Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I consume about 2-3 teaspoons of honey in my coffee each morning. I'm sure coffee isn't paleo but cut me some slack...I'm new. It's raw, unheated and unfiltered honey. I realize honey is mostly fructose but is it unhealthful? It is the only added sweetener I consume.

edited May 5 2011 at 2:26

Forrest
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asked May 5 2011 at 2:03

pamipoi
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A spoonful of raw honey before bed on occasion helps me sleep better. – Marnee Dec 2 2011 at 16:31

Jeff · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-05 02:47:04Z UTC

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I think there is more to it than just 'fructose is bad'. Raw honey is more than just fructose, there are enzymes, etc. that are not fully understood.

Here are a couple things worth considering

http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/2612

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12421854

edited May 5 2011 at 2:47

answered May 5 2011 at 2:37

Jeff
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one other sciencedirect.com/… – Jeff May 5 2011 at 2:39

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@Jeff, agree. Honey is a complex whole food that somehow mitigates its own fructose content. See previous threads: paleohacks.com/questions/3473/… , paleohacks.com/questions/1384/… and paleohacks.com/questions/16035/… – Ed♦ May 5 2011 at 2:53

well thats good news! – tartare May 5 2011 at 4:32

Awesome, great articles. Totally changes the way I see honey. – becker May 5 2011 at 11:52

Very good information. To prevent "fructose", we are also giving away so many benefits. A loss in the end, if you ask me! – RaviH Oct 3 2011 at 20:23

Forrest · Answer 2 · 2011-05-05 02:08:30Z UTC

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Short answer: Yes. Because fructose is horrifically bad, especially without fiber.

The easiest solution here is just to get some dextrose (pure glucose) to use as a sweetener. Not ideal to be using a sweetener at all, but pure glucose will be worlds better than using fructose.

To find out about the horrors of fructose, watch Sugar, The Bitter Truth.

Also, asking this question is a pretty solid indicator you haven't read Robb Wolf's book yet. You should! Or at least listen to his free podcasts.

PS - I get my dextrose in bulk from www.BarryFarm.com If anyone has a cheaper source please link me.

answered May 5 2011 at 2:08

Forrest
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Absolutely correct, and damn it, you beat me to posting that link :) My only addition: don't be orthorexic about fructose consumption -- all things in moderation, including moderation -- but consuming a fructose shot every morning should be a clear concern once you finish watching that lecture. – becker May 5 2011 at 2:11

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yeah, i wouldn't freak out about ever having fructose but 2-3 teaspoons every morning is not the way you want to start your day. try gradually lowering that amount, also, coffee with heavy cream is pretty awesome and may help you not need the honey so much. – tartare May 5 2011 at 2:16

I agree. And ideally, you get your fructose from the inside of some fruit. :) – Forrest May 5 2011 at 2:20

Cool...I may try cutting the honey with stevia (yucky aftertaste) and try to wean myself off it. – pamipoi May 5 2011 at 2:32

Dextrose is better than Honey/HighFructoseCornSyrup/Sucrose because it does not contain Fructose like the above 3. – Bill1102inf Jan 16 2012 at 21:16

sherpamelissa · Answer 3 · 2011-05-05 03:08:09Z UTC

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Honey is not bad, it's a delicious natural sweetener. I used a lot more of it when I first started paleo and was weaning myself of splenda. That said 2-3 tsp is a lot for one cup of coffee. I would try to cut down a bit.

answered May 5 2011 at 3:08

sherpamelissa
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I may be overestimating because I just eyeball it. I'll actually measure tomorrow morning. – pamipoi May 24 2011 at 2:59

Carrisa · Answer 4 · 2011-05-05 02:40:26Z UTC

honestly, our family uses Honey to help counter local allergens (we live in NC #3 for allergies). So, personally, I don't look at honey as a nemesis, but agree if it is purely for palatable pleasure, perhaps try to reduce a bit. I'm still in the transitional stages too, and it can be a bit overwhelming to have everyone saying "NO YOU CAN'T DO THAT"! Heck, it's better than Sugar, Aspartame, Splenda, etc.... baby steps. Enjoy!

Mikey · Answer 5 · 2011-05-05 04:27:36Z UTC

I use honey in small amounts here and there. It is a great flavoring, it only takes a tiny amount to sweeten up a bunch of stuff, and lasts forever on the shelf. It is not a perfect food, but it is a perfect addition to the cupboard.

Coffee is my favorite vehicle for tons of rich fat in the form of cream and I have gradually lost my desire to sweeten it up much. I resort to stevia or maybe a little sugar if I am stuck drinking crap coffee. Don't wrap yourself up in being perfect with this way of life. If there was a "perfect" someone would have been able to pack it up in cellophane and sell it to you by now.

Caveman Greg · Answer 6 · 2011-05-05 03:44:23Z UTC

LOCAL raw honey, in moderation, is not bad for you. If you suffer from allergies, it can be a very good thing, as Carrisa pointed out. If you are using it in coffee though, I think 110 deg F is the point at which it becomes "cooked", and you won't get all the benefits. You might also look into agave nectar as a sweetener as it is lower on the GI. I use honey as a binder in my homemade energy bars for long hikes and races and love it.

frank · Answer 7 · 2012-01-16 19:46:23Z UTC

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i think you are all quite mad,honey is a grate food and brill for sweetnig coffee use all you like, it will only do you good....in my opnion.thank you

answered Jan 16 2012 at 19:46

frank
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Is raw honey bad?

7 Answers