Skip to content Honey is made primarily of natural sugars, including glucose and fructose. It also contains small amounts of water, minerals, enzymes, and plant compounds.
One theory suggests that a small amount of carbohydrate before bed may help maintain liver glycogen during the night.
Glycogen is a stored form of glucose. The liver can release glucose between meals to help keep blood sugar within a normal range. Some supporters of the honey remedy claim that providing a small amount of sugar before sleep may reduce the likelihood of waking when the body needs energy.
This idea is biologically plausible, but it has not been adequately demonstrated as an insomnia treatment.
Most healthy adults can regulate blood glucose throughout the night without eating honey before bed. Frequent nighttime waking is also more commonly associated with stress, an uncomfortable sleep environment, caffeine, alcohol, pain, medication, sleep apnea, or other health conditions.