In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleIs Honey Good For You?Honey NutritionIs Honey Safe for Everyone to Eat?Tips for Enjoying HoneyFAQs
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Is Honey Good For You?
Honey Nutrition
Is Honey Safe for Everyone to Eat?
Tips for Enjoying Honey
FAQs
ClosePhoto:burwellphotography/Getty ImagesHoney has a reputation for being an all-natural sweetener that’s better for you than granulated sugar. But does honey’s health halo really live up to the hype? Like regular sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar or corn syrup, honey is still an added sugar. However, some research shows that moderate honey consumption may have a few health benefits.Read on to learn what the buzz about honey is all about (pun intended!), plus its nutritional value, health benefits and ways to incorporate it into a healthy diet.Grab a mug—let’s spill the tea on honey!Potential Health Benefits of HoneyYou May Reduce Chronic InflammationHoney is rich in antioxidants—compounds that can help neutralize damage to your body’s cells from free radicals. Unchecked, that damage may lead to pesky chronic inflammation that increases the risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. Luckily, honey is rich in polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds that act like antioxidants to tackle inflammation.You May Improve Your Heart HealthConsidering that honey is an added sugar, you might be surprised to learn that it may have some potential heart-health benefits. When it comes to sugar, the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to a maximum of 6% of total daily calories (roughly 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men).But that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them completely. When you do consume added sugars, consider reaching for honey more often. Research has shown that consuming roughly 2 tablespoons of honey per day for 8 weeks may reduce heart disease risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and fasting triglycerides.You May Optimally Fuel Your WorkoutsSimple carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for athletes during intense exercise. With 17 grams of sugar per tablespoon, honey is a delicious way to get them. Compared to other portable carbohydrate sources like sports gels, research shows that honey may be just as effective at supporting performance and warding off fatigue.What’s more, it may also bolster your immune system against the effects of intense exercise.You May Improve Gut HealthThe influence of yourgut healthon your overall health is far-reaching. A thriving gut microbiome contains a diverse array of different strains of bacteria where the good bacteria outweigh the bad ones. Preliminary research suggests that honey’s antibacterial properties may have the potential to encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while simultaneously reducing the number of infection-causing bacteria.Another way to ensure you’re keeping the good gut bacteria around? Provide them with fuel in the form of prebiotics, which are also found in honey.Honey NutritionOne tablespoon of honey (21 g) contains the following nutrients, per the USDA:Calories: 64Carbohydrates: 17 gDietary fiber: 0 gTotal sugar: 17 g (naturally occurring)Protein: 0 gTotal fat: 0 gSaturated fat: 0 gCholesterol: 0 gSodium: 1 mgPotassium:11 mgAs you can see, honey is essentially sugar. Although it contains trace amounts of potassium, it does not provide meaningful amounts of other vitamins or minerals. Beyond the Nutrition Facts panel, honey contains other health-promoting compounds like polyphenols.Is Honey Safe for Everyone to Eat?Honey is generally safe to eat, but there are a couple of potential risks for certain people.Botulism in InfantsThe American Academy of Pediatrics advises that honey (and any processed foods that contain honey) should not be given to infants before their first birthday because of the potential risk for infant botulism.Honey naturally contains dust particles that may carry spores of the bacteriaClostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.Since infants' immune systems are still developing, babies are at higher risk of getting very sick. Infant botulism is rare, but this serious illness can attack your child’s nerves. The primary sign of infant botulism is muscle weakness, which presents as trouble feeding and breathing or a weak cry.AllergiesPeople who are prone to allergies may need to be careful about eating honey because it contains bee pollen that can potentially cause a serious allergic reaction. While some people believe that eating local honey helps alleviate their seasonal allergies, there is not enough evidence to support honey as an allergy remedy.3 Tips for Enjoying HoneyBeyond adding honey to your afternoon cup of tea, here are three tips for enjoying honey on