Honey for kids can be a healthy choice since it contains considerable amounts of phytochemicals and flavonoids that can impart several health benefits over time (1). The natural sweetener has moderate nutritional value and offers the same calories as refined sugar. However, honey may still be a better alternative to refined sugar since it also provides health-promoting compounds. You can use honey in food and home remedies to alleviate certain health issues and promote general health. Read on as we tell you about the nutritional composition of honey, the right age to give honey to children, and different ways you can give honey to children.
When Can You Give Honey To Children?
Honey is nutritious, but should only be introduced to the children after they are one year old. This is to avoid infant botulism, an illness that may occur due to the consumption of honey by children below the age of one year. Honey contains spore-forming bacteria called Clostridium botulinum that can multiply in the intestine (2). The bacteria releases toxins that can irritate the little one’s gut since infants have an underdeveloped digestive system that cannot fight off clostridium spores. Honey is, however, safe for children above one year as their digestive system is mature enough to expel the bacteria through the body (3). However, use it as a replacement to refined sugar but not in addition to it.
Nutritional Value Of Honey
The nutritional value of 100g of honey is as given in the table (4).
8 Benefits Of Honey For Kids
Besides being a sweetener, honey offers some health benefits too. Despite its several benefits, probably the most widespread medicinal use of honey is for the treatment of cough and cold.
Honey For Cough And Cold In Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend against the use of OTC drugs for cough and cold for children under four years of age, unless directed by a physician or pediatrician (11). Natural honey is known for its antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, due to which people use honey as a natural remedy for cold and cough. It is believed that pasteurized honey given before bedtime provides some relief from the symptoms of cough and cold in children aged over one year (12) (13). Honey is also said to improve the quality of sleep in children.
Ways To Give Honey To A Child
Introduce honey in a child’s diet gradually. Doing so will give you time to check for any probable allergic reactions. It will also give your child adequate time to adapt to the taste and texture of honey. Here are a few ways you can replace refined sugar with honey:
Add honey to oatmeal for enhancing the flavor of the dish.
Instead of adding sugar, add honey to sweeten the milk.
Spread it on bread toast.
Mix yogurt and honey to make a delectable side dish.
If your children like to have the smoothie sweet, you may add honey in it instead of sugar.
Spread honey on pancakes and waffles.
Use it as a flavoring agent or/and as a substitute for sugar in baked foods.
Discontinue serving honey to the child, if you notice side effects such as breathing problems, muscle weakness, and constipation.
Precautions To Follow
Before consuming honey, it is necessary to ensure that its purity remains intact. Here is what you can do for that.
Do not serve too much honey to children. Honey is high on calories and contains free sugars like fructose, which on over-consumption, might lead to undesired weight gain, dental caries, and gastric issues (14). So, practice moderation in use.
Check the manufacturing date and contents mentioned in the label.
Do not keep it in the open without a lid, as it may get contaminated by insects and dust.
Store the honey bottle in a cool place.
Try and use the honey within a month or two of getting it, even though it stays fine and useful long after that.
Which Is Better: Raw Honey Or Processed Honey?
Raw honey contains nutrients in its original form but also has natural toxins such as grayanotoxins, which can cause honey poisoning. The symptoms of honey poisoning include low blood pressure, nausea, and vomiting. However, when the honey is processed, the toxins get diluted and may not have any severe effect on the body. Processed honey is also free of pollen grains and dust particles. This suggests that processed honey has fewer risks compared to raw honey, but the nutritional value of raw honey makes it superior to the processed one (15). Does your child like honey? How do you give it to them? Do share your experience with us in the comment section below.
