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So I’ve talked about the dangers of sugar and we’re seeing more and more people try and eliminate it from their diet. So what are the alternatives? Hopefully you know to steer away from artificial sweeteners but what about honey? It’s natural, contains antioxidants and it’s been around for thousands of years. Is honey a good substitute for sugar? Let’s find out. Honey Better Than Sugar? Sugar is half glucose (a simple sugar absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion) and half fructose (fruit sugar). It’s broken down very easily and leads to a spike in blood sugar levels (not so good). Honey has a different chemical structure. It contains 30 per cent glucose, 40 per cent fructose and the remainder made up of complex sugars and water. As a result, your body has a harder time digesting it which means you end up accumulating fewer calories from it. Honey also contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, niacin and more. So if you’re going to sweeten your dish, ditch the sugar and definitely go with honey but don’t go overboard because it will still raise your blood glucose levels. Here’s why. Health Benefits of Honey Each serving of honey contains antioxidants which are important for protecting your cells from free radicals. Lighter honey contains less while the darker honey contains more. Antioxidants are vital for improving health and minimises the chances of diseases forming. Honey has an antimicrobial effect against many bacteria and fungi so researchers in England are using it to treat mouth and throat cancer to see if it reduces the chances of contracting bacterial infections. This antibacterial compound found in various types of honey called methylglyoxal releases hydrogen peroxide and fights infections in your body. It can also help heal wounds and ulcers, offer relief from diarrhoea, allergies and sunburn. In tests conducted utilising methylglyoxal, the bacteria’s causing e-coli and strep were eliminated. Types of Honey Ok, fair point. But there are so many different types of honey out there! It is important to know that not all honey contains the benefits listed above. Most honey found in the supermarket have been put through a heating process which leaves the honey depleted of all its vitamins, minerals and thus healing properties. The bees are usually kept close to crops which are sprayed with pesticides which makes them sick and kills many of them. It’s also a fact that bees are often fed high fructose corn syrup which is made from genetically modified corn! Seriously, what is this world coming to right?? If you’re going to buy commercial honey you may as well buy sugar. What you want to look for is raw honey. It’s the real deal - unheated, unprocessed and contains trace minerals, vitamins and enzymes. Raw honey is antibacterial, anti fungal and antiseptic. It’s usually much more viscous than commercial honey which is very watery. Certified Organic honey has to come from bees and bee hives that are 5 km away from any crops that are exposed to pesticides and all equipment used in the bee keeping process must all be organic. It also can’t be heated over 45 degrees Celsius. Manuka honey comes from bees that feed off the flowers of the Manuka bush in New Zealand. It’s darker and richer than other types of honey meaning it contains more antioxidants. It also contains 70 times more methylglyoxal, than other types of honey making this honey the choice of true health seekers. When choosing a honey I would definitely go for a raw honey or Manuka honey. Is Honey For Everyone? While honey has some incredible health and healing benefits it’s not for everyone. You shouldn’t give honey to a child under the age of one as honey may contain spores of bacteria which can cause botulism. However, a pregnant woman’s body can break down the bacteria and it is therefore safe for her to consume. Diabetics and those who deal with glucose dips and spikes should avoid honey. If you’re trying to lose weight, honey should be limited or avoided all together. For more natural health tips visit our blog at: http://www.alkalife.com.au/blog
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