everything from veggies to shrimp.On VeggiesWe all know that eating your vegetables is important for disease prevention. If the flavor of bitter veggies like broccoli or Brussels sprouts gives you the ick, try adding a bit of honey. You may be surprised to find yourself serving up seconds of thisHoney-Mustard Roasted Cabbage.In Salad DressingsAdding sugar to salad dressing helps balance out the acidity of the vinegar and brings together its flavors. Reach for honey to add a bit of sweetness to dressings likeHoney-Garlic Dressing.On Your Favorite ProteinA little bit of honey goes a long way to add subtle sweetness to proteins like chicken and fish. For example, honey is paired with flavorful hoisin sauce for this5-Ingredient Honey-Ginger Chickenrecipe. For vegetarians, honey works well on tempeh, too. Try thisSesame-Honey Tempeh & Quinoa Bowl.Hot honeyis having a viral moment, and we admit that we’re major fans. Its combo of sweet and spicy works especially well on proteins. Try thisHot Honey Roast Chicken & Vegetables,Hot Honey Grilled Shrimpor theseCrispy Hot Honey Salmon Bites.Frequently Asked QuestionsThere’s nothing wrong with consuming a little honey daily. Because honey is actually sweeter than regular sugar, a little goes a long way! While honey won’t add meaningful amounts of vitamins or minerals to your daily intake, it is rich in antioxidants, which may provide potential heart and gut health benefits.Honey is an all-natural sweetener that is rich in antioxidants. Thanks in large part to its antioxidant properties, consuming honey has been associated with reduced inflammation and improved heart and gut health.The Bottom LineThere are lots of good reasons to enjoy honey. It’s sweet and delicious and even contains some antioxidants. However, just like table sugar or corn syrup, it is still sugar. So if you’re a honey lover, keep an eye on serving sizes. Then, go ahead and drizzle a little into your tea, salad dressing or veggies. After all, all things in moderation!Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmitSourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Ranneh Y, Akim AM, Hamid HA, et al.Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):30. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03170-5American Heart Association.Added Sugars.Ahmed A, Tul-Noor Z, Lee D, et al.Effect of honey on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Rev. 2023;81(7):758–774. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac086Hills SP, Mitchell P, Wells C, Russell M.Honey supplementation and exercise: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1586. doi:10.3390/nu11071586Schell KR, Fernandes KE, Shanahan E, et al.The potential of honey as a prebiotic food to re-engineer the gut microbiome toward a healthy state.Front Nutr. 2022;9:957932. Published 2022 Jul 28. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.957932USDA FoodData Central.Honey.American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP News.Remind families: honey can cause infant botulism.Van Horn N, Street M.Infantile Botulism. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL.The potential use of honey as a remedy for allergic diseases: a mini review.Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:599080. Published 2021 Jan 26. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.599080
Close
Photo:burwellphotography/Getty Images
burwellphotography/Getty Images
Honey has a reputation for being an all-natural sweetener that’s better for you than granulated sugar. But does honey’s health halo really live up to the hype? Like regular sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar or corn syrup, honey is still an added sugar. However, some research shows that moderate honey consumption may have a few health benefits.Read on to learn what the buzz about honey is all about (pun intended!), plus its nutritional value, health benefits and ways to incorporate it into a healthy diet.Grab a mug—let’s spill the tea on honey!Potential Health Benefits of HoneyYou May Reduce Chronic InflammationHoney is rich in antioxidants—compounds that can help neutralize damage to your body’s cells from free radicals. Unchecked, that damage may lead to pesky chronic inflammation that increases the risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. Luckily, honey is rich in polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds that act like antioxidants to tackle inflammation.You May Improve Your Heart HealthConsidering that honey is an added sugar, you might be surprised to learn that it may have some potential heart-health benefits. When it comes to sugar, the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to a maximum of 6% of total daily calories (roughly 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men).But that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them completely. When you do consume