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Does Honey Make You Last Longer?

Kelly Brown MD, MBA

Reviewed by Kelly Brown, MD

Written by Rachel Sacks

Published 04/24/2023

Updated 03/05/2024

There are probably many of us who would like to last longer in bed. Whether you want to enhance your own or your partner’s pleasure, more stamina is almost always a good thing when it comes to sexual performance.

If you’re looking to increase your sexual stamina and last longer during sex, there are several things that you can do, from using medication to making lifestyle changes and adding certain foods to your diet.

Particular nutrients from foods can help increase your sexual prowess. But which foods in particular? For example, does honey make you last longer in bed?

This guide will explore whether there are honey benefits sexually and other ways to last longer in bed.

We’ll cut right to the chase and answer the question on your mind — does honey make you last longer in bed? Or does a teaspoon of honey make you last longer if you drink tea with honey?

The current research on whether honey increases your sexual stamina is lacking. So does honey really make you last longer? Currently, it’s unclear.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other benefits of honey — some of which may even help improve sexual health or conditions like erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE).

Keep reading to learn about possible honey benefits sexually.

While the answer to “does a teaspoon of honey make you last longer” is unclear, there are still health benefits to this natural sweetener.

A syrupy liquid that honeybees make from plant nectar, honey is used in many foods and recipes. It’s thought that humans have used honey for over 8,000 years, according to some historical evidence.

But there’s more to this sweetener — 100 grams of honey contains a variety of nutrients:

  • 304 calories

  • 0 grams fat

  • 82 grams carbs

Honey also contains small amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium and other important nutrients. However, people typically don’t consume enough honey for it to be a significant dietary source of vitamins and minerals.

Raw honey naturally offers many healthful properties:

  • Antibacterial action

  • Wound-healing effects

  • Dietary antioxidants

  • Anti-inflammatory effects

A 2017 review on bee pollen found that bee propolis — a glue-like substance bees use to hold their hive together — found in raw honey can also offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.

Treatments for PE

How to keep a good thing going (and going)

Antioxidant Properties

Many of honey’s health benefits are attributed to its antioxidant content.

High-quality honey — which is minimally processed, unheated and fresh — contains important bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Antioxidants help neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) in your body, which can build up in cells and cause damage. This damage can contribute to conditions like premature aging, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Diabetes and heart disease are two health conditions that can cause erectile dysfunction.Erectile dysfunction is when a penile erection isn’t firm enough for sex. Symptoms of erectile dysfunction can also include difficulty maintaining an erection, loss of interest in sex, painful penile erections or more.

Treatments for PE

Winners finish last

May Be Better for Blood Sugar Than Sugar

Honey may offer some slight benefits over regular sugar when it comes to managing blood sugar levels.

Although honey raises your blood sugar level just like other types of sugar do and is essentially pure sugar, the antioxidants it contains may help protect against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers have found that honey may increase levels of adiponectin, a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation.

But while honey may be better for those with diabetes, it should still be consumed in moderation due to its high sugar content.

May Improve Heart Health

Consuming honey may help your heart.

A review of honey and its effects on cardiovascular disease found that it may help lower blood pressure, improve blood fat levels, regulate your heartbeat and prevent the death of healthy cells — all factors that can improve your heart function and health.

Another study in rats showed that honey helped protect the heart from oxidative stress.

However, there haven’t been any long-term human studies on the effects of honey on blood pressure and heart health.

Antibacterial Properties

Honey is a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial agent. It contains hydrogen peroxide and glucose oxidase and has a low pH level that can kill harmful bacteria and fungi.

Research has shown that manuka honey — a type of raw honey — can kill common pathogens:

  • Escherichia coli or E. coli, a bacteria that causes food poisoning and wound infections

  • Staphylococcus aureus or S. aureus, a microbe that causes skin infections

  • Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori, a bacteria that causes stomach ulcers and chronic gastritis

So, does honey make you last longer? The answer is unknown due to a lack of research and clinical trials on the effects of honey and sexual stamina.

But there are other health benefits of honey, such as improved heart health, antioxidant content, antibacterial properties and possibly improved blood sugar — all of which can help you in the bedroom in the long term.

