Antiinflammatory or not?

by Dan W
(Vermont)

I recently got a nice jar of delicious unpasteurized, fresh raw state unfiltered, organic honey. Woo!

Your website says that this kind of honey, raw honey is anti-inflammatory.

I have rheumatoid arthritis, and am extremely sensitive to food, for better or for worse. If a food is anti-inflammatory (like kale, or salmon), I know it an hour after I eat it. Likewise, if something is inflammatory (sugar, chicken, bread, etc.) I know it soon too.

I think the sugar in honey, whether it is raw or not, is enough to be inflammatory. I've been using this raw honey and it has treated my joints just like sugar has: badly.

Sure, it may provide enzymes and more vitamins and minerals, but ... to make the claim that it decreases inflammation is downright wrong. I'd like you to prove me otherwise.

Sincerely,
Dan W.

Hi Dan,
It is certainly possible that even the best raw honey is inflammatory to your body. It doesn't surprise me that in a condition like rheumatism, the body reacts badly to even a small amount of natural sugar. Sugar can trigger an immune response, and in your case with an overactive immune system, this is likely what is happening.

We try to state health benefits on the site that apply to most people and for most people, raw honey is not inflammatory and actually has anti-inflammatory properties. But it is not anti-inflammatory for everyone nor is bee pollen good for every body. We have people who have bad reactions to bee pollen and royal jelly as well but in the large majority of cases, the positive benefits are what most people experience.

You sound well educated on your condition and 'in tune' with your body so you probably don't need me to recommend you stop consuming the honey. In fact, you'd likely do well to consume virtually no sugars at all and stick to a diet based on lean proteins, vegetables and essential fat containing foods.

Let me ask you Dan, do fruits irritate your condition?

Angela

Comments for Antiinflammatory or not?

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Aug 15, 2017
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Avoid food avoidance
by: Anonymous

Is it the lemon? Or is it the honey? I'll tell you:

It's the autoimmune condition. Fix that.

Pay no mind to food avoidance. We need all the nutrition we can get.

That's my opinion after 10 solid years of dietary experimentation.

Aug 15, 2017
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honey and/or lemon inflammation?
by: Anonymous

I have an autoimmune condition and can't tell if it's the small amount of honey OR the lemon juice I put in my hot water to drink 2-3 times a day, I get a dull aching in my upper back

Feb 20, 2017
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Regular Honey less inflammatory than sugar?
by: Anonymous

I don' know if my ? Belongs here. I want to know if regular honey...any I might buy in store...is less inflammatory than refined sugar? Any articles from trusted journals? Thanks.

Yes, honey is less inflammatory than sugar and this has been established in the scientific literature.

Angela

Jul 11, 2016
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fruits
by: Anonymous

How about cherries?
I have read they were highly anti-inflammatory but if sugar is the issue, are any kinds of sweet fruits inflammatory for your arthritis?
I was just diagnosed and i am trying to find out what my new diet should be...

Mar 07, 2016
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Dans point
by: Lis

I get Dans point.

Not much use in advertising something as Anti-Inflammatory if there is no proof - as the only people looking for Anti Inflammatory foods are suffering inflammation in the first place.
Googling the Anti/Inflammatory nature of honey, is, after all, what brought me to this page in the first place!

I also spent the morning googling Curcumin, as many studies have proved it to be an effective Anti Inflammatory.
In my opinion - for what its worth - products should nit have false NOR misleading claims. Saying something has Anti Inflammatory qualities with no actual proven trials is as mis-leading as claiming yoghourt to be gluten free.

Nov 10, 2015
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Specifics would be nice
by: Jonathan

To those who are saying that RAW honey is inflammatory. It would be interesting to find out what type and brand of raw honey they are consuming. Specifics would be nice, to see if indeed it is RAW honey and not just grocery table honey that is unfiltered or labled as RAW. Also what is the amount taken. Most people try and use the same amount like they would regular sugar, not realizing you only need to use less than half when used in reciepes.

I understand some people might be more sensitive to sugars, natural or not. But I wonder if the same people who say RAW honey inflammatory have every tried Manuka Honey. Which in my humble opinion has greater anti-inflammatory effects on the body. Not just on the outside, but on the inside as well.

Just my two cents!