added sugars, consider reaching for honey more often. Research has shown that consuming roughly 2 tablespoons of honey per day for 8 weeks may reduce heart disease risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and fasting triglycerides.You May Optimally Fuel Your WorkoutsSimple carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for athletes during intense exercise. With 17 grams of sugar per tablespoon, honey is a delicious way to get them. Compared to other portable carbohydrate sources like sports gels, research shows that honey may be just as effective at supporting performance and warding off fatigue.What’s more, it may also bolster your immune system against the effects of intense exercise.You May Improve Gut HealthThe influence of yourgut healthon your overall health is far-reaching. A thriving gut microbiome contains a diverse array of different strains of bacteria where the good bacteria outweigh the bad ones. Preliminary research suggests that honey’s antibacterial properties may have the potential to encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while simultaneously reducing the number of infection-causing bacteria.Another way to ensure you’re keeping the good gut bacteria around? Provide them with fuel in the form of prebiotics, which are also found in honey.Honey NutritionOne tablespoon of honey (21 g) contains the following nutrients, per the USDA:Calories: 64Carbohydrates: 17 gDietary fiber: 0 gTotal sugar: 17 g (naturally occurring)Protein: 0 gTotal fat: 0 gSaturated fat: 0 gCholesterol: 0 gSodium: 1 mgPotassium:11 mgAs you can see, honey is essentially sugar. Although it contains trace amounts of potassium, it does not provide meaningful amounts of other vitamins or minerals. Beyond the Nutrition Facts panel, honey contains other health-promoting compounds like polyphenols.Is Honey Safe for Everyone to Eat?Honey is generally safe to eat, but there are a couple of potential risks for certain people.Botulism in InfantsThe American Academy of Pediatrics advises that honey (and any processed foods that contain honey) should not be given to infants before their first birthday because of the potential risk for infant botulism.Honey naturally contains dust particles that may carry spores of the bacteriaClostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.Since infants' immune systems are still developing, babies are at higher risk of getting very sick. Infant botulism is rare, but this serious illness can attack your child’s nerves. The primary sign of infant botulism is muscle weakness, which presents as trouble feeding and breathing or a weak cry.AllergiesPeople who are prone to allergies may need to be careful about eating honey because it contains bee pollen that can potentially cause a serious allergic reaction. While some people believe that eating local honey helps alleviate their seasonal allergies, there is not enough evidence to support honey as an allergy remedy.3 Tips for Enjoying HoneyBeyond adding honey to your afternoon cup of tea, here are three tips for enjoying honey on everything from veggies to shrimp.On VeggiesWe all know that eating your vegetables is important for disease prevention. If the flavor of bitter veggies like broccoli or Brussels sprouts gives you the ick, try adding a bit of honey. You may be surprised to find yourself serving up seconds of thisHoney-Mustard Roasted Cabbage.In Salad DressingsAdding sugar to salad dressing helps balance out the acidity of the vinegar and brings together its flavors. Reach for honey to add a bit of sweetness to dressings likeHoney-Garlic Dressing.On Your Favorite ProteinA little bit of honey goes a long way to add subtle sweetness to proteins like chicken and fish. For example, honey is paired with flavorful hoisin sauce for this5-Ingredient Honey-Ginger Chickenrecipe. For vegetarians, honey works well on tempeh, too. Try thisSesame-Honey Tempeh & Quinoa Bowl.Hot honeyis having a viral moment, and we admit that we’re major fans. Its combo of sweet and spicy works especially well on proteins. Try thisHot Honey Roast Chicken & Vegetables,Hot Honey Grilled Shrimpor theseCrispy Hot Honey Salmon Bites.Frequently Asked QuestionsThere’s nothing wrong with consuming a little honey daily. Because honey is actually sweeter than regular sugar, a little goes a long way! While honey won’t add meaningful amounts of vitamins or minerals to your daily intake, it is rich in antioxidants, which may provide potential heart and gut health benefits.Honey is an all-natural sweetener that is rich in antioxidants. Thanks in large part to its antioxidant properties, consuming honey has been associated with reduced inflammation and improved heart and gut health.The Bottom LineThere are lots of good reasons to enjoy honey. It’s sweet and delicious and even contains some antioxidants. However, just like table sugar or corn syrup, it is still sugar. So if you’re a honey lover, keep an eye on serving sizes. Then, go ahead and drizzle a little into your tea, salad dressing or veggies. After all, all things in moderation!Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmitSourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Ranneh Y, Akim AM, Hamid HA, et al.Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):30. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03170-5American Heart Association.Added Sugars.Ahmed A, Tul-Noor Z, Lee D, et al.Effect of honey on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Rev. 2023;81(7):758–774. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac086Hills SP, Mitchell P, Wells C, Russell M.Honey supplementation and exercise: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1586. doi:10.3390/nu11071586Schell KR, Fernandes KE, Shanahan E, et al.The potential of honey as a prebiotic food to re-engineer the gut microbiome toward a healthy state.Front Nutr. 2022;9:957932. Published 2022 Jul 28. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.957932USDA FoodData Central.Honey.American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP News.Remind families: honey can cause infant botulism.Van Horn N, Street M.Infantile Botulism. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL.The potential use of honey as a remedy for allergic diseases: a mini review.Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:599080. Published 2021 Jan 26. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.599080
Honey has a reputation for being an all-natural sweetener that’s better for you than granulated sugar. But does honey’s health halo really live up to the hype? Like regular sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar or corn syrup, honey is still an added sugar. However, some research shows that moderate honey consumption may have a few health benefits.Read on to learn what the buzz about honey is all about (pun intended!), plus its nutritional value, health benefits and ways to incorporate it into a healthy diet.Grab a mug—let’s spill the tea on honey!Potential Health Benefits of HoneyYou May Reduce Chronic InflammationHoney is rich in antioxidants—compounds that can help neutralize damage to your body’s cells from free radicals. Unchecked, that damage may lead to pesky chronic inflammation that increases the risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. Luckily, honey is rich in polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds that act like antioxidants to tackle inflammation.You May Improve Your Heart HealthConsidering that honey is an added sugar, you might be surprised to learn that it may have some potential heart-health benefits. When it comes to sugar, the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to a maximum of 6% of total daily calories (roughly 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men).But that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them completely. When you do consume added sugars, consider reaching for honey more often. Research has shown that consuming roughly 2 tablespoons of honey per day for 8 weeks may reduce heart disease risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and fasting triglycerides.You May Optimally Fuel Your WorkoutsSimple carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for athletes during intense exercise. With 17 grams of sugar per tablespoon, honey is a delicious way to get them. Compared to other portable carbohydrate sources like sports gels, research shows that honey may be just as effective at supporting performance and warding off fatigue.What’s more, it may also bolster your immune system against the effects of intense exercise.You May Improve Gut HealthThe influence of yourgut healthon your overall health is far-reaching. A thriving gut microbiome contains a diverse array of different strains of bacteria where the good bacteria outweigh the bad ones. Preliminary research suggests that honey’s antibacterial properties may have the potential to encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while simultaneously reducing the number of infection-causing bacteria.Another way to ensure you’re keeping the good gut bacteria around? Provide them with fuel in the form of prebiotics, which are also found in honey.Honey NutritionOne tablespoon of honey (21 g) contains the following nutrients, per the USDA:Calories: 64Carbohydrates: 17 gDietary fiber: 0 gTotal sugar: 17 g (naturally occurring)Protein: 0 gTotal fat: 0 gSaturated fat: 0 gCholesterol: 0 gSodium: 1 mgPotassium:11 mgAs you can see, honey is essentially sugar. Although it contains trace amounts of potassium, it does not provide meaningful amounts of other vitamins or minerals. Beyond the Nutrition Facts panel, honey contains other health-promoting compounds like polyphenols.Is Honey Safe for Everyone to Eat?Honey is generally safe