Consuming honey for erectile dysfunction or to improve sexual prowess may not be the most direct way. Instead, talk to a healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms and look into treatment options.

The most effective way to treat erectile dysfunction is through the use of medications like sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®) and tadalafil (Cialis®). You can also read the Best and Worst Foods for ED, Which Foods Cause Premature Ejaculation and other ways to increase sexual stamina.

10 Sources

  1. Samarghandian, S., Farkhondeh, T., & Samini, F. (2017). Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research. Pharmacognosy Research, 9(2), 121-127. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424551/
  2. FoodData Central Search Results. (n.d.). FoodData Central. Retrieved from https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1103956/nutrients
  3. Pasupuleti, V. R., Sammugam, L., Ramesh, N., & Gan, S. H. (2016). Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549483/
  4. Cianciosi, D., Forbes-Hernández, T. Y., Afrin, S., Gasparrini, M., Reboredo-Rodriguez, P., Manna, P. P., Zhang, J., Lamas, L. B., Flórez, S. M., Toyos, P. A., Quiles, J. L., Giampieri, F., & Battino, M. (2018). Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Their Associated Health Benefits: A Review. Molecules : A Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry, 23(9). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6225430/
  5. Pizzino, G., Irrera, N., Cucinotta, M., Pallio, G., Mannino, F., Arcoraci, V., Squadrito, F., Altavilla, D., & Bitto, A. (2016). Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5551541/
  6. Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction - NIDDK. (n.d.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes
  7. Ramli, N. Z., Chin, Y., Zarkasi, K. A., & Ahmad, F. (2018). A Review on the Protective Effects of Honey against Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients, 10(8). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6115915/
  8. Hj Idrus, R. B., Afifah Veronica Sainik, N. Q., Nordin, A., Saim, A. B., & Sulaiman, N. (2020). Cardioprotective Effects of Honey and Its Constituent: An Evidence-Based Review of Laboratory Studies and Clinical Trials. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(10). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7277934/
  9. Khalil, M. I., Tanvir, E. M., Afroz, R., Sulaiman, S. A., & Gan, S. H. (2015). Cardioprotective effects of Tualang Honey: Amelioration of cholesterol and cardiac enzymes levels. BioMed Research International, 2015, 1–8. Retrieved from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2015/286051/
  10. Mandal, M. D., & Mandal, S. (2011). Honey: Its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 1(2), 154-160. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/
Editorial Standards

Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

Kelly Brown MD, MBA
Kelly Brown, MD

Dr. Kelly Brown is a board certified Urologist and fellowship trained in Andrology. She is an accomplished men’s health expert with a robust background in healthcare innovation, clinical medicine, and academic research. Dr. Brown was previously Medical Director of a male fertility startup where she lead strategy and design of their digital health platform, an innovative education and telehealth model for delivering expert male fertility care.

She completed her undergraduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Heels!) with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science and a Minor in Chemistry. She took a position at University of California Los Angeles as a radiologic technologist in the department of Interventional Cardiology, further solidifying her passion for medicine. She also pursued the unique opportunity to lead departmental design and operational development at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, sparking her passion for the business of healthcare.

Dr. Brown then went on to obtain her doctorate in medicine from the prestigious Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine and Masters in Business Administration from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, with a concentration in Healthcare Management. During her surgical residency in Urology at University of California San Francisco, she utilized her research year to focus on innovations in telemedicine and then served as chief resident with significant contributions to clinical quality improvement. Dr. Brown then completed her Andrology Fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, furthering her expertise in male fertility, microsurgery, and sexual function.

Her dedication to caring for patients with compassion, understanding, as well as a unique ability to make guys instantly comfortable discussing anything from sex to sperm makes her a renowned clinician. In addition, her passion for innovation in healthcare combined with her business acumen makes her a formidable leader in the field of men’s health.

Dr. Brown is an avid adventurer; summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (twice!) and hiking the incredible Torres del Paine Trek in Patagonia, Chile. She deeply appreciates new challenges and diverse cultures on her travels. She lives in Denver with her husband, two children, and beloved Bernese Mountain Dog. You can find Dr. Brown on LinkedIn for more information.

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