Honey is generally not considered part of the carnivore diet, but some people consume it as part of a modified diet.
The carnivore diet involves eating foods that come strictly from animals, such as meat, eggs, organs, poultry, and fish. It excludes all foods that come from plants.
Some people consider honey an animal product or by-product because it’s produced by bees, which are animals.
Honey is made when bees collect nectar from flowers. When they’re back in the hive, they regurgitate the nectar into honey and store it for food.
Proponents of a strict carnivore diet are against consuming honey because it’s not animal flesh or muscle tissue. Honey is also high in sugar. It’s essentially only made up of sugar and water, with no fat or protein. One tablespoon (21 grams [g]) contains
Consuming too much sugar, whether natural or added, is associated with chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. It may also cause blood sugar spikes and energy fluctuations throughout the day.
A strict carnivore diet is said to limit the risk of conditions associated with sugar intake and maintain stable energy throughout the day. But it’s important to note that limited research has examined these purported effects.
What’s more, research suggests that high fat, low carb animal-based diets like the carnivore diet may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Limited research supports the health claims of the carnivore diet.
Since honey is not part of a strict carnivore diet, there are no set guidelines for how much honey you can consume. There are also no macronutrient criteria for a carnivore diet, but it usually consists of:
- Protein: 20% to 40%
- Fat: 60% to 80%
- Carbs: less than 5%
If you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, this equals a maximum of 100 calories from carb sources. That’s around
Limited research has examined the possible benefits of consuming honey on a carnivore diet.
Some research suggests that honey has a wide range of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
However, since it contains no protein, fat, or fiber, there are no compounds to modulate its impact on blood glucose, which is essential to managing metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Healthcare organizations consider honey just like other sugars and recommend consuming it in moderation. If you want to include honey in a modified carnivore diet, consider adding it to yoghurt or meat, or taking a spoonful raw.
That said, consuming plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains may be a more nutritious way of adding carbs to a carnivore diet.