Honey

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Helps prevents weight gain when used as sugar alternative

In 2008 the Journal of Food Science published an animal study which showed that rats fed a diet supplemented with honey gained significantly less body fat and weight and had reduced HbA1C levels as well as increased HDL (good) cholesterol compared to rats fed a diet supplemented with sucrose (table sugar). [Source]

In 2006 BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine published an animal study which found that substituting sugar with honey can improve gut bacteria and prevent harmful effects of mycotoxins (a fungal toxin present on common foods). [Source]

In 2009 Physiology and Behavior published an animal study which showed that rats fed a honey supplemented diet over a 1-year period showed significantly less anxiety and had improved spatial memory when compared to rats fed a sugar (sucrose) supplemented diet. [Source]

In 2013 the Journal of Ayub Medical College published a study in which 35 healthy college students who received 70 grams of honey per day had significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides along with increased HDL cholesterol and limited increases in blood sugar compared to a control group (same diet without honey) of 35 students. [Source]
In 2002 The Journal of Nutrition published an animal study which found that, compared to refined carbohydrates or fructose, honey-fed rats had higher levels of antioxidants. Additionally honey-fed rats did not have increased triglyceride levels as was shown in fructose-fed rats. [Source]
In 2011 the Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences published an animal study which showed that rats fed unrefined honey along with their normal feed had improved lipid profiles and reduced cardiovascular risk compared to a control group. [Source]

In 2008 The Scientific World Journal published a study in which 55 overweight or obese subjects received either 70 grams of honey or sucrose for 30 days. The results showed that the honey group had a reduction in cardiovascular risk factors including reduced bodyweight, bodyfat, triglycerides, LCL cholesterol, C-reactive protein (inflammatory marker) and increased HDL cholesterol. [Source]

In 2009 the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition published an 8-week study involving 48 diabetic patients which found that, compared to a control group, those who received honey had reductions in body weight, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and increases in HDL cholesterol. There was also an increase seen in hemoglobin A1C levels (blood sugar marker), promoting researchers to promote cautious consumption of honey for diabetics. [Source]
In 2004 the Journal of Medicinal Food published a study which showed that, compared to sugar, honey lowered C-reactive protein (inflammatory marker), homocysteine (cardiovascular risk factor) and blood lipids in healthy subjects as well as subjects with elevated lipid levels and subjects with diabetes. [Source]

In 2016 the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research published a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 107 AML patients who underwent chemotherapy, which found that a combination of 50 grams of honey and 150 grams of tahini consumed 3 timer per day reduced white blood cell count, fever duration and gastrointestinal complications compared to a control group. [Source]

In 2014 The Saudi Dental Journal published a study of 20 orthodontic patients which found that honey inhibited growth of oral bacteria. The authors concluded that honey can be used as an alternative to traditional treatments for the prevention of gingivitis and cavities after orthodontic treatment. [Source]

In 2013 Annals of Saudi Medicine published a placebo-controlled study in which 40 patients suffering from allergic rhinitis received 4 weeks of treatment including a daily dose of 10 mg loratadine in addition to either a daily dose of honey or honey-flavored syrup (placebo). After the 4 weeks of treatment both groups showed improvement, but after 8 weeks (4 weeks after all treatment cessation) only the honey group showed continued improvement in symptoms. [Source]

In 2007 Archive of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published a study in which 105 children aged 2-18 years with upper respiratory tract infections were treated with either a single dose of buckwheat honey, honey-flavored dextromethorphan (cough syrup) or no treatment. Based on survey results by parents, honey was rated most favorably for relieving nighttime cough and trouble sleeping. [Source]
In 2012 Pediatrics published a double-blind study in which 300 children 1 to 5 years of age with upper respiratory tract infections received 10 grams of either eucalyptus honey, citrus honey, labiatae honey or a placebo 30 minutes before bedtime. Parents rated all of the honey products higher than the placebo for relieving night-time cough and sleep difficulty. [Source]

In 2015 Molecular and Clinical Oncology published a study in which breast cancer patients experiencing menopausal symptoms were treated with either honey or a honey-pollen mixture. Sixty-eight percent of the honey group (28/41) and 70 percent of the honey-pollen group (22/31) had improvements in menopausal symptoms compared to 25 percent in a placebo group. [Source]

In 2001 the European Journal of Medical Research published a study in which 30 patients with severe seborrheic dermatitis of the face, scalp and chest gently rubbed 90 percent crude (raw, unrefined) honey diluted with 10 percent warm water every other day on seborrheic dermatitis skin lesions for 2-3 minutes, then let the honey set for 3 hours before rinsing with warm water. After 4 weeks all patients had a significant reduction in itching, while scaling disappeared within one week and skin lesions were healed completely within 2 weeks. All patients treated with honey once monthly (for 6 months) after the initial 4-week treatment did not relapse. [Source]