Honey contains mostly sugar, as well as a mix of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc and antioxidants. In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent.
Honey As Food
That being said, raw honey is more rich in nutrients and vitamins than white sugar – it contains vitamins and minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, vitamin B, and vitamin C, as well as electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids and flavonoids.
Honey is a natural sweetener. But this does not mean that we can consume it without limits. The recommendation for a healthy person, without weight problems, and who does not base his diet on an excessive consumption of sugars would be to take a maximum of one small spoon of honey a day.
It works as a natural laxative, boosts metabolism, improves memory, helps in combating seasonal flu, allergies, fever, cold, sore throat and has anti- carcinogenic properties, which prevent several types of cancer.
Honey boosts your metabolism, which is essential for weight loss. Honey is an excellent antioxidant, which means its regular consumption will cleanse your body of various toxins. In addition, its antibacterial properties will considerably improve the condition of your skin. Honey has no cholesterol at all.
One of the main advantages of using honey for bodybuilding is that it is a natural source of carbohydrates. In fact, just one tablespoon of honey contains about 64 calories. Carbohydrates are essential for bodybuilders because they are the body's primary fuel source.
The Manuka plant, also known as the New Zealand tea tree. The potency and health benefits of this dark pigmented sweet substance are incredible. Although honey of any sort has healthy properties, Manuka Honey has a higher concentration of Methylglyoxal, an enzyme derived right from the Manuka plant.
After the consumption of honey for 5 years, only 489 subjects developed dementia. This research by Al-Himyari (2009) set out that honey has memory booster effects to treat dementia and cognitive deterioration. It improves the cholinergic system and blood flow in the brain and has antioxidant effects.
Honey is still a form of sugar and intake should be moderate. The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more than 100 calories a day from added sugars; men no more than 150 calories a day. This is a little over two tablespoons for women and three tablespoons for men.
Normal Changes. Even though honey doesn't have an expiration date, it can still undergo natural changes. The National Honey Board says that over time honey may “darken and lose its aroma and flavor or crystallize,” depending on changes in temperature.
Honey may provide antidepressant or anti-anxiety benefits.
“Research suggests that polyphenol compounds in honey such as apigenin, caffeic acid, chrysin, ellagic acid and quercetin support a healthy nervous system, which may enhance memory and support mood,” says Blatner.
In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.
Manuka honey is more expensive than most other honey because it is rare and only produced in Australia and New Zealand. The flowers the bees collect the nectar from, to make Manuka honey are from the Leptospermum family, which is native to Australia. Farming Manuka honey costs more to produce than other honeys.
While Australian manuka honey may also have benefits, it isn't as well-researched and regulated. New Zealand Manuka comes only from the leptosperum scoparium plant, commonly known as the Manuka plant, while Australian manuka can come from any plant in the leptosperum species.
When honey is heated or cooked, the sugar and fructose in the honey change their chemical composition as a result of a browning effect called the Maillard Reaction. Heating or storing honey for long periods of time will increase the production of a toxic substance called 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF).
Bottom Line. So, is honey healthier than sugar? Both provide sweetness and have their place in your kitchen. However, research suggests that honey may have more health benefits than other forms of regular sugar, like granulated and cane.
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that is broken down within our bodies. Sugar gives cells the energy they need to function on a daily basis. It also helps your muscles have the power to push through an intense workout. The great thing about honey is that it is natural sugar so you are getting a clean boost of energy.
In addition, it influences serotonin, a hormone that helps regulate mood, pain and sleep. In this way, drinking honey at night will help us get a restful sleep and our body has a better rest and mood. Eating honey at night lowers blood pressure, therefore the body will be more relaxed and controlled.
Raw honey and pure honey are terms often used but they differ slightly. They are both taken directly from the hive but pure honey is gently filtered whereas raw honey isn't, its honey in its purest form.
Digestive issues like constipation can get worse with too much consumption of honey. The high fructose content in honey can lead to constipation, even if you don't have any existing issue. It can also lead to bloating or diarrhoea as your body cannot digest too much sugar at once.