Dealing with stomach problems? Raw honey helps more than you might think. It helps fight inflammation and supports the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
Here are seven proven ways to use honey for digestive issues.
Honey’s Digestive Benefits
For digestive issues, honey’s unique blend of prebiotics, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds lends it a healing ability. Honey actually works for you through its digestive enzyme support.
What makes honey different:
- Natural enzymes aid digestion by breaking down carbohydrates and proteins
- Honey oligosaccharides function as prebiotics, feeding the beneficial bacteria in your gut
- Selective nourishment supports probiotic bacteria while discouraging harmful bacterial growth, promoting honey bacterial balance
The anti-inflammatory properties of honey, especially methylglyoxal in honey and hydrogen peroxide, help fight pathogenic bacteria that might cause stomach trouble. This creates a healthier balance in your gut microbiome through the prebiotic benefits of honey.
The Science Behind Honey’s Digestive Power
A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that honey increases the growth of beneficial gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus while decreasing harmful pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli.
What the research shows:
- 66 healthy adults participated in a study examining how honey supports probiotic bacteria’s survival
- Results showed that honey significantly enhanced the survival of beneficial bacteria through the digestive process
- Four different honey varieties were tested (alfalfa, buckwheat, clover, and orange blossom)
- Each variety showed unique benefits, suggesting different honey types may offer varied digestive advantages
Not all honey is created equal, and the type you choose might matter for specific digestive issues. Raw unpasteurized honey offers the most potent benefits.
1. Honey for Acid Reflux Relief
Acid reflux means stomach acid flowing back up into your esophagus. That’s what causes the burning. Honey helps here since its thick texture coats your esophagus and acts as a barrier against acid.
Honey also calms inflammation. The relief is fast.
How to Use Honey for Acid Reflux
- Quick relief method: Take one tablespoon of raw honey before meals or when symptoms appear
- Why it works: The coating action works best when honey is consumed alone, allowing it to stick to your esophageal lining
- Nighttime remedy: Mix one tablespoon of Sweet Comb Chicago’s Pure Natural Summer Honey with warm (not hot) water and a splash of apple cider vinegar
This combination helps balance stomach acid levels while providing honey’s protective benefits.
2. Supporting Beneficial Gut Bacteria
Your gut holds trillions of bacteria that help with digestion and immunity. Honey feeds these good bacteria and helps them grow.
UCLA researchers discovered that honey protects probiotics as they travel through your digestive system. More of the good bacteria make it through alive.
Honey and Yogurt: A Powerful Combination
Honey combined with foods high in probiotics, such as yogurt, has a synergistic effect—they enhance one another more than they would alone.
How to maximize benefits:
- Add one tablespoon of raw honey to plain, unsweetened yogurt
- Choose unfiltered honey like Sweet Comb Chicago’s Pure Natural Summer Honey, which works particularly well as it’s unfiltered and contains all the natural enzymes and prebiotics that support gut health.
- The honey helps beneficial bacteria in yogurt survive the journey through your digestive tract
- More beneficial bacteria reach your intestines alive and ready to work
3. Honey’s Anti-Inflammatory Effects on the Digestive Tract
Chronic inflammation in the digestive tract underlies many common digestive disorders, from irritable bowel syndrome to inflammatory bowel disease. Honey contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce this inflammation.
How it works:
- Flavonoids and phenolic acids in honey inhibit inflammatory pathways in your body
- These natural compounds work similarly to anti-inflammatory medications
- The big difference? No potential side effects
Reducing Gut Inflammation Naturally
If you have digestive inflammation, take 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey daily. The anti-inflammatory effects increase with regular use.
Raw honey calms inflammation in your digestive tract and feeds good gut bacteria. It works because it reduces inflammation and coats your digestive system.
4. Fighting Harmful Gut Bacteria
Antibiotics wipe out everything – good bacteria and bad. Honey targets only the harmful stuff and protects the good bacteria.
The honey’s health benefits come from natural antibacterial properties: hydrogen peroxide, sugar, acidity, and unique compounds. Manuka honey has extra methylglyoxal, which makes it even stronger against bad bacteria.
