What Happens If You Eat Honey Before Bed?

Honey is one of nature’s most revered gifts to us, which has been used in kitchens and Ayurveda for years now. Honey is used for various reasons, like:

• In wound care, because of its antimicrobial properties

• As a food, a natural sweetener instead of refined sugar 

• As part of diet plans, as a prebiotic to support gut health

• To treat respiratory infections and skin disorders 

So what happens when you eat honey before going to bed? Does it benefit your body? This blog briefly explains:

• What happens to your body while you’re sleeping

• Benefits of consuming honey before bed

• When should you consume honey?

• How much honey can you consume?

Top Insights

• Traditional Chinese medicine believes that honey improves sleep quality and uses it to treat insomnia.

• Honey promotes melatonin production.

• It has a calming effect on the nervous system, reducing anxiousness. 

• Honey clears heat and toxins from the body, supporting liver detoxification. 

What Happens When You’re Sleeping?

Most people think of sleep as a “passive” state where their body does absolutely nothing. That’s not true. Besides being a state of rest, sleep is also regenerative. Here’s how:

• Your body uses less energy while you’re asleep, allowing your cells to stock up energy for the next day.

• It allows for better recovery and repair than when you’re awake. That’s also why you may feel more sleepy when you are out sick. 

• Your brain is reorganizing all the information from the day and consolidating it into your memory for long-term storage. 

• Growth hormones send your body into repair mode. All the muscle fibres that experience a strain undergo cellular repair, resulting in stronger muscles. 

• Your liver is at work, detoxifying your body. So is your skin.

• The body also releases cytokines to fight infections and inflammation in the body.

• While you sleep, the body regulates itself between anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory responses. Chronic lack of sleep increases inflammation. 

• Stress hormones are regulated, too. Poor sleep increases cortisol levels in the body, which can cause health issues and influence mood. 

The Effect of Consuming Honey Before Bed

1. Better Melatonin Production

Melatonin is a hormone that signals your body to sleep. Here’s how honey plays a role in supporting better melatonin production:

• Honey slightly increases insulin in the body. 

• The insulin spike restricts and clears competing amino acids from entering the bloodstream, allowing tryptophan (a type of amino acid) to enter the brain. 

• Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, which gets converted to melatonin.

This entire biochemical chain moves your body into deep, restful sleep. 

2. Feeds the Liver

Your liver is busy detoxifying the body at night. As such, it requires glycogen to sustain energy during sleep. If liver glycogen runs low at night, your body will signal to compensate for it, possibly disrupting your sleep. Raw honey replenishes liver glycogen. Thus, supporting a steady overnight energy supply. As a result, you experience calmer sleep and fewer early-morning wake-ups. 

3. Supports Recovery

Body recovery takes serious energy and effort. A small amount of honey before bed offers a gentle energy source without disrupting the blood sugar levels too much. The antioxidants in it also reduce inflammation in the body. 

4. Improves Gut Health

Disturbances in the quality of the gut microbiome can lead to sleep disorders and chronic inflammation. Raw honey contains components that act like prebiotics for your digestive system. It helps the growth of good bacteria and improves your gut health. 

When Should You Eat Honey Before Bed?

Ideally, you may want to consume honey at least 15-30 minutes before bedtime. This window allows your body to start digesting and metabolizing honey for use. 

How Much Honey Can You Consume?

You can consume 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey as an adult. You can either have it directly from the spoon as is or mix it in a warm beverage for a good drinking experience. For instance, honey and milk are one of the most common combinations that exist. It is also a traditionally passed-down recipe. Alternatively, you can mix it with relaxing teas like Chamomile or Lavender. 

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FAQs

Is it okay to eat honey before bed?

Yes, it is as long as you eat it in small amounts. Remember to brush your teeth after it to prevent oral cavity. 

How much honey do I take to sleep?

You can eat 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey 30 minutes before going to bed. 

Is honey good for an itchy throat?

Yes, honey is antibacterial and antiviral in nature. It appears to lessen coughing for those with a throat infection in the upper respiratory tract. 

Who should avoid eating honey?

Children under 1 year old should not be fed honey. It is best to consult a doctor if you have diabetes or severe digestive issues.

Can you drink honey with hot water or milk?

No, high heat breaks down the components in honey. Always ensure the water or milk is warm enough to melt the honey.