Are Honey Buns Bad For You?
Short answer
Honey buns are full of sugar and saturated fats, and depending on the brand may be full of chemical additives. They have only marginal amounts of the nutrients your body needs. Eating honey buns once in a blue moon is okay, but they're bad for you.
Recommended Alternative
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Honey buns are loaded with sugar. The sugar they contain is delivered quickly to your bloodstream, causing a blood sugar spike - you get a temporary high followed by a crash. When your blood sugar spikes, the body converts a good portion of it into fats for storage. If you're trying to watch your weight, honey buns are a poor choice.
The high sugar content in honey buns is also bad for your teeth. The sugar feeds the bacteria who live in your mouth. They excrete acids that break down the protective lining of your teeth, thus increasing your risk for cavities and gum disease. Brushing helps, but a strict dental hygiene regimen isn't enough - eating high-sugar foods like honey buns is still a bad bet.
Honey buns deliver all that sugar and fat with only marginal levels of the vitamins and nutrients you'd get from eating other foods. This is what scientists call "empty calories" - they give you temporary energy and not much else. It's not enough to eat 2,000 calories a day, as the USDA recommends: you also need the vitamins and minerals that accompany those calories in whole, unprocessed foods. Honey buns have almost none of those nutrients and are thus a poor way to get calories.
Store bought honey buns - such as those manufactured by Little Debbie - are rich in preservatives like TBHQ. TBHQ alone has its own laundry list of side effects, including hyperactivity and the worsening of conditions like asthma and arthritis. Although these preservatives are present in small amounts approved as safe by the federal government, prominent journalists and food scientists have raised the alarm about the prevalence of these novel food-like chemicals in the things which we eat. Journalist Michael Pollan recommends we avoid foods with ingredients that we can't pronounce. Read the back of a package of honey buns and you'll find a long list, most of it unpronounceable.
Honey buns are also rich in saturated fats. While saturated fats have been deemed safe to consume in moderate amounts, too much has been linked to heart disease, an increase of "bad" cholesterol, and obesity. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat no more than 13 grams of saturated fat a day. Eating two honey buns will account for your entire intake.
Possible short-term side effects
Possible long-term side effects
- cavities
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weight gain
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heart attack
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diabetes
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heart disease
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stroke
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others depending on additives
Ingredients to be aware of
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Dave's Killer Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
- Organic ingredients
- Rich in fiber
- Non-GMO
- No artificial preservatives
- Whole grain nutrition
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Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-19-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-19-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
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