Honey is an amazing natural sweetener produced by bees from plant nectars. Also known as a great anti-bacterial and antioxidant, honey kills certain bacteria and fungi and helps protect your body cells from damage. Many studies suggest honey's antioxidants improve cholesterol levels, which could reduce the risk of heart disease.

It also serves as a great barrier to moisture and keeps your skin from sticking to wound dressings.

And apart from so many health benefits, honey is also used in various dishes to enhance flavour. However, according to experts, you must not add it to anything you like, as certain combinations with honey may do more harm than good. A few foods that can make honey toxic when combined together, include:

Garlic and honey are both anti-viral agents that help keep infections, especially in the rainy season, away. However, doctors warn against combining the two ingredients as it can cause digestive discomfort or aggravate gastrointestinal issues in some people.

Garlic is loaded with strong antimicrobial properties, and when mixed with honey, it affects how the body processes the combination.

Doctors say mixing honey with hot water can be harmful for several reasons, a few of which include:

Hot water destroys the beneficial enzymes and nutrients in honey. According to a study, honey at 140°C affected its taste, and nutritional value, and potentially made it extremely toxic.

Research says adding honey to hot water – which means increasing its temperature can release 5-hydroxymethylfurfural or HMF, which is thought to be carcinogenic. So, it is best to use warm water that is around 37-43°C and raw honey, which is less processed and retains more nutrients.

Even though it is a popular combination, experts warn against using honey with cucumber since its cooling and diuretic properties can trigger skin or digestive issues when combined with the sweetener.

Make sure to not combine honey with any non-vegetarian items – especially white fish and red meat. According to experts, do not consume honey one hour before and one hour after eating meat or fish, as it can trigger digestive issues – including stomachache, heartburn, and even diarrrhoea.

However, if the two are on a serving table together, make sure to wait at least 30 minutes after eating fish before eating honey and only use a small amount if used for cooking any non-veg food.

Mixing honey and ghee can be a dangerous combination, as it can be toxic. According to an animal study published in Toxicology Reports, rats were given honey and ghee in equal ratio but experienced extreme side effects, which included hair loss, weight loss, and red patches on the ears.

According to experts, mixing can create a toxin known as Clostridium Botulinum, which spreads throughout the body and causes respiratory issues and even cancer. This toxin can be especially harmful in low-oxygen environments.

Also, since honey is a complex polysaccharide and ghee - a complex chain of fatty acids - when taken together, they interact in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to indigestion and the accumulation of free radicals, which can cause health issues.

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