Does Honey Relieve Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the foods you put on your plate can greatly affect your symptoms.
In fact, making dietary changes is one of the most effective ways to manage IBS symptoms, which include digestive issues like stomach pain, constipation, cramps, and diarrhea (1Trusted Source).

Honey is often touted as a healthy natural sweetener with powerful medicinal properties thanks to its ability to fight inflammation, prevent bacterial growth, and decrease oxidative stress (2Trusted Source).
Still, you may wonder whether it helps reduce — or worsens — any IBS symptoms.

This article examines the science to determine whether honey relieves or aggravates symptoms of IBS.
How does honey affect IBS?
Although no specific research exists on honey and IBS, studies demonstrate that this natural sweetener affects several aspects of digestive health.

For instance, one mice study found that honey alleviated constipation by drawing water into the stool and modifying the composition of beneficial bacteria in the animals’ guts (3Trusted SourceTrusted Source).
Thus, by acting as a natural laxative, honey may aid people with IBS who experience symptoms like constipation and bloating.
Keep in mind that research in humans is necessary.

What about manuka honey?
Both regular and manuka honey have digestive effects that may help relieve IBS symptoms, though the methylglyoxal in manuka honey may worsen symptoms. Overall, more research is needed.

Is honey a high or low FODMAP food?
Fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) are a group of carbs that are poorly absorbed in your gut and instead fermented by the bacteria in your colon.

For people with IBS, eating certain high FODMAP foods may worsen digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating, and stomach pain (7Trusted SourceTrusted Source).
Honey is high in fructose, a type of simple sugar that’s classified as a FODMAP (8Trusted Source).
For this reason, people following a low FODMAP diet often limit their intake of honey alongside other foods high in fructose, such as peaches, pears, apples, and cherries.

However, people with IBS may have varying levels of sensitivity to different foods. While some people may find that honey triggers digestive issues, others may have no issues tolerating honey or other high fructose foods (9Trusted Source).
Should you eat honey if you have IBS?
A low FODMAP diet may help you ascertain whether you’re sensitive to the effects of honey and other high fructose foods.