Honey is a great sugar alternative for adults who are looking to eat healthier while getting the same if not better level of sweetness. But can you give it to babies and expect the same benefits? This question often comes to mind and in this blog, we will try to answer it in detail.
The founder of Geohoney and the CEO of B A Barry Group Mr Basem Barry Says
“Though natural monofloral or polyfloral honey is a powerhouse of nutrients for adults as well as kids. However, infants are more sensitive and for that reason, you need to be extra careful when serving them this natural sweetener.”
It is true that exposing your newborn to a variety of foods is exciting and really fun. But you also need to consider the effects certain diets can have on your baby, especially during the first year.
This blog covers whether honey is safe for babies or not in detail to give you a better idea. With this information, you will be able to better take care of your precious bundle of joy without putting him at any risk so keep on reading till the end.
There is no doubt that honey is much healthier than sugar. It contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, and much more.
However, according to webmd you should avoid giving babies a diet that contains added sugars or high sucrose content, especially for the first year or two.
During this period, it is better to stick to sugars that occur in natural fruits, dairy, whole grains, or beans. Processed honey has a higher concentration of added sugars like sucrose which can cause several health risks for babies including botulism, muscle weakness, and constipation just to name a few.
Even after the recommended time, you need to give no more than 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of honey to a baby at a time to be on the safe side.
Monofloral raw honey that you get from some best global honey brands contains several healthy components that can promote better growth in babies who are 12 months or older.
Some possible health benefits of honey for babies include
Giving honey to babies who are under 12 months comes with many risks. At this age, babies do not have a strong immune system to fight infections caused by the bacteria C. botulinum which is commonly found in honey.
Here are some potential health risks associated with organic honey consumption in babies
This is a sort of severe food poisoning disease that occurs when a baby consumes spores of the bacteria Clostridium (C.) botulinum which then grows in the baby’s intestine and releases harmful neurotoxins. This can impair your baby’s nervous system thus affecting its functionality.
These spores are usually found in water, dust, or air which honeybees can accidentally carry to the hives contaminating the honey.
Babies who are under 12 do not have strong enough immunity to prevent the release of the neurotoxins from these spores into their gastrointestinal tracts.
Following are a few signs that indicate your baby might have infant botulism
The symptoms usually start with constipation and they appear after 12 to 36 hours of bacteria-contaminated honey consumption. In some cases, it can even take up to 14 days for the symptoms to appear.
The best way to do that is by adding very small amounts of honey to their favorite foods and noticing the signs of allergies. You can use the four-day approach to make things easier.
Give your 1-year or older baby pure raw honey or add it to some food item and then wait for 4 days to see if there is a reaction. If not, you can add an adequate amount of honey to some other food and gradually increase the amount to get maximum health benefits.
Following are a few food items that you can add honey to before feeding your baby
Honey is without a doubt a healthy addition to your child’s regular diet. However, it is always better to not expose your baby to this natural sweetener for at least the first 12 months. This is the period where babies are most prone to botulism which is why you need to be extra careful.
After that, you can gradually add it to your recipes or feed it to the baby in raw form and observe the possible side effects. This approach will help you ensure your baby stays healthy and nourished every single day.
Geohoney is the leading honey brand based in Dubai with over 130 farms equipped with the latest new-tech monofloral initiatives. Our 100% pure, raw, and natural monofloral honey is carefully prepared using single nectar sources which ensures both a high concentration of nutrients and enzymes.
Working with worldwide beekeepers from more than 53 countries Geohoney strives to produce monofloral honey that meets the highest global quality control standards while using environmentally sustainable resources and adhering to socially responsible policies.
Visit GEOHONEY today to order our premium quality monofloral raw honey to feed your 12 months or older babies to ensure their better health and well-being.
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