weak to protect itself against. These toxins, upon their release, can cause other complications such as diarrhea, floppiness, weak cries, and in some extreme cases, a respiratory failure.
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However, most of the cases of botulism in infants are not that harmful, but infants must be prevented from consuming honey or other food items without the express advice of a qualified pediatrician.
2. Honey Promotes Tooth Decay
Just like other sugary substances, honey too can stick to your gums and this might promote and speed up tooth decay if not rinsed properly. In fact, the presence of natural sugar in honey can have a similar cavity producing results like refined sugar.
The reason behind this fact is simple, the sugar content of honey acts as a food for the oral bacteria, thus allowing them to grow and deteriorate your oral health. Good oral health is key to keep cavities at bay.
3. It Can Make You Gain Weight
Honey, albeit healthier than sugar, is a sweetener nonetheless. A single tablespoon of honey is said to contain about 64 calories. And if it does not seem enough, heavy consumption of this sweetening agent can stack up the number of calories in your system, making you gain weight.
Honey is also considered to be an added sugar, which means that it is added to other food items during their processing, thus you should take note of what it is that you are eating, and if honey is added to that food item, you must limit its consumption.
4. Increases Blood Glucose Level
This is by far one of the most obvious side-effects that heavy consumption of honey can be associated with. When consumed in low quantity, honey can have anti-diabetic effects, however, it is its unregulated consumption the one should take note of.
The high sugar content in honey can instead increase the amount of glucose consumption, most of which might not get broken down by insulin (a hormone secreted by the pancreas that breaks down sugar molecules), thus causing a sudden spike in your blood sugar level.
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5. Could Act As An Allergen
In some cases, people who are allergic to pollen can also turn out to be allergic to honey. Some of the symptoms of honey allergy include facial swelling, nausea, vomiting, and shock.
Although honey allergies are rare, it would be safer for you, especially if you are suffering from pollen allergy, to consult with a doctor before adding honey to your diet. This type of allergy is caused by propolis, a specific substance that is a contact allergen and is used by the bees to build their beehives.
6. Could Be A Reason For Food Poisoning
Honey is the most unusual additive that you can hope for. It is sugary in taste and content, yet its controlled consumption helps in the lowering of one’s blood glucose level. It has an anti-microbial effect on one’s system, yet it contains microorganisms such as yeast, and spore-forming bacteria, both of which can survive in honey for a longer time.
And though honey’s anti-microbial property balances out the presence of such microbes in a spoonful, there is still a slight possibility that it can get contaminated by external factors such as wind and dust, which might further have negative effects on your digestive system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we have answered few FAQs about honey consumption.
1. How much honey a day is bad?
Overconsumption of anything is bad. The ideal consumption of honey should be about 50 ml. Do consult a doctor if you are suffering from any health ailments.
2. Is it bad to eat honey every day?
Adequate consumption of honey is beneficial. It is a great source of phenol, nutrient, and antioxidants.
3. What happens if you eat honey every night?
Honey eaten before bed helps to fuel the brain throughout the night. Also, it is effective in curing insomnia.
4. When is the best time to take honey?
Honey is best to be consumed in the morning with warm water. This keeps you energized, alkalized, and hydrated. Also, honey on empty stomach aids in weight loss.
5. Is honey good for your tummy?
Consuming honey on empty stomach helps to soothe stomach pain. In addition, it helps in treating digestive issues and keeps the digestive system healthy.
Final Words
Now that we have covered the adverse effects that an overdose of honey can cause on your system, it is also important for you to note exactly how much of it is suitable for a healthy diet. If honey is not the only source for sugar in your diet, then make sure that you consume no more than 2 tablespoons of it. Honey can also be a great source of carbohydrates, thus making it a great addition to your pre-workout meal.
Have you ever faced any negative effects of honey, let us know in the comment section?