Jul 23, 2015
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To Dan....
by: Anonymous

Dan, sounds like you have Ankylosing Spondylitis. Look it up as well as Low Starch Diet. Also, Analyse digestive enzymeis what breaks down the starches, so not enough available. Good luck.

Feb 09, 2014
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Raw Honey...
by: Anonymous

I truly believe that it depends on the state of your leaky gut - Candida infiltration, etc. When you have had severe systemic candida, and it's caused long term permeability (decimation) of the intestinal layers and lining, you have more chances of having more serious inflammatory issues. I have found this to be true, not only personally - but with eight years of intensive research. Enzymedica makes an enzyme called repair, that greatly can work to help inflammation. In every case, just about, the condition can only improve when the intestinal health is reinstated.

Read the leaky gut, inflammation, allergy, etc. posts and see how imperative it is to heal the leaky gut - your hub of life! The repair enzyme will work, as all other things, short term. in time, even the enzymes, probiotics and all foods and drinks can become triggers, and the health concerns get more and more serious - unless you seal and heal - safely and sanely, the leaky gut. It can take 6 months to a year, for real - true repair, regeneration and healing. There are no fast, quick or easy cures/answers - no natural or prescription miracles. It's going to require a change of life, and diet.

Aug 02, 2013
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anti inflammatory for my arthritis
by: Anonymous

I have arthritis.. and My husband is a beekeeper and we use lots of RAW honey...we'd go through 300g at least a week per person in this house and never ever buy or use refined sugar. It is anti inflammatory for me! I guess everyone is different but in my case I had inflammation and honey helps as part of an anti inflammatory diet.

Angela's Comments:

Thank you so much for posting your experience. Ultimately, we are all unique. I find raw honey to be anti-inflammatory as well but not in all people. Some people are very sensitive to sugars, natural or not. Dan (below) would likely be one such case. I think one conclusion that we can draw is that a raw food diet is a great place to start when trying to curb inflammation. It is then up to you to tweak which foods 'work' with your body or not.

Thanks again for posting!
Angela

Jul 07, 2013
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I Am Not A Rat.
by: Dan W.

Well, I am not a rat. And through trial and error I have discovered that honey, even raw, has an inflammatory effect on my joints.

Go figure. My body is strange. Every body is different.

Jul 07, 2013
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Here's your proof
by: Anonymous

You asked for proof, Dan. here it is.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21486559

Mar 09, 2013
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Honey and Ginger
by: Cheryl Michaud

I am a 52 stay at home mother with two children 18 year old Emily and 15 year old katelin, whom has angelman's syndrome and is twenty four hour care, she is in wheelchair and is tube fed, among many more medical problems and I am the main care giver!!! I have always been sore some part of my body or another, just thought it was wear and tear of looking after my daughter, until one day I couldn't pick her up and had to call my other daughter for help, I went for tests and found out that I have rheumatoid arthritis and was in a major flare up, since this I have also found out I am in the advanced stage of this disease, I have been trying to do as much research as possible and learn what I can do to best take care of myself having this horrible disease!! I have been drinking my ginger tea with honey three times a day, now I don't know if I am doing myself any good or not!!! Hard to know as I was just diagnosed two weeks ago and I am still have this flare up!!

Oct 11, 2011
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Proof?
by: Dan W.

I'm still going to challenge the claim. It is inflammatory in me, with my inflammatory condition, yes. Has raw honey been tested on people with other inflammatory conditions? Gingivitis? Psoriasis? Or just from an injury?

I would just like to see evidence of raw honey causing a perceivable Decrease in inflammation in other people. Because, it goes without saying--you can't tell if something is antiinflammatory unless you test it on someone who Actually Has Inflammation.

And for the record, I love bee pollen and that doesn't cause any inflammation, or even an allergic reaction.

For someone who isn't dealing with inflammation, the anti-inflammatory property of raw honey will not look that appealing. But for someone like me, it is going to draw my attention. I think it's worth noting that people like me, with actual problems with inflammation, may have an inflammatory response, the opposite of what is advertised.

All I really want to know is:

What are the exact cases where raw honey has caused a decrease in inflammation?

PS- Sugary fruits like bananas, figs and dried fruit do cause a little inflammation. Apples and berries do not.

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Disclaimer: The information on Bee Buzz.com is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Angela Ysseldyk and her community. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified heath care professional.

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