The Dangers and Benefits of Raw Honey

Raw honey is much more than just a sweetener: It's also prized for it's antibacterial, antioxidant and other health-supporting properties. But beyond these perks, are there any raw honey dangers to be aware of?

First things first, raw honey is "honey as it exists in the beehive," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In other words, this is honey that hasn't undergone additional processing to extend its shelf life or add sweetness.

But is this raw, unfiltered honey safe? Here, we explain whether you can eat raw honey, plus the risks and benefits of doing so.

Short answer: Yes, it is safe to eat raw honey if you're over the age of 1, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

And not only is raw honey safe to eat, but it's the least-processed version of the sweetener, so it likely also contains the most antioxidants (more on that later).

Unfiltered honey is generally safe and boasts many health-supporting qualities. Here's why raw honey is good for you:

Honey is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial, according to the Cleveland Clinic. That's because most types of honey generate hydrogen peroxide, an antibacterial agent, per a December 2020 review in ‌Food Chemistry.‌

As a result, you can use honey to kill certain bacteria that can lead to infection, according to an April 2021 report in the ‌Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences‌. These bacteria include:

• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Enterobacter erogen
  
• Salmonella zyphimurium
• S. aureus
  

Similarly, the antibacterial benefits of local, raw honey can also support wound healing, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Research shows it can help disinfect a wound, promote tissue repair and reduce scarring, per the ‌Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences.‌

Raw honey is a natural source of antioxidants, which are substances that can protect the body from harmful free radicals and oxidizing agents, according to August 2018 research in ‌Molecules‌.

As a result, the antioxidant-related benefits of eating local honey are linked to reduced risk for problems like:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Immune system decline
• Cataracts
• Inflammation

Ever drink tea with honey when you have a cold? Well, there's evidence to back up this natural cough remedy.

According to the Mayo Clinic, honey can soothe an irritated throat and act as a cough suppressant when you're sick.

Another positive side effect of honey is that it can help ease digestive distress.

According to the Mayo Clinic, honey can help treat diarrhea. It may also support rehydration as you recover.

Honey isn't just good for your body — it may also be good for your brain.

Indeed, there's some evidence to suggest that honey has antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety qualities, according to the Mayo Clinic. It may also help prevent memory disorders, per an April 2017 review in ‌Pharmacognosy Research‌.

Now that you know the benefits of this natural sweetener, are there any dangers of raw honey to consider? While it's generally a safe ingredient, there are a few particular circumstances where raw honey can make you sick. Here's what happens if you eat bad honey:

Raw and heat-treated honey may contain spores of the Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can cause botulism, a rare but serious illness that attacks the nerves, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

These spores are harmless if ingested by most children and adults, but infants' digestive systems are not mature enough to prevent this bacteria from forming toxins. As a result, no honey of any kind should be given to babies under the age of 1 year.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this contaminated honey can make your child sick and cause symptoms like:

• Constipation
• Poor feeding
• Ptosis
• Sluggish pupils
• Flattened facial expression
• Diminished suck and gag reflexes
• Weak and altered cry
• Trouble breathing

Honey is sometimes used to ease digestive issues like diarrhea. But what about the reverse — does honey cause diarrhea?

Honey can give you diarrhea and other symptoms like a stomach ache or gas due to its high fructose content. This can trigger digestive issues for people who are more sensitive to the sugar, like those who have irritable bowel syndrome or fructose malabsorption, according to September 2016 research in ‌Medical Hypotheses‌.

If honey does give you diarrhea, it's best to avoid it.

If you're allergic to bee pollen, it's possible that eating raw honey can trigger symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic.

This allergy is rare, but if you have it, it can cause symptoms like:

• Wheezing and trouble breathing
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Excessive sweating
• Fainting
• Irregular heart rhythms