Honey

🍯 What Is Honey?
Honey is a natural sweetener produced by bees from flower nectar. It contains simple sugars such as fructose and glucose, along with trace vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is commonly used in teas, baked goods, sauces, dressings, and various natural remedies.

🤔 Why Might a Sensitivity to Honey Occur?
A sensitivity to honey may occur for several possible reasons:

• Fructose Content: Honey is naturally high in fructose, which may be harder for some individuals to process.

• Pollen Residues: Honey may contain trace pollen or plant compounds that certain individuals may respond to more noticeably.

• Fermentable Sugars (FODMAPs): Honey contains fermentable carbohydrates that may contribute to digestive discomfort in sensitive individuals.

• Additives or Contaminants: Some commercially produced honey may include added ingredients or environmental residues that could be difficult for sensitive systems to tolerate.

🛠️ What Can I Do About It?

• Avoid honey for 8 weeks to observe whether symptoms lessen.

• Check ingredient labels carefully, as honey may appear in sauces, marinades, cereals, bars, teas, snacks, and dressings.

• After 8 weeks, reintroduce honey slowly and observe your response before retesting.

💊 Supportive General Supplements

• Digestive Enzymes: May help support the breakdown of sugars like fructose and glucose.

• Probiotics: May encourage a balanced gut environment and support overall digestion.

• Activated Charcoal: May help reduce gas-related discomfort associated with fermentable components.

• L-Glutamine: May support the gut lining and help maintain digestive comfort.

🌟 Why Might a Sensitivity to Honey Occur but Not to Other Sugars?

• Fructose Levels: Honey contains a higher proportion of fructose than sugars such as white or brown sugar, which are primarily sucrose.

• Pollen and Plant Compounds: Honey includes natural plant residues that are not present in refined sugars.

• FODMAP Content: Honey contains fermentable carbohydrates that may trigger symptoms more than refined sugars.

• Processing Differences: Highly refined sugars lack the natural compounds present in honey, which may explain differing responses.

🍽️ Popular Dishes and Alternatives

Common Foods Containing Honey

• Honey-glazed vegetables or meats

• Teas or drinks sweetened with honey

• Honey-based dressings or sauces

• Baked goods or granolas sweetened with honey

Alternatives (if tolerated)

• Maple syrup

• Coconut sugar

• Agave syrup