The Dangers of Honey

Before we get to honey we have a questionworth the health risk of large doses of simple
from onesugars. I
of our readers.Pam asks:What is your opinion ofthink one of the best quotes I have found
Splenda?Answer:Splenda is made by chlorinatingregarding this is:"Added sugar contributes nothing
sugar (sucrose). Threebut calories and is known as a
of the hydroxyl groups on the sucrose moleculedead food. All you have to do to improve your
are replaced bynutrition is
chlorine. DDT, an extremely toxic pesticide, isconsume products without any added sugar.
anotherAnyone interested in
compound made by chlorinating positions on aimproving their nutrition and personal health
hydrocarbon ringshould avoid added
structure. The data so far would indicate thatsugar in their diet."This is from the following
Splendawebsite: PlugThe MericleDiet is one of the few
(Sucralose) is not as dangerous as Aspartamediets that really makes it
but theas easy as it can be to get off of "added
following have been observed in laboratorysugars." Maenomenom and Some Ancient
animals.Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40%HistoryThe nature of honey depends on from
shrinkage)Enlarged liver and kidneys.Atrophy ofwhich flowers the honey
lymph follicles in the spleen and thymusIncreasedbees get their nectar. Clover honey is very
cecal weightReduced growth rateDecreased redpopular and does
blood cell countHyperplasia of the pelvisExtensionnot constitute a significant toxic health threat on
of the pregnancy periodAbortedan acute
pregnancyDecreased fetal body weights andbasis. However, honey gathered from
placentalRhododendron in the
weightsDiarrhea**********************A list ofBlack Sea area is very toxic. Xenophon, the
products where it is found:Baked goods andauthor of The
baking mixesChewing gumConfections andAnabasis, who was also a very brilliant military
frostingsFats and oils (salad dressings)Fruit andleader and
water icesJams and jelliesProcessed fruits anda follower of Socrates, found out the hard way.
fruit juicesSweet sauces, toppings andIn 401 B.C.,
syrupsBeverages and beverage basesCoffee andfollowing a less than optimal campaign in Persia,
teaDairy product analogsFrozen dairy dessertshe elected
and mixesGelatins, puddings and fillingsMilkto lead 10,000 Greek soldiers through the
productsSugarmountains of
substitutes**********************My Opinion: IKurdistan, Georgia and finally Armenia. They
would not use it.**********************Honeynoticed a large
and Meli Maenomenon.Pediatric Warning: Honey andnumber of bee hives when they made camp in
Children Under TwoChildren under the age of oneColchis. They
(to be really safe probably tworaided the hives and devoured the honey. Soon
years old) should not ingest honey. Honeythey were all
contains clostridiumacting like intoxicated madmen, had fits of
botulinum spores. In the human with a maturevomiting and
immune system, thecollapsed by the thousands.Toxic Honey -A
spores will not germinate in the gastrointestinalWeaponPompey, a few years later, in 67 B.C. did
tract. However, in the immature immune systemnot fare as well.
of the infant, the spores can germinate and causeWhile campaigning against Mithridates king of
botulism, a descending flaccid paralysis caused byPontus,
the neurotoxin of clostridia botulinum. It also doeshe camped in the same area. Some allies of
not matter if the honey is pasteurized, since theMithridates
typical pasteurization temperature is not high to kill(the Heptakometes) had placed toxic
the spores.Composition of HoneyHoney is a highlyhoneycombs all along
processed (by bees in this case) substancethe way. Pompey's army feasted on the
that is usually around 40% by weight fructose.honeycombs and soon
The typicalthey were easily slaughtered. Similar tactics were
composition in 100 grams of honey is:Water 17.1used
g (12.2-22.9 g)Monosaccharides:Fructose 38.5 gagainst Russian foes of Olga of Kieve in 946 A.D.
(25.2-44.4 g)Glucose 31.0 g (24.6-36.9and Tartar
g)Disaccharides:Maltose 7.20 g (1.70-11.8 g)Sucrosesoldiers were massacred by the Russians in 1489
1.50 g (0.50-2.90 g)Back to our familiar "fructoseafter
short-circuits glycolysis."Once again we visit theingesting toxic honey in the same area.Meli
near equal amounts of fructose andMaenomenon (Mad Honey)This honey soon
glucose entering the bloodstream at the samebecame known as mad honey. While there has
time. Also, eachbeen
gram of maltose will yield two molecules ofsome debate on this subject it apparently is
glucose for eachsignificant enough,
molecule of maltose. Each gram of sucrose willeven here in the US, that poison control data
yield onebases all make
molecule of fructose and one molecule of glucosemention of toxic honey poisoning. Early
for eachsymptoms include
molecule of sucrose. As mentioned previously,tingling, numbness, dizziness, impaired speech, and
(now almosteven
ad nauseum) the fructose enters the metabolichallucinations. Larger amounts of ingested "meli
pathway formaenomenon"
glucose below where glucose enters. This shortresult in vertigo, delirium, nausea and vomiting,
circuits theimpaired
glycolytic path for glucose and temporarily blocksbreathing, bradycardia, hypotension, cyanosis,
themuscle paralysis
metabolism of the glucose. Excess insulin isand unconsciousness. Extreme ingestions can
secreted andcause ventricular
in about two hours when both sugars aretachycardia and other serious cardiac
metabolized, therearrhythmias.Differential Diagnosis:Acute Myocardial
will be too much insulin in the bloodstream andInfarction vs Toxic Honey IngestionIn most
voila ...emergency rooms in northern California, one of
hypoglycemia. Or, if you in the middle of thethe differential considerations for acute
Ironman or amyocardial
training run or ride -the Bonk! I hate this bicycleinfarction (heart attack) is mad (toxic) honey
andingestion.Today's Health Tip:Honey is really no
why am I doing this stupid triathlon?Honey maysafer than sucrose. I would try to limit
be naturally processed by bees but it is stillthe ingestion of honey just as you would any
a large dose of fructose and glucose.Even thoughother simple
honey is a more natural substance, it really is nosugar.Reference:Stryer Biochemistry Fourth
safer than sucrose. All the problems associatedEditionDan McFeeley (The Ancient History)
with sucroseHis only address is:
are also associated with honey. Lowered immune
system functionThis however, at least for me, was
that can lead to cancer. Damage to the vasculara broken link.Thanks for your attention.Copyright
system2005 John Mericle M.D. All Rights Reserved is
leading to heart disease and adult onset diabetesdevoted to achieving optimal health and peak
mellitus withperformance through diet and lifestyle change. Dr.
gangrenous toes and all -are at the end of theMericle brings together a unique blend of formal
sugar freeway.training in organic chemistry and biochemistry,
There is also some discussion about additionalmedical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii
nutrients foundIronman competitions and a lot of practical real life
in honey. However, the amounts are minisculeexperience.
and really not