Honey should not be used by children under 1 year of age, by people with diabetes or allergy to honey, or in cases of intolerance to fructose, a type of sugar that is very present in honey. In addition, vegetarians of the vegan line also do not use honey, as they believe that its consumption is a form of exploitation of bees.
Honey is a natural food widely used to sweeten juices, vitamins and desserts, and to make syrups and home remedies for colds, flu and infections, due to its antiseptic and antioxidant properties. However, see below when the use of honey is contraindicated.
1. Children under 1 year
Children under 1 year of age should not consume honey because it can contain the spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum , which can develop in the baby 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 bacterium multiplies more easily and can cause severe symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, loss of facial expressions, irritability and constipation. See more about baby botulism.
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 glucose and impair the control of the disease.
Before using honey or any other type of sugar in the diet, diabetics must have the disease well controlled and have guidance from the doctor or nutritionist on the safety of using honey, which should always be consumed only in small amounts. See what the diabetes diet should be like.
3. Honey allergy
Honey allergy occurs mainly in people who are allergic to bee stings or pollen. It is characterized by a strong immune system reaction 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 allergy is not to consume honey, also avoiding products or preparations containing honey. Thus, 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 in foods such as fruits, vegetables and processed products that contain additives such as fructose syrup.
Thus, in the presence of this intolerance the individual must exclude honey and other products with fructose from the diet. See more in What to eat in Fructose intolerance.