to eat, but there are a couple of potential risks for certain people.Botulism in InfantsThe American Academy of Pediatrics advises that honey (and any processed foods that contain honey) should not be given to infants before their first birthday because of the potential risk for infant botulism.Honey naturally contains dust particles that may carry spores of the bacteriaClostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.Since infants' immune systems are still developing, babies are at higher risk of getting very sick. Infant botulism is rare, but this serious illness can attack your child’s nerves. The primary sign of infant botulism is muscle weakness, which presents as trouble feeding and breathing or a weak cry.AllergiesPeople who are prone to allergies may need to be careful about eating honey because it contains bee pollen that can potentially cause a serious allergic reaction. While some people believe that eating local honey helps alleviate their seasonal allergies, there is not enough evidence to support honey as an allergy remedy.3 Tips for Enjoying HoneyBeyond adding honey to your afternoon cup of tea, here are three tips for enjoying honey on everything from veggies to shrimp.On VeggiesWe all know that eating your vegetables is important for disease prevention. If the flavor of bitter veggies like broccoli or Brussels sprouts gives you the ick, try adding a bit of honey. You may be surprised to find yourself serving up seconds of thisHoney-Mustard Roasted Cabbage.In Salad DressingsAdding sugar to salad dressing helps balance out the acidity of the vinegar and brings together its flavors. Reach for honey to add a bit of sweetness to dressings likeHoney-Garlic Dressing.On Your Favorite ProteinA little bit of honey goes a long way to add subtle sweetness to proteins like chicken and fish. For example, honey is paired with flavorful hoisin sauce for this5-Ingredient Honey-Ginger Chickenrecipe. For vegetarians, honey works well on tempeh, too. Try thisSesame-Honey Tempeh & Quinoa Bowl.Hot honeyis having a viral moment, and we admit that we’re major fans. Its combo of sweet and spicy works especially well on proteins. Try thisHot Honey Roast Chicken & Vegetables,Hot Honey Grilled Shrimpor theseCrispy Hot Honey Salmon Bites.Frequently Asked QuestionsThere’s nothing wrong with consuming a little honey daily. Because honey is actually sweeter than regular sugar, a little goes a long way! While honey won’t add meaningful amounts of vitamins or minerals to your daily intake, it is rich in antioxidants, which may provide potential heart and gut health benefits.Honey is an all-natural sweetener that is rich in antioxidants. Thanks in large part to its antioxidant properties, consuming honey has been associated with reduced inflammation and improved heart and gut health.The Bottom LineThere are lots of good reasons to enjoy honey. It’s sweet and delicious and even contains some antioxidants. However, just like table sugar or corn syrup, it is still sugar. So if you’re a honey lover, keep an eye on serving sizes. Then, go ahead and drizzle a little into your tea, salad dressing or veggies. After all, all things in moderation!
Honey has a reputation for being an all-natural sweetener that’s better for you than granulated sugar. But does honey’s health halo really live up to the hype? Like regular sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar or corn syrup, honey is still an added sugar. However, some research shows that moderate honey consumption may have a few health benefits.
Read on to learn what the buzz about honey is all about (pun intended!), plus its nutritional value, health benefits and ways to incorporate it into a healthy diet.
Grab a mug—let’s spill the tea on honey!
Potential Health Benefits of Honey
You May Reduce Chronic Inflammation
Honey is rich in antioxidants—compounds that can help neutralize damage to your body’s cells from free radicals. Unchecked, that damage may lead to pesky chronic inflammation that increases the risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. Luckily, honey is rich in polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds that act like antioxidants to tackle inflammation.
You May Improve Your Heart Health
Considering that honey is an added sugar, you might be surprised to learn that it may have some potential heart-health benefits. When it comes to sugar, the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to a maximum of 6% of total daily calories (roughly 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men).But that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them completely. When you do consume added sugars, consider reaching for honey more often. Research has shown that consuming roughly 2 tablespoons of honey per day for 8 weeks may reduce heart disease risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and fasting triglycerides.
