Is Honey Really a Healthier Sugar Substitute?
Alright, let’s dive into the sweet world of honey. You know, those recipes that tout honey as the ultimate sugar substitute for your drinks, baked goods, and meals? Yeah, let's break that down a bit. Is honey really the golden ticket to a healthier you?
Honey is an excellent sweetener when kept in balance with a healthy diet. But the key here is ‘balance.’
Should You Replace Sugar With Honey?
If you've been scrolling through social media, you've probably seen folks pouring honey into everything, from their morning coffee to their grandma's secret cookie recipe. And let's be real, measuring seems to go out the window when honey's involved. But hold up—just because honey is less processed than table sugar doesn't mean you should go wild with it. Here are a few things you might want to know before you start substituting sugar with honey.
Honey is higher in calories than sugar.
A tablespoon of honey packs about 64 calories, while granulated sugar is around 50. So, if you're on a mission to shed some pounds, keep an eye on those honey drizzles.Honey is sweeter than sugar.
Honey is about 25% sweeter than sugar, which means you can use less of it to get the same level of sweetness. A good rule of thumb? If a recipe calls for a cup of sugar, use ½ to ¾ cup of honey or even less.Honey offers no advantage over sugar for people with diabetes.
Both honey and sugar will impact your blood sugar levels. Honey actually has slightly more carbohydrates than sugar, so if you're managing diabetes, those carbs need to be part of your game plan.Don’t give honey to infants.
Honey can contain bacterial spores that might cause botulism in kiddos under a year old. So keep that honey bear away from the little ones.
Now, I get it. There's this idea that less processed means healthier. But let's not kid ourselves—dumping loads of honey into your food because it's not white sugar is still adding calories.
People often see honey as the healthier alternative. They think less processing means a healthier product.
Honey’s Benefits
Honey’s main ingredients are fructose, glucose, and water. It’s still sugar, like table sugar, molasses, and brown sugar. But because it’s less processed, it retains more nutrients. Honey's got amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc, and antioxidants—all good stuff with health benefits.
Local honey is often touted for helping with seasonal allergies. If you're giving raw honey a shot for allergies, start small to make sure it doesn’t make things worse.
Where To Purchase Honey
You can snag our honey at Hive Bagel & Deli (276 South Front Street, Suite 105, Memphis 38103) and at Restaurant Iris (4550 Poplar Ave, Memphis 38117).
Unless you have specific reasons to avoid honey, it’s fine to use it in moderation. Just remember that while it looks healthy, it’s still a sugar.
So, there you have it. Enjoy your honey, but keep it real—everything in moderation, folks.