Sugar or honey? It is one of the many questions you may have when choosing a sweetener; especially if you are dieting, trying to watch your weight, or simply wish to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible. So, what is the difference between honey and sugar? Are there many? Is one truly healthier than the other? These are a few of the answers to the question.
Manufacturing -
The manufacturing process for sugar typically eliminates all the health benefits in the sweetener. From vitamins and minerals to organic components, and nitrogen elements, all are eliminated during the processing of refined sugars. On the flip side, honey production doesn't eliminate these components. It also features additional health benefits including: antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, as well as antioxidants which are essential to your system.
Caloric content -
Although not significantly different, sugar has about 16 calories per tsp while honey has 22 calories. But, on the other end, honey is sweeter, meaning most people typically use less than a tsp to sweeten coffee or other foods, so the caloric content is fairly similar in both. Honey also has a lower glycemic index than sugar, meaning sugar is absorbed at a slower rate by the body. Sugar will tend to increase blood glucose levels, causing you to overeat it. So at the end of the day, the 6 calorie difference is minimal, and individuals typically end up consuming less honey than sugar.
Health benefits -
Most honey products contain vitamins B, B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6; additionally, vitamin C levels are high in honey. High mineral content, calcium, magnesium, and other important vitamins which the body requires are found in honey, which is not the case with sugar based products. Further, sugars are refined in the production process, meaning artificial ingredients are further added in the process, which is not the case when honey is produced for consumption.
Honey is healthier on many fronts, and is the far superior option when choosing a sweetener for foods or beverages. Whether baking, adding it to your coffee or tea, or simply consuming a tsp daily, honey has a number of health benefits which are not found in sugar. Add in the fact that organic raw honey is all natural, and doesn't contain fillers or byproducts, and you have a product which is much healthier, while providing the same sweetness levels you would attain from using artificial sweeteners or sugar products in your foods and drinks.
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