Honey is a natural sweetener, which is made from flower nectar. It consists mainly of fructose and glucose with only tiny amounts of other simple sugars. The proportion of fructose to glucose in honey is inverted compared to most juices and fruits, where the majority will be in the form of sucrose.
Honey is slightly acidic, but it may alleviate problems caused by acid reflux. Honey is viscous, and it helps suppress stomach acids which might move upward through the digestive tract. So honey can soothe pain caused by reflux issues despite being a weak acid.
There are many types of honey available in the market. Still, the majority comprises two kinds produced from the nectar of plants in the Asteraceae family (Compositae), which includes sunflower, marigold, and aster; and that derived from the Aster nectar sourced from plants in the Apiaryae family. In addition to being a food source for humans, honey is also used in the production of mead – an alcoholic beverage made by fermentation.
Is honey an acidic food?
Honey is acidic, but the pH of honey varies from being neutral to mildly acidic depending on various factors related to its composition and manufacturing process. Honey with a pH of 3 is considered acidic, but honey can also have neutral pH values. The low pH value indicates that honey has high antioxidant activities and antimicrobial properties.
The nectar composition determines the flavor and color of the honey produced, affecting its taste, medicinal qualities, and uses. Since honey is directly affected by the nectar sources consumed by the bees, different types of honey may be available in the market.
The pH and acidity of honey are also determined by environmental conditions such as climate, soil composition, and vegetation cover. For example, different honey varieties have been produced from other flower nectars in New Zealand and rainforest honey in Australia.
Is honey acidic on the stomach?
Honey has a pH ranging from 3 to 5.5. Although honey is acidic, it is considered safe for the stomach and does not cause stomach upset when consumed in moderation.
The low pH value of honey makes it an excellent food since it inhibits bacterial growth and serves as a good preservative. The antimicrobial property of honey also reduces oxidative deterioration and slows down enzymatic browning reactions, thus extending its shelf life. The low pH value of honey also helps speed up recovery from fatigue, improve sleep quality, and promote wound healing and fight inflammation.
Can I take honey for acid reflux?
Honey may help to reduce symptoms of acid reflux, including heartburn and indigestion. Recent studies have shown that honey is a safe and effective way to relieve gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in adults compared with other dietary supplements used for this purpose. However, the use of honey as a treatment for acid reflux should not be considered to replace conventional medical approaches.
What type of honey is alkaline?
Honey is acidic when it contains a high amount of sugar fructose, but it can have an alkaline pH when glucose is dominant. The type of honey with the lowest pH level is manuka honey from New Zealand and Australia, which has been reported to have antiseptic effects even at low concentrations. In comparison, jelly bush honey from Australia is alkaline. The low pH value of manuka is attributed to the unique flora that the bees feed on, including Manuka Myrtaceae and Leptospermum Scoparium.
Is honey acidic for my kidneys?
Honey is acidic but does not directly affect the kidneys. However, high consumption of honey over several years can put you at risk of having kidney stones. In addition, honey may have adverse effects on people suffering from chronic renal failure when used as a primary energy source.
Is honey acidic for the bladder?
Manuka honey has been beneficial in improving symptoms in women with interstitial cystitis – a type of bladder inflammation that affects the bladder’s lining. All types of honey are acidic, but manuka honey has been known to have fewer side effects than other types. Honey may not be recommended for people with a history of kidney stones, chronic renal failure, or bladder infections.
Can I take too much honey?
Honey is safe when taken in appropriate amounts, but it should not be given to young children due to the risk of botulism or infantile botulism – which can only occur in infants under the age of 12 months. The consumption of honey should also be avoided in children under one year of age due to its high levels of glucose which can cause glucose-galactose imbalance and lead to kidney stone formation.
Although honey is considered safe, it does contain fructose which may not be suitable for people with certain health conditions such as diabetes mellitus, fructose malabsorption, and hereditary fructose intolerance.
Consumption of large amounts of honey may lead to bloating, flatulence and diarrhea. Honey should not be consumed together with other acidic food items such as citrus fruits because it can reduce the activity of pectinase – an enzyme needed for normal digestion.
What is the pH of different types of honey?
The pH of different types of honey ranges from 3.41 (eucalyptus honey) to 5.54 (jelly bush honey).
Manuka Honey has a low pH between 3 and 4, making it very acidic. The high acidity of manuka honey is attributed to phytochemical components such as methylglyoxal (MGO) and hydrogen peroxide.
Other types of honey that have a low pH include sourwood honey (3.45), heather honey (3.49), tulip poplar honey (3.74-3.78), chestnut bud honey (3.79), fireweed honey (3.8-4.0), gallberry honey (4.01) and acacia honey (4,20).
How can honey be both acidic and alkaline?
Honey is acidic, but when glucose predominates, it becomes alkaline. The type of honey with the lowest pH level is manuka honey from New Zealand and Australia, which has been reported to have antiseptic effects even at low concentrations. In comparison, jelly bush honey from Australia is alkaline. The low pH value of manuka is attributed to the unique flora that the bees feed on, including Manuka Myrtaceae and Leptospermum Scoparium.
How to measure the PH of honey?
The ph scale of honey is measured using a ph meter. A pH meter has a flat probe that you press into the honey, and it then gives a reading on the screen or in a small window. You can also buy disposable paper strips with a strip on one end and a color chart on the other to match against.
Is Raw Honey Alkaline?
Raw honey is alkaline. However, processed honey has been heated and pasteurized, which kills enzymes and reduces the nutrient content of the food. In addition, sugar not needed for energy by the body is stored in fat when intake exceeds your metabolic requirements. When consumed in large quantities, processed honey can turn acidic.
FAQs About Honey Acidity
Does honey make the body alkaline?
Honey has not been found to make the body alkaline. Honey has an acidic pH of around 3 – 5.54, which is why it should be diluted with water before application on wounds or ingestion.
Does honey help reduce acidity?
Honey will not significantly reduce acidity because it contains ingredients that neutralize stomach acid.
What is the pH of honey with pollen?
The pH of honey with pollen ranges from 3.5-4.5 depending on its source.
Honey that has been stored for an extended period tends to have a higher acidic content because enzymes needed to digest fructose can no longer be produced in sufficient quantities or are less active.
What are the benefits of using raw honey?
Raw honey contains all the enzymes needed for proper digestion.
It is rich in nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants that are destroyed during pasteurization.
Raw honey can help reduce chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity because of its phytochemical components.
Does honey become alkaline in the body?
Honey is acidic, but it does not make the body alkaline. The body’s response to an increase in acidity is to neutralize it by producing bicarbonates found in water or absorbed from food. Additionally, the kidneys are responsible for the removal of excess acids through urine.
Conclusion
Honey is acidic when it contains a higher amount of sugar fructose, but when there is more glucose in the honey it becomes alkaline-forming.
Many factors affect the pH of honey, including where it is produced and how it is processed. To measure honey’s acidity, you can use a ph meter to test it or buy strips that compare against a color chart.