You May Optimally Fuel Your Workouts
Simple carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for athletes during intense exercise. With 17 grams of sugar per tablespoon, honey is a delicious way to get them. Compared to other portable carbohydrate sources like sports gels, research shows that honey may be just as effective at supporting performance and warding off fatigue.What’s more, it may also bolster your immune system against the effects of intense exercise.
You May Improve Gut Health
The influence of yourgut healthon your overall health is far-reaching. A thriving gut microbiome contains a diverse array of different strains of bacteria where the good bacteria outweigh the bad ones. Preliminary research suggests that honey’s antibacterial properties may have the potential to encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while simultaneously reducing the number of infection-causing bacteria.
Another way to ensure you’re keeping the good gut bacteria around? Provide them with fuel in the form of prebiotics, which are also found in honey.
One tablespoon of honey (21 g) contains the following nutrients, per the USDA:
As you can see, honey is essentially sugar. Although it contains trace amounts of potassium, it does not provide meaningful amounts of other vitamins or minerals. Beyond the Nutrition Facts panel, honey contains other health-promoting compounds like polyphenols.
Honey is generally safe to eat, but there are a couple of potential risks for certain people.
Botulism in Infants
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that honey (and any processed foods that contain honey) should not be given to infants before their first birthday because of the potential risk for infant botulism.Honey naturally contains dust particles that may carry spores of the bacteriaClostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.Since infants' immune systems are still developing, babies are at higher risk of getting very sick. Infant botulism is rare, but this serious illness can attack your child’s nerves. The primary sign of infant botulism is muscle weakness, which presents as trouble feeding and breathing or a weak cry.
Allergies
People who are prone to allergies may need to be careful about eating honey because it contains bee pollen that can potentially cause a serious allergic reaction. While some people believe that eating local honey helps alleviate their seasonal allergies, there is not enough evidence to support honey as an allergy remedy.
3 Tips for Enjoying Honey
Beyond adding honey to your afternoon cup of tea, here are three tips for enjoying honey on everything from veggies to shrimp.
On Veggies
We all know that eating your vegetables is important for disease prevention. If the flavor of bitter veggies like broccoli or Brussels sprouts gives you the ick, try adding a bit of honey. You may be surprised to find yourself serving up seconds of thisHoney-Mustard Roasted Cabbage.
In Salad Dressings
Adding sugar to salad dressing helps balance out the acidity of the vinegar and brings together its flavors. Reach for honey to add a bit of sweetness to dressings likeHoney-Garlic Dressing.
On Your Favorite Protein
A little bit of honey goes a long way to add subtle sweetness to proteins like chicken and fish. For example, honey is paired with flavorful hoisin sauce for this5-Ingredient Honey-Ginger Chickenrecipe. For vegetarians, honey works well on tempeh, too. Try thisSesame-Honey Tempeh & Quinoa Bowl.
Hot honeyis having a viral moment, and we admit that we’re major fans. Its combo of sweet and spicy works especially well on proteins. Try thisHot Honey Roast Chicken & Vegetables,Hot Honey Grilled Shrimpor theseCrispy Hot Honey Salmon Bites.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere’s nothing wrong with consuming a little honey daily. Because honey is actually sweeter than regular sugar, a little goes a long way! While honey won’t add meaningful amounts of vitamins or minerals to your daily intake, it is rich in antioxidants, which may provide potential heart and gut health benefits.Honey is an all-natural sweetener that is rich in antioxidants. Thanks in large part to its antioxidant properties, consuming honey has been associated with reduced inflammation and improved heart and gut health.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s nothing wrong with consuming a little honey daily. Because honey is actually sweeter than regular sugar, a little goes a long way! While honey won’t add meaningful amounts of vitamins or minerals to your daily intake, it is rich in antioxidants, which may provide potential heart and gut health benefits.
Honey is an all-natural sweetener that is rich in antioxidants. Thanks in large part to its antioxidant properties, consuming honey has been associated with reduced inflammation and improved heart and gut health.
