Home
>
Nutrition
>
The Dangers of Honey

The Dangers of Honey

Before we get to honey we have a question from one of our readers.

Pam asks:

What is your opinion of Splenda?

Answer:

Splenda is made by chlorinating sugar (sucrose). Three of the hydroxyl groups on the sucrose molecule are replaced by chlorine. DDT, an extremely toxic pesticide, is another compound made by chlorinating positions on a hydrocarbon ring structure. The data so far would indicate that Splenda (Sucralose) is not as dangerous as Aspartame but the following have been observed in laboratory animals.

Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)

Enlarged liver and kidneys.

Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus

Increased cecal weight

Reduced growth rate

Decreased red blood cell count

Hyperplasia of the pelvis

Extension of the pregnancy period

Aborted pregnancy

Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights

Diarrhea

**********************

A list of products where it is found:

Baked goods and baking mixes

Chewing gum

Confections and frostings

Fats and oils (salad dressings)

Fruit and water ices

Jams and jellies

Processed fruits and fruit juices

Sweet sauces, toppings and syrups

Beverages and beverage bases

Coffee and tea

Dairy product analogs

Frozen dairy desserts and mixes

Gelatins, puddings and fillings

Milk products

Sugar substitutes

**********************

My Opinion: I would not use it.

**********************

Honey and Meli Maenomenon.

Pediatric Warning: Honey and Children Under Two

Children under the age of one (to be really safe probably two years old) should not ingest honey. Honey contains clostridium botulinum spores. In the human with a mature immune system, the spores will not germinate in the gastrointestinal tract. However, in the immature immune system of the infant, the spores can germinate and cause botulism, a descending flaccid paralysis caused by the neurotoxin of clostridia botulinum. It also does not matter if the honey is pasteurized, since the typical pasteurization temperature is not high to kill the spores.

Composition of Honey

Honey is a highly processed (by bees in this case) substance that is usually around 40% by weight fructose. The typical composition in 100 grams of honey is:

Water 17.1 g (12.2-22.9 g)

Monosaccharides:

Fructose 38.5 g (25.2-44.4 g)

Glucose 31.0 g (24.6-36.9 g)

Disaccharides:

Maltose 7.20 g (1.70-11.8 g)

Sucrose 1.50 g (0.50-2.90 g)

Back to our familiar "fructose short-circuits glycolysis."

Once again we visit the near equal amounts of fructose and glucose entering the bloodstream at the same time. Also, each gram of maltose will yield two molecules of glucose for each molecule of maltose. Each gram of sucrose will yield one molecule of fructose and one molecule of glucose for each molecule of sucrose. As mentioned previously, (now almost ad nauseum) the fructose enters the metabolic pathway for glucose below where glucose enters. This short circuits the glycolytic path for glucose and temporarily blocks the metabolism of the glucose. Excess insulin is secreted and in about two hours when both sugars are metabolized, there will be too much insulin in the bloodstream and voila ... hypoglycemia. Or, if you in the middle of the Ironman or a training run or ride -the Bonk! I hate this bicycle and why am I doing this stupid triathlon?

Honey may be naturally processed by bees but it is still a large dose of fructose and glucose.

Even though honey is a more natural substance, it really is no safer than sucrose. All the problems associated with sucrose are also associated with honey. Lowered immune system function that can lead to cancer. Damage to the vascular system leading to heart disease and adult onset diabetes mellitus with gangrenous toes and all -are at the end of the sugar freeway. There is also some discussion about additional nutrients found in honey. However, the amounts are miniscule and really not worth the health risk of large doses of simple sugars. I think one of the best quotes I have found regarding this is:

"Added sugar contributes nothing but calories and is known as a dead food. All you have to do to improve your nutrition is consume products without any added sugar. Anyone interested in improving their nutrition and personal health should avoid added sugar in their diet."

This is from the following website:

http://naturalhealthperspective.com/food/sugar.html

**********************

< p>Shameless Plug

The MericleDiet is one of the few diets that really makes it as easy as it can be to get off of "added sugars."

http://www.DrMericle.com

**********************

Meli Maenomenom and Some Ancient History

The nature of honey depends on from which flowers the honey bees get their nectar. Clover honey is very popular and does not constitute a significant toxic health threat on an acute basis. However, honey gathered from Rhododendron in the Black Sea area is very toxic. Xenophon, the author of The Anabasis, who was also a very brilliant military leader and a follower of Socrates, found out the hard way. In 401 B.C., following a less than optimal campaign in Persia, he elected to lead 10,000 Greek soldiers through the mountains of Kurdistan, Georgia and finally Armenia. They noticed a large number of bee hives when they made camp in Colchis. They raided the hives and devoured the honey. Soon they were all acting like intoxicated madmen, had fits of vomiting and collapsed by the thousands.

Toxic Honey -A Weapon

Pompey, a few years later, in 67 B.C. did not fare as well. While campaigning against Mithridates king of Pontus, he camped in the same area. Some allies of Mithridates (the Heptakometes) had placed toxic honeycombs all along the way. Pompey's army feasted on the honeycombs and soon they were easily slaughtered. Similar tactics were used against Russian foes of Olga of Kieve in 946 A.D. and Tartar soldiers were massacred by the Russians in 1489 after ingesting toxic honey in the same area.

Meli Maenomenon (Mad Honey)

This honey soon became known as mad honey. While there has been some debate on this subject it apparently is significant enough, even here in the US, that poison control data bases all make mention of toxic honey poisoning. Early symptoms include tingling, numbness, dizziness, impaired speech, and even hallucinations. Larger amounts of ingested "meli maenomenon" result in vertigo, delirium, nausea and vomiting, impaired breathing, bradycardia, hypotension, cyanosis, muscle paralysis and unconsciousness. Extreme ingestions can cause ventricular tachycardia and other serious cardiac arrhythmias.

Differential Diagnosis:

Acute Myocardial Infarction vs Toxic Honey Ingestion

In most emergency rooms in northern California, one of the differential considerations for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) is mad (toxic) honey ingestion.

Today's Health Tip:

Honey is really no safer than sucrose. I would try to limit the ingestion of honey just as you would any other simple sugar.

Reference:

Stryer Biochemistry Fourth Edition

Dan McFeeley (The Ancient History) His only address is: www.keynet.net This however, at least for me, was a broken link.

Thanks for your attention.

http://drmericle.com is devoted to achieving optimal health and peak performance through diet and lifestyle change. Dr. Mericle brings together a unique blend of formal training in organic chemistry and biochemistry, medical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii Ironman competitions and a lot of practical real life experience.

no-contract cleaning service Glenview ..

In The News:

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

The Dangers of Honey

Nutrition