Honey should not be used by children under 1 year of age, by people with diabetes or allergies to honey, or in cases of intolerance to fructose, a type of sugar that is quite present in honey.
Furthermore, people who follow a vegan diet should also not use honey, as it is a product of animal origin, produced by bees.
Honey is a natural food widely used to sweeten juices, smoothies and desserts, and to make syrups and home remedies against flu, colds and infections, due to its antiseptic and antioxidant properties. However, see below when the use of honey is contraindicated.
1. Children under 1 year old
Children under 1 year of age should not consume honey because it may contain the bacteria’s spores. Clostridium botulinumwhich can develop in the baby’s intestine and cause botulism, a serious illness that can lead to death.
As the baby’s intestine is not yet fully mature by 12 months, this bacteria multiplies more easily and can cause serious symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, loss of facial expressions, irritability and constipation. See more about botulism in babies.
2. Diabetes
People with diabetes should avoid honey because it contains simple sugars, which increase blood glucose. Although honey has a lower glycemic index than sugar, it can still lead to changes in blood sugar levels and impair disease control.
Before using honey or any other type of sugar in the diet, diabetics must have their disease well under control and receive guidance from their doctor or nutritionist about the safety of using honey, which should always be consumed only in small quantities. See what a diabetes diet should be like.
3. Honey allergy
Honey allergy mainly occurs in people who suffer from allergies to bee stings or pollen. It is characterized by a strong reaction of the immune system against honey, causing symptoms such as redness of the skin, itching of the body and throat, swollen lips and watery eyes.
In these cases, the only way to avoid allergies is not to consume honey, and also to avoid products or preparations that contain honey. Therefore, it is important to always read the ingredients on the food label to identify whether or not honey was used in the preparation of that product.
4. Fructose intolerance
Fructose intolerance occurs when the intestine cannot digest fructose, a type of sugar that is present in honey and foods such as fruits, vegetables and processed products that contain additives such as fructose syrup.
Therefore, in the presence of this intolerance, the individual must exclude honey and other products with fructose from their diet. See more in What to eat with fructose intolerance.
