Honey is considered by many to be the world's oldest sweetener. The health benefits of honey have been noted by many people over the centuries. Even the ancient philosopher, Aristotle, wrote about the many nutritional and medicinal benefits of honey. Most people use sweeteners everyday so it's important to learn how honey differs from sugar.
The Main Differences Between Honey vs Sugar
Honey is regarded as a natural product while sugar is a man-made, highly processed product. Both of these sweeteners have glucose and fructose in them. In granulated sugar, the glucose and fructose are bonded together, these components in honey are separate. Fructose is more sweet tasting compared to glucose, and this is why so much fructose is being put into our processed foods today.
Fructose doesn't convert to energy very fast like glucose does. Because of this, processed foods that contain high amounts of fructose will be converted to fat more easily than honey. If you are trying to improve your diet or lose weight, you should avoid those kinds of food products.
The manufacturing process for sugar often eliminates many healthy components, such as protein, vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and nitrogen elements. Honey, doesn't go through this type of process and is usually only subjected to minimal heating. Honey contains other beneficial ingredients that have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that aren't contained in sugar.
Caloric content of table sugar differs from that of honey. One teaspoon of sugar has about 16 calories, and one teaspoon of honey has about 22 calories. Although, honey does have more calories, many people use less of it because it's sweeter. Because they use less, they often end up consuming less calories too.
Honey has a glycemic index that is lower than sugar and this means it's absorbed at a slower rate compared to sugar. Since sugar has a higher glycemic index it can increase your blood-glucose levels which could cause you to overeat. This is another reason why honey is healthier for you, especially if you are trying to shed those unwanted pounds.
Important Nutritional Facts and Health Benefits
There are several nutritional facts about honey that will certainly make you feel good about using honey instead of sugar. The single most important reason to eat honey is because of its many health benefits. It contains many minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium chlorine, phosphate, sulphur, and iron.
Most types of honey contain B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and C vitamins. It also has choline which is important for cell membrane growth and it has to be consumed because your body can't produce it. Acetylcholine is also found in honey and it works as a neurotransmitter. Sugar doesn't contain either one of the compounds.
The glucose in honey can be quickly absorbed into your body which will result in you having more energy. Fructose in honey will help your energy levels last longer compared to sugar. Studies have shown that honey increases the performance and endurance levels for athletes because it lowers muscle fatigue.
Scientists have stated that honey has many anti-bacterial properties that are powerful for fighting different types of bacteria. You can also use it to treat burns and other wounds because it promotes healing and helps to prevent infections. Many people use honey to treat their sore throats and it is also effective for treating upset stomachs.
Now that you have read the above, you know why so many people prefer using honey instead of sugar. These important health benefits can help you not only feel better if you are sick, but also help you lose weight faster. The very next time you are shopping for a sweetener, remember that honey is a wonderful natural product that contains far more nutritional ingredients than processed sugar.