Consider beginning an empty-handed morning, 1 tablespoon of raw honey routine in suspected bacterial infections. For enhanced effects, Manuka honey with a high UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating offers particularly potent antibacterial properties.
5. Honey for Bloating and Gas Relief
Bloating and gas show up when you can’t digest carbs properly or your gut bacteria are off balance. Honey breaks down carbs before they ferment into gas.
Honey feeds the right bacteria and keeps gas-producing bacteria in check. Your bloating drops over time.
Quick Remedies for Gas and Bloating
- For immediate relief. Mix one tablespoon of Sweet Comb Chicago’s Pure Natural Summer Honey with warm water and a squeeze of lemon juice. Sip slowly to help relax your digestive tract and reduce gas.
- For prevention. Take one teaspoon of honey before meals to prime your digestive system. The enzymes in honey start breaking down carbohydrates before they reach your intestines, reducing gas formation before it starts.
6. Soothing Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms
IBS causes stomach pain, unpredictable bathroom trips, and bloating. Honey tackles these problems.
What honey does for IBS:
- Calms intestinal inflammation
- Feeds helpful gut bacteria
- Fixes bacterial imbalances common in IBS
How to use it:
- Constipation-dominant IBS: Drink 1-2 tablespoons of honey in warm water each morning. It gets things moving without cramps or urgency.
- Diarrhea-dominant IBS: Research shows honey shortens diarrhea episodes. Add it to your rehydration routine. No harsh medication side effects.
How to Use Honey for Digestive Health
Take honey regularly in small amounts. That beats occasional big doses. Quality counts.
Raw honey keeps the most enzymes and prebiotics. Our Pure Natural Summer Honey at Sweet Comb Chicago is unfiltered and unpasteurized. All the natural digestive enzymes stay in there.
Recommended Dosage and Timing
Daily amount: Consume 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey daily. You can divide this into smaller doses throughout the day for maximum benefit.
When to take honey (timing matters):
- Morning on empty stomach – Coats and protects your digestive tract
- Before meals – Primes digestive enzymes for better breakdown
- After meals – Soothes your digestive tract and reduces discomfort
Each timing serves a different purpose, so experiment to see what works best for your specific needs.
Best Types of Honey for Digestive Issues
Raw, unfiltered honey:
- Contains the highest levels of beneficial enzymes and prebiotics
- Processed honey loses these compounds during heating
- Always choose raw when possible
Darker varieties: Darker honey typically contains higher levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Sweet Comb Chicago’s Pure Natural Fall Honey, with its deeper color and robust flavor, offers particularly potent anti-inflammatory benefits.
Manuka honey:
- More expensive, but worth it for specific issues
- Exceptional antibacterial properties due to high methylglyoxal content
- Particularly effective for digestive infections and inflammatory conditions
Simple Honey Remedies for Common Digestive Problems
- For morning digestive boost: Mix 1 tablespoon of pure honey with warm water and a squeeze of lemon juice. Drink on an empty stomach to stimulate digestion and cleanse the system.
- For post-meal digestive aid: Consume 1 teaspoon of raw honey after meals to help soothe the digestive tract and support proper food breakdown.
- For digestive inflammation: Combine 1 tablespoon of honey with 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric in warm water. The combined anti-inflammatory effects of honey and turmeric provide powerful relief for digestive inflammation.
Precautions and Considerations
While honey offers numerous digestive benefits, certain precautions should be observed.
- Never give honey to infants under 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism.
- People with diabetes should monitor blood sugar levels when consuming honey, as it does contain natural sugars. However, studies show honey has a lower glycemic impact than regular sugar.
- Those allergic to bee products should exercise caution and consult with a healthcare provider before using honey therapeutically.
Why Honey Deserves a Place in Your Digestive Wellness Routine
Honey tackles digestive problems from multiple angles. It calms inflammation, protects irritated areas, supports good bacteria, and kills bad bacteria.
Raw vs processed honey matters. Raw honey keeps all the beneficial stuff that processing destroys. Our Pure Natural Summer Honey stays completely raw.
Whether you deal with acid reflux, bloating, IBS, or just want better digestion, honey helps. Ancient healers knew it. Science proves it. Take it every day for real results.
