Honey vs. sugar

The last couple of years has given rise to a more organic approach when it comes to healthy eating. One thing that has been said to be a much healthier (organic) alternative, when it comes to sugar, is honey. Most people would be quick to agree. Sugar is, after all, the scale’s worst enemy. However, there is much more behind the sugar vs. honey debate than you might think.

There might be some grounds for honey’s soaring reputation, but it is important to note that it is not considered one of the healthiest foods out there. Honey and sugar are both carbohydrates and are primarily made up of glucose and fructose. Spoiler alert: They both can result in weight gain if overused!

We cannot entirely debunk the benefits of honey. Honey is higher in fructose than glucose. Fructose is sweeter than glucose, so you may be able to use a smaller amount of honey in your food or drink without sacrificing sweetness.

Honey also contains traces of vitamins, minerals, and antimicrobial properties. When used as a salve in gel form, it may help promote healing in wounds and minor burns.

Raw honey can help with your allergies. Because raw honey is unpasteurized, it contains trace amounts of local pollen, which may help desensitize allergic reactions.

It still comes down to a harsh truth.  At around 22 calories per teaspoon, honey is high in calories. It consists primarily of sugar and should be used sparingly. This is especially true if you have health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, or obesity.

Now that we have scrutinized honey for all its worth, we should take a hard look at sugar.

Added sugars (like sucrose and high fructose corn syrup) contain a whole bunch of calories with no essential nutrients. For this reason, sugar is also called “empty calories”.

“Eating too much sweets will make your teeth rot”, is not just a scare tactic used by parents who want their children to eat their meals. Sugar is truly bad for teeth, because it provides easily digestible energy for the bad bacteria in the mouth.

When people eat a lot of sugar, it can cause resistance to the hormone insulin, which can contribute to many diseases. Because of these harmful effects