Honey and milk: Benefits and drawbacks

The timeless duo of milk and honey frequently stars in both beverages and sweets.

With their soothing and reassuring qualities, milk and honey can infuse a delightful depth of taste into your cherished dishes.

Scientific studies have delved into their therapeutic attributes, often incorporating them as natural solutions for various health ailments.

What is your main goal?

Lose weight

Gain muscles

Eat healthy

Explore new cuisines

This piece will provide a balanced assessment of the advantages and potential downsides of consuming milk and honey.

In this article

Benefits of honey and milk

Pairing milk with honey may be associated with several potential health benefits.

Honey and milk may improve sleep quality

Many people drink a glass of warm milk with honey just before bed to help promote better sleep quality, and this remedy is backed by science.

A study including 68 people hospitalized for heart disease found that drinking a mixture of milk and honey twice daily for 3 days improved overall sleep quality.

Several studies have also noted that milk and honey could enhance sleep when used individually.

For example, one study showed that consuming 10 grams, or about 1/2 tablespoon, of honey 30 minutes before bedtime improved sleep quality and reduced nighttime coughing in 300 children with respiratory infections.

Similarly, a study of 421 older adults indicated that those who regularly consumed milk or milk products were less likely to have difficulty falling asleep.

Honey and milk may support bone strength

Milk is a great source of calcium, an important nutrient that plays a key role in bone health.

Some research suggests that drinking milk could improve bone mineral density and may be linked to a lower risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Combining milk with honey could boost the former’s bone-building benefits even more.

One review reported that honey could protect bone health due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Another review of nine studies showed that supplementing with honey could reduce some of the negative effects of exercise while increasing bone formation.

Honey and milk could promote heart health

Milk and honey have each been associated with several potential benefits regarding heart health.

In particular, milk has been shown to increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels, which can help clear plaque from your arteries to protect against heart disease. However, this was only found to be true for whole milk, not skim milk.

Honey lemon water: An effective remedy or urban myth?

It’s also rich in potassium, an essential nutrient that can help reduce blood pressure levels.

Meanwhile, studies show that honey can reduce levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol — all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

It may even decrease several markers of inflammation, which could also contribute to heart disease.

Summary: Some studies have found that milk and honey may help improve sleep quality, support bone strength, and promote heart health.

Drawbacks of honey and milk

Although milk and honey may offer several health benefits, there are a few drawbacks.

For starters, cow’s milk may not be suitable if you’re lactose intolerant, following a dairy-free diet, or have a milk allergy.

Dairy consumption could also be tied to a higher risk of certain skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, and eczema.

It’s also important to remember that although honey has health properties, it’s high in sugar and calories.

Consuming high amounts of added sugar could contribute to weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and liver problems.

Honey is also unsuitable for children younger than 12 months old, as it contains bacteria that could contribute to infant botulism, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Additionally, heating honey to high temperatures can increase the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a compound that can positively and negatively affect health when consumed in large amounts.

Therefore, it’s best to moderate your intake and avoid heating it to high temperatures to maximize its potential health benefits.

Summary: Milk may increase your risk of certain skin conditions and be unsuitable for some people. Honey is also high in sugar and calories and can increase levels of HMF when heated. Additionally, it’s unsuitable for children younger than 12 months.