Honey has long been an integral part of Ayurveda, prescribed for ailments and used widely in drinks, desserts, and home remedies. But could this kitchen staple actually become harmful when heated?

Ayurvedic health coach Dimple Jangda recently raised the alarm in an Instagram Reel , cautioning against cooking with honey. “Heating honey alters its chemical structure through the Maillard reaction, producing a toxin called *5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF),” she explained. Ayurvedic texts such as the Charaka Samhita have long warned against heated honey, describing it as forming ama — indigestible residue that behaves like poison inside the body.

But does this mean your go-to-morning cup of honey is harmful? Taking cue from Jangda’s Reel, we reached out to Dr Priyanka Shukla, HOD of diete

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