These are particularly harmful to pregnant women and children under 12 months of age ( 27, 28). However, because it contains honey, it is at risk of contamination from C. Honeycomb is generally considered safe to eat. What’s more, compounds found in honeycomb may help lower insulin resistance - but more studies are needed. Honeycomb tends to raise blood sugar levels less than refined sugar. Keep in mind that higher-quality studies are needed. These lower insulin levels may indicate reduced insulin resistance, which could also benefit people with diabetes. One small study in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - a medical condition in which fat accumulates in your liver, often accompanied by insulin resistance - found that beeswax alcohol extracts reduced insulin levels by 37% ( 30). What’s more, the alcohols found in beeswax may help reduce insulin resistance, a condition that contributes to high blood sugar levels. That said, honey still elevates blood sugar levels - so people with diabetes shouldn’t consume too much. Additionally, honey appears to raise blood sugar levels less than refined sugar ( 29). That’s in part because honey is much sweeter than sugar, so smaller quantities are needed to attain the same level of sweetness. Honeycomb may be a good alternative to sugar for people with diabetes. Potential Sugar Alternative for People With Diabetes Honeycomb may benefit your heart by increasing blood flow and “good” HDL cholesterol levels while lowering blood pressure, triglycerides, and “bad” LDL cholesterol. In turn, this may increase blood flow and lower blood pressure, potentially reducing your risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke ( 9, 20). What’s more, replacing sugar with honey may also help lower triglyceride levels by up to 19% ( 15, 16, 17, 18, 19).įurthermore, honey’s antioxidants may help dilate the arteries leading to your heart.

After 30 days, those in the honey group raised their “good” HDL cholesterol by 3.3% and lowered their “bad” LDL cholesterol by 5.8% ( 19). One small study gave participants either 70 grams of sugar or honey per day. That said, honey itself may have the same cholesterol-lowering ability ( 15, 16, 17, 18). However, the studies in this review used high levels of isolated alcohols derived from beeswax, making it difficult to know whether the small amounts of beeswax in honeycomb would produce the same effects. Research shows that the long-chain fatty acids and alcohols found in beeswax may reduce high blood cholesterol levels, a risk factor for heart disease.įor instance, one review notes that beeswax alcohols may help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol by up to 29% while raising “good” HDL cholesterol by 8–15% ( 14). Raw honey is rich in enzymes and antioxidants, while beeswax contains long-chain fatty acids and alcohols - all of which may benefit your well-being. Raw honey and beeswax are the two main components of honeycomb. These compounds may help lower cholesterol levels ( 13, 14). Honeycomb also contains beeswax, which provides heart-healthy long-chain fatty acids and alcohols. Research suggests that they may help reduce your risk of diabetes, dementia, heart disease, and even certain types of cancer ( 12). Polyphenols are honey’s main type of antioxidant. Their levels may be up to 4.3 times higher in raw than in processed honey ( 8, 9, 10, 11).

Moreover, raw honey is less likely to be contaminated with sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup and also tends to contain more antioxidants than processed honey ( 6, 7, 8).Īntioxidants are beneficial plant compounds that promote health, reduce inflammation, and protect your body against disease. Such enzymes are destroyed by the heating and filtering used to process most commercial honey ( 5). Its main component is raw honey, which offers small amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals - but is composed of 95–99% sugar and water ( 3, 4).īecause it hasn’t been processed, raw honey contains enzymes like glucose oxidase, which give honey antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It also contains trace amounts of several other nutrients. Honeycomb is rich in carbohydrates and antioxidants.

Bee pollen calories