Can honey treat stomach diseases?
Disease description:
I went to the hospital for a checkup and was diagnosed with a stomach condition. A fellow patient told me that eating honey is very helpful. Can honey treat stomach diseases?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Honey has an auxiliary regulatory effect on stomach diseases, but it cannot directly treat them.
Honey contains natural antioxidants, antibacterial components, and prebiotics, which can help improve the gastrointestinal environment, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, and reduce the proliferation of harmful bacteria, thereby helping to alleviate symptoms of gastric diseases such as gastritis and peptic ulcers.
Honey contains certain enzymes that can promote gastrointestinal motility and aid digestion. The fructose in honey also increases the water content of stools, lubricates the intestines, and helps relieve constipation. Additionally, honey can regulate gastric acid secretion, helping to balance acid levels by either reducing excessive secretion or stimulating insufficient production, thus maintaining normal gastric acid secretion. Honey also possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can improve the gastrointestinal environment and reduce inflammation.
Although honey has many benefits, excessive consumption may lead to excessive sugar intake, so individuals with diabetes should consume it cautiously. Moreover, infants under 1 year of age should not consume honey to avoid the risk of botulism.
