Most of us will have a jar of honey in our kitchen cupboard. But how healthy is honey really? Here's what you want to know about the health benefits of honey.
Is honey healthier than sugar?
Honey is simply sugar: a mixture of glucose and fructose. The difference between granulated sugar and honey is that honey contains a little more water, so it has slightly fewer calories per hundred grams. In addition, honey contains a small number of minerals, vitamins, and protein. But this is such a small amount that it does not contribute to what you get in a total of these nutrients.
Antioxidants
Honey contains many antioxidants such as phenols, enzymes, and flavonoids. These help counteract substances that can damage our bodies. They also lower the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.
Better for blood sugar levels than "regular" sugar
Honey has some minor advantages over "regular" sugar for blood sugar levels. Although honey raises your blood sugar like other types of sugar, the antioxidants in honey protect against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Also, researchers have shown that honey can increase levels of adiponectin. That is a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation. Although honey is slightly better for diabetics than other sugars, it should still be eaten in moderation.
Honey to treat wounds
For years, honey has been used to heal wounds. In 2015, researchers analyzed 26 studies on the link between honey and wound healing. They found that honey works best for healing wounds that have become infected after surgery.
It can lower triglyceride levels
Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood that increase the risk of heart disease. In addition, they can indicate insulin resistance, which can be a causative factor in type 2 diabetes. In general, eating sugary foods causes triglyceride levels to rise, but research shows that eating honey can cause a reduction in those levels. This appears to be especially true when honey is used as a substitute for sugar.