The Bottom Line
There are lots of good reasons to enjoy honey. It’s sweet and delicious and even contains some antioxidants. However, just like table sugar or corn syrup, it is still sugar. So if you’re a honey lover, keep an eye on serving sizes. Then, go ahead and drizzle a little into your tea, salad dressing or veggies. After all, all things in moderation!
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Ranneh Y, Akim AM, Hamid HA, et al.Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):30. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03170-5American Heart Association.Added Sugars.Ahmed A, Tul-Noor Z, Lee D, et al.Effect of honey on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Rev. 2023;81(7):758–774. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac086Hills SP, Mitchell P, Wells C, Russell M.Honey supplementation and exercise: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1586. doi:10.3390/nu11071586Schell KR, Fernandes KE, Shanahan E, et al.The potential of honey as a prebiotic food to re-engineer the gut microbiome toward a healthy state.Front Nutr. 2022;9:957932. Published 2022 Jul 28. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.957932USDA FoodData Central.Honey.American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP News.Remind families: honey can cause infant botulism.Van Horn N, Street M.Infantile Botulism. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL.The potential use of honey as a remedy for allergic diseases: a mini review.Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:599080. Published 2021 Jan 26. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.599080
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Ranneh Y, Akim AM, Hamid HA, et al.Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):30. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03170-5American Heart Association.Added Sugars.Ahmed A, Tul-Noor Z, Lee D, et al.Effect of honey on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Rev. 2023;81(7):758–774. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac086Hills SP, Mitchell P, Wells C, Russell M.Honey supplementation and exercise: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1586. doi:10.3390/nu11071586Schell KR, Fernandes KE, Shanahan E, et al.The potential of honey as a prebiotic food to re-engineer the gut microbiome toward a healthy state.Front Nutr. 2022;9:957932. Published 2022 Jul 28. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.957932USDA FoodData Central.Honey.American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP News.Remind families: honey can cause infant botulism.Van Horn N, Street M.Infantile Botulism. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL.The potential use of honey as a remedy for allergic diseases: a mini review.Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:599080. Published 2021 Jan 26. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.599080
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Ranneh Y, Akim AM, Hamid HA, et al.Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):30. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03170-5American Heart Association.Added Sugars.Ahmed A, Tul-Noor Z, Lee D, et al.Effect of honey on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Rev. 2023;81(7):758–774. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac086Hills SP, Mitchell P, Wells C, Russell M.Honey supplementation and exercise: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1586. doi:10.3390/nu11071586Schell KR, Fernandes KE, Shanahan E, et al.The potential of honey as a prebiotic food to re-engineer the gut microbiome toward a healthy state.Front Nutr. 2022;9:957932. Published 2022 Jul 28. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.957932USDA FoodData Central.Honey.American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP News.Remind families: honey can cause infant botulism.Van Horn N, Street M.Infantile Botulism. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL.The potential use of honey as a remedy for allergic diseases: a mini review.Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:599080. Published 2021 Jan 26. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.599080
Ranneh Y, Akim AM, Hamid HA, et al.Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):30. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03170-5
American Heart Association.Added Sugars.
Ahmed A, Tul-Noor Z, Lee D, et al.Effect of honey on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Rev. 2023;81(7):758–774. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac086
Hills SP, Mitchell P, Wells C, Russell M.Honey supplementation and exercise: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1586. doi:10.3390/nu11071586
Schell KR, Fernandes KE, Shanahan E, et al.The potential of honey as a prebiotic food to re-engineer the gut microbiome toward a healthy state.Front Nutr. 2022;9:957932. Published 2022 Jul 28. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.957932
USDA FoodData Central.Honey.
American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP News.Remind families: honey can cause infant botulism.
Van Horn N, Street M.Infantile Botulism. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL.The potential use of honey as a remedy for allergic diseases: a mini review.Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:599080. Published 2021 Jan 26. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.599080
