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I know few people who don't like honey. This delicious food is extracted from the nectar of flowers and then carefully prepared by our friends the bees in their hives.
Le honey comes from the dawn of time, humans have always benefited from its benefits, as food of course, but also for their health. Many civilizations used honey to treat a large number of illnesses, ranging from minor ailments to its antioxidant properties, in fact, honey has a multitude of healing properties.
Honey seems like the perfect natural food, but what are the contraindications to using and consuming honey?
Eating too much honey: botulism in children
This is the most important contraindication to honey. It concerns the intake of honey in very young children (up to one year old).
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Honey can be loaded with particularly tough germs, better known as Clostridium botulinum, which comes from pollen, is carried by bees and can trigger a childhood illness (infant botulism), which fortunately is quite rare.
Very young children are particularly susceptible, because their intestinal flora is not yet able to defend itself against microbial attacks of this type.
Health organizations are all in agreement and advise against giving honey to very young children.
Eating too much honey: beware of diabetes
The benefits of honey are recognized and proven, however, fructose and glucose, the two main components of honey, have negative consequences on the health of diabetics.
People suffering from type 1 or 2 diabetes can consume honey, but in very small quantities; the doses absorbed must be recorded for the correct management of their food quotas.
Overconsumption of honey: beware of allergies
Anyone who has allergies to pollen or even bees can experience allergic problems when consuming pure honey.
This can be a real dilemma for those who love honey, as it will be necessary to cut the honey with other products.
Honey allergies are diverse and varied, ranging from generalized hives, swelling of the mucous membranes and in the oral cavity, severe sore throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, asthma, etc.
Eating too much honey can make you gain weight
Honey is a non-fattening food; one tablespoon of honey contains about 22 calories. Weight gain from consuming honey is most often associated with very poor eating habits.
Honey is completely natural, and chemical-free, however, it is a sugar, and we all know that sugar consumption must be controlled, otherwise watch out for calories.
Finally, it is impossible to point the finger at honey if an excess of kilos is observed, the overall caloric intake must be taken into account and if you exceed your daily needs, you will inexorably gain weight.
Eating too much honey: The risk of poisoning
Honey can contain neurotoxins called grayanotoxins. These are naturally present in honey, but their effects are not always noticeable in the body, because processing honey with other products reduces the toxic properties.
It is polyfloral honeys that are being singled out, as bees forage for several plant species; this type of honey is more likely to contain the neurotoxin in its composition.
It should also be noted that consuming raw honey significantly increases the risk of poisoning in people with weaker immune systems.
The symptoms and health risks are not to be taken lightly: nausea, vomiting, a significant drop in blood pressure, and even anaphylactic shock which can lead to death.
The dangers of so-called aphrodisiac honeys
For some time now, a new honey has appeared, yes, aphrodisiac honey, whose benefits for erections are said to be fantastic.
Unfortunately, this new type of product doesn't seem to comply with consumer regulations; many substances, such as sildenafil and tadalafil, two well-known components of Viagra, are not listed on the labels. In short, this creation is not at all natural and resembles a marketing ploy.
The two substances mentioned above are only available on prescription and cause major health problems:
- Recurrence of seizures
- Occurrence of cerebral edema
- Pulmonary hemorrhages
- Serious kidney failure
It is strongly recommended to consult a health professional before consuming this type of honey which is far from natural and healthy.
Conclusion
Honey is an ally for our health, our body, our nutrition, and even our beauty (skin, hair), it is an exceptional natural product with multiple benefits.
However, there are contraindications and side effects that require our full attention, even more so in the era of globalization, because counterfeit products are numerous in the market, and it is not always easy to know the exact composition of these honeys that come from far away and are far from natural.
