Can honey release toxins when heated or mixed with hot tea? | The Times of India (2024)

Adding honey to a warm glass of water or to a piping hot cup of green tea is a common practice, but what if we tell you that the addition of honey might be turning your healthy elixir to a liquid slow poison! Read on to find out…

Since ages honey has been an integral part of Indian culture. Right from using it as an active ingredient in medicines and home remedies to adding it to juices to using it for religious rituals. Honey is packed with antioxidants and essential nutrients, but mixing it with hot water is believed to reduce its efficacy. As per Ayurveda mixing honey with hot water can release toxins like Ama, which impacts health in long run and causes digestive and respiratory ailments. However, there’s a lot of research required to establish this fact.

Honey has been traditionally used in cooking and baking, specially in the western culinary culture, honey has been extensively used in day to day meals. However, as per a study published in the journal AYU it was mentioned that adding honey to a temperature of 140 degrees may impact its efficacy and release a toxin known as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural or HMF, which has carcinogenic properties.

Honey is an essential part of our diet, especially if you are trying to lose weight as it is the healthiest alternative to white sugar. However, it is still a matter of debate, whether mixing honey with hot water can actually release toxins. So, it is best to avoid excessive exposure to heat until there are further studies to establish this fact.

To reap maximum benefits you can add honey to fruit salads, detox water or teas.