Honey is often considered an all-natural alternative to table sugar—and has added antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. But, some social media users say that how you use honey can deactivate those health benefits.

For example, some wellness influencers say pouring honey into hot tea, coffee, or other liquids breaks down the sweetener’s beneficial properties and releases toxins.

Nutrition experts are not convinced. “There is a lot of misinformation about honey on the internet and social media,” Julie Stefanski, MEd, RDN, a Baltimore-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, told Verywell.

Here are six common honey myths and why you should keep on scrolling if they pop up in your social media feed.

1. Is Raw Honey Is Healthier Than Regular Honey

Farmers markets, local beekeepers, and natural grocery stores often sell raw honey. There is no standard definition of raw honey, but it is typically not heated or filtered. Some people believe raw honey is healthier than regular honey, but little evidence supports this claim.

A 2022 meta-analysis suggested that raw honey, clover honey, and Robinia honey help lower fasting glucose and total cholesterol, but the authors noted that more research is needed.

“Raw honey may contain yeasts, pollen, and very small amounts of active substances such as enzymes and plant chemicals known as antioxidants. Research studies have not confirmed that the presence of these substances leads to any specific health benefits,” Stefanski said.

Some people pick raw honey for its antioxidants, but this likely doesn’t make a big difference for overall health.

“In comparison to certain vegetables, like leafy greens, the amount of antioxidants you actually receive from eating honey is lacking,” Stefanski said.

2. Pouring Honey Into Hot Tea Releases Toxins

Some social media users have said that pouring honey into hot water or heating honey above 284°F (140°C) releases toxins or poisons.

While the idea likely came from Ayurvedic medicine, no current evidence supports this claim.

“As far as I know, there are no examples where people have poisoned themselves by putting honey in their tea or coffee,” said Donald W Schaffner, PhD, a distinguished professor and extension specialist, and chair of the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University.

“If honey contains toxins, it would not be allowed for sale,” he added.

3. It Isn’t Safe To Stir Honey With a Metal Spoon

Using a metal spoon won’t destroy your honey, and you don’t have to buy a special wooden honey dipper to mix the sweetener into your tea.

According to food scientist Schaffner, metals like silver and platinum could cause hydrogen peroxide, an antimicrobial molecule in honey, to break down into water and oxygen.

“I think most people don’t stir honey with silver or platinum spoons, so this is probably not a significant concern,” Schaffner said.

4. Honey Will Cure Your Allergies

Limited evidence suggests that honey may help improve some allergies. More research is needed to support these findings, but honey alone is not likely to stop your seasonal allergies.

Plus, the honey would need to be created within several miles of your home, Stefanski said. “A local honey harvested in upstate New York isn’t going to have the same benefits for someone having allergies in South Carolina, because the environmental allergens are different there.”

5. Honey Can Heal Wounds

Honey is said to have antimicrobial properties, which explains why some people put honey on wounds. You might even see honey wound cream—made with medical-grade honey—at the drugstore.

Unlike the honey you spread on toast, medical-grade honey is prepared specifically for contact with wounds and burns.

Some research has shown that medical-grade honey can help treat burn wounds, but that doesn’t mean a standard honey jar should replace your over-the-counter antibacterial ointment.

6. Honey Is Healthier Than Table Sugar

“Healthy” recipes often call for honey instead of table sugar. Even though honey has a reputation as a better option than other sweeteners, it is not necessarily healthier for you.

“Whether a sweetener is natural, such as honey or fruit sugar, or refined, like table sugar or corn syrup, they are all carbohydrates. When we eat or drink anything with carbohydrates, our body changes it into blood sugar before we store the sugar in our cells or use it for energy,” Stefanski said.

“While you may love the taste of honey, it’s important to not justify overuse by blowing tiny health claims into billboard-sized benefits,” she added.