Is Honey High in Histamine? Understanding its Place in a Low-Histamine Diet

October 4, 2025 •

4 min read

While honey is often included in a low-histamine diet, its high sugar content and the presence of pollen can influence histamine levels in some people. The question, 'is honey high in histamine?' has a more complex answer than a simple yes or no, depending largely on an individual's sensitivity and the specific type of honey.

Quick Summary

Honey is generally low in histamine, but some people with histamine intolerance may react due to its sugar content, residual pollen, or other biogenic amines. Moderation and a person's individual tolerance level are key factors to consider.

Key Points

Honey is Low in Histamine: Pure honey itself is not a high-histamine food, unlike fermented or aged products.
Sugar Content Can Be a Trigger: Excessive honey consumption, like any sugar, can cause inflammation that may increase overall histamine levels in the body.
Pollen Causes Some Reactions: For individuals with pollen allergies, the trace amounts of pollen in honey can trigger a histamine release, leading to allergy-like symptoms.
Other Biogenic Amines Play a Role: Honey can contain small amounts of other biogenic amines that act similarly to histamine, potentially causing reactions in sensitive people.
Moderation is Essential: Individuals with histamine intolerance should consume honey in moderation and test their personal tolerance carefully.
Processing Matters: Fresher, less-processed honey generally has lower levels of biogenic amines and may be more tolerable.
Specific Honeys Offer Potential Benefits: Certain honeys like Manuka and Tualang have been studied for their anti-inflammatory and mast-cell stabilizing properties, though more research is needed.

Unpacking the Histamine Question: Is Honey a Friend or Foe?

For those managing histamine intolerance, navigating diet can be a tricky and complex process. While a simple 'low-histamine' list might suggest honey is safe, the reality is more intricate. The core question, "is honey high in histamine?" leads to a deeper look at several factors that can influence an individual's reaction, including inflammation from sugar, the presence of pollen, and other biogenic amines.

The Direct Answer: Honey is Not Inherently High in Histamine

Unlike fermented and aged foods that are notoriously high in histamine, pure, unprocessed honey is naturally low in this biogenic amine. Many low-histamine diet guides include it as an acceptable sweetener. This is because the process of honey production by bees does not involve the bacterial fermentation that creates high histamine levels in other foods. However, this is only part of the story for sensitive individuals.

Why Honey Can Still Be a Trigger

For someone with histamine intolerance, a reaction isn't always about the histamine content of the food itself. Other factors can come into play, causing a histamine release in the body. For honey, these factors include:

Sugar and Inflammation: The body treats honey like sugar, and high sugar consumption is known to cause inflammation, which can, in turn, lead to increased histamine levels. Managing blood sugar levels is a critical part of controlling histamine intolerance symptoms. Therefore, consuming honey in moderation is essential.
Pollen as an Allergen: The pollen found in honey can be a significant trigger for some people. While bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers, which are not typically the culprits for wind-borne seasonal allergies, the residual pollen can still provoke a histamine response in individuals with certain pollen allergies. It's the allergic reaction to the pollen, not the honey itself, that causes the issue.
Other Biogenic Amines: Honey contains trace amounts of other biogenic amines, such as putrescine and cadaverine. For highly sensitive individuals, these compounds can trigger mast cells to release histamine, adding to the body's overall histamine load. The level of these amines can vary depending on the honey's origin, processing, and storage.

The Anti-inflammatory Potential of Specific Honeys

Interestingly, while some elements of honey can be problematic, certain types have shown properties that may help stabilize mast cells and inhibit histamine release. These include:

Manuka Honey: Research has indicated that medical-grade Manuka honey can inhibit mast cell degranulation and the release of histamine in laboratory settings. This is often due to its high concentration of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Tualang and Kanuka Honeys: Other studies suggest these honeys also possess anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects by modulating mast cell response.

It is important to remember that most of these studies are preclinical, and the effects in humans may vary. The overall sugar load must still be considered when consuming these honeys.

Navigating Honey with Histamine Intolerance

To determine your personal tolerance, a cautious approach is recommended. This can involve:

Start with Small Amounts: When reintroducing honey, start with a very small amount and monitor your body's reaction.
Choose Fresh and Unprocessed: Opt for the freshest, least-processed honey available, as it is likely to have lower levels of biogenic amines compared to older or heavily processed varieties.
Pair with Other Foods: To minimize blood sugar spikes and potential inflammation, consume honey alongside foods containing fat, protein, or fiber.

Comparison of Honey and Alternatives for a Low-Histamine Diet


Feature	Fresh, Raw Honey	Aged/Processed Honey	Maple Syrup	Coconut Sugar
Inherent Histamine Content	Low	Low	Low	Low
Histamine Liberators (Pollen/Amines)	Trace amounts of pollen and biogenic amines possible	Trace amounts may increase with age/processing	None noted	None noted
Sugar Content	High	High	High	High
Processing	Minimal	May involve heating and filtration	Boiled sap of maple trees	Dehydrated coconut flower nectar
Potential for Histamine Trigger	Low-moderate, due to potential pollen/amine triggers and sugar load	Low-moderate, due to potential pollen/amine triggers and sugar load	Low, primarily due to sugar load	Low, primarily due to sugar load
Best for Highly Sensitive?	Use with caution, test tolerance	Best avoided for highly sensitive individuals	Generally safe in moderation	Generally safe in moderation

Conclusion: A Personal Threshold is Key

In conclusion, the claim that honey is high in histamine is largely a myth. However, for those with histamine intolerance, the potential for honey to cause symptoms is real due to its sugar content, residual pollen, or other biogenic amines. Moderation is paramount, and an individual's response is the ultimate guide. While some research points to beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in specific types of honey, navigating your tolerance through careful reintroduction and monitoring is the most reliable strategy. Always consult a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian, before making significant changes to your diet to ensure you are meeting your nutritional needs while managing your intolerance. For more information on histamine intolerance and its management, you can refer to resources from reputable health bodies like the NIH.

Low-Histamine Sweetener Alternatives

For those who find honey is a trigger, several other sweeteners are often well-tolerated on a low-histamine diet. These include:

Maple Syrup: A natural, unprocessed sweetener derived from maple trees.
Green Leaf Stevia: An unrefined, sugar-free sweetener that does not cause inflammation.
Coconut Sugar: Another low-processed alternative that can be used in moderation.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on individual sensitivity, and all should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

While honey is naturally low in histamine, sensitive individuals may react to the sugar content, which can cause inflammation, or to residual pollen and other biogenic amines that can trigger mast cells to release histamine.

Yes, generally. Fresher, raw, and less-processed honey is likely to contain lower levels of the biogenic amines that can trigger histamine release compared to heavily processed or aged honey.

Some studies have shown that Manuka honey possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can inhibit mast cell degranulation in laboratory settings, which may help manage allergic reactions. However, the sugar content still needs to be considered, and more research is needed.

For those sensitive to honey, alternatives such as pure maple syrup, green leaf stevia, or coconut sugar can be suitable sweeteners. Always use any sweetener in moderation.

It's unlikely. Seasonal allergies are most often caused by wind-borne pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, not the heavier, stickier pollen from flowers that bees collect for honey. However, some sensitive individuals may react to the specific pollen residue in honey.

Start with a very small amount of fresh, raw honey and monitor your symptoms. A food diary can help you track any reactions. If symptoms occur, consider trying an alternative sweetener.

No. The histamine-triggering potential of honey depends on its botanical source, processing, and freshness. Aged or heavily processed honey may contain higher levels of certain biogenic amines than fresh, raw honey.