Despite its sugar content, many of the viral videos offer frozen honey as a healthy alternative to candy. According to health experts, however, the frozen honey trend is neither good for the intestines, the additional sugar intake, nor for oral hygiene. It’s a dessert – deliciously sweet and maybe worth a try, but dentists and RDs alike agree that this should not be considered a healthy food in any way. Here’s why.

Registered nutritionist and dentist ingests TikTok frozen honey

Given the ubiquity of the frozen honey movement that has gripped the TikTok (and broader) nation since user Dave Ramirez shared a video of himself putting a bottle of frozen honey in his mouth on July 9th, have become Health professionals reported some concerns about the social media frenzy.

@daveyrzWho invented it first? #experiment actuality – Davey

“Honey has some positive properties, but it is still considered an added sugar,” says nutritionist Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, author of Sugar Shock: The hidden sugar in your food and 100+ smart swaps to save. “As with any form of added sugar, there are downsides to overeating. Honey is rich in fructose, which in some people can cause gastrointestinal disorders such as flatulence, gas and diarrhea. “

Additionally, consuming sugar (including honey) causes your body to produce insulin to convert the sugar from your bloodstream to your cells, where it can either be used for energy or stored as fat. However, overconsumption could cause cells to become resistant to the effects of insulin, causing sugar to build up in the bloodstream, which over time can lead to type 2 diabetes. Cassetty also explains that a consistently high sugar diet has been linked to acne, heart disease, memory problems, and mood disorders.

“To be honest, the majority of Americans are already well above the recommended limits for added sugar of 25 grams per day for women and 36 grams per day for men,” says Cassetty. “In context, a tablespoon of honey contains about 17 grams of sugar, so you can see how that habit would likely push your sugar intake over the healthy limit.”

Other parts of the body can also be affected by eating frozen honey, especially in large quantities. “Dental caries is caused by acid that destroys the tooth enamel, which is created by the combination of bacteria and sugar,” says Shannon M. Nanne, RDH. Since honey is mostly made up of sugar (it’s made up of 40 percent fructose, 30 percent glucose, water, and minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium), Nanne notes that honey can cause cavities if not toned down.

“Although honey takes longer to break down than normal table sugar, its stickiness means it stays longer on your teeth than normal sugar,” continues Nanne. And when honey is frozen it will stay on your teeth even longer, which can cause further problems due to the length of time it stays on your teeth.

If you’re consuming more than the recommended serving of honey, Nanne recommends toothpastes like Curaprox’s Black is White toothpaste ($ 25), which contains hydroxyapatite and sodium monofluorophosphate to help prevent tooth decay, repair micro-lesions, and even protect tooth sensitivity. Additionally, Nanne recommends looking for toothpastes that have an enzymatic system that supports saliva and its functions to keep your mouth at a healthier pH and further prevent tooth decay.

The bottom line

Ultimately, experts say, the honey (and most of life) trick is about moderation. “Freezing honey is not inherently harmful,” confirms nutritionist Krista Linares, RD. “However, the change in texture and novelty could lead people to eat much larger amounts.”

Overall, it can help improve your health by finding ways to cut down on your extra sugar intake – be it frozen honey, soda, candy, or whatever. “Use honey sparingly to flavor other healthy foods like tea, overnight oats, Greek plain yogurt, and roasted carrots,” recommends Cassetty. And if you just need to fix your frozen honey, try sticking to a single tablespoon to avoid all of these nasty effects on your gut – and your precious pearly whites.

Oh hello! You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts on cutting-edge wellness brands, and exclusive Well + Good content. Register with Well +, our online community of wellness insiders, and activate your rewards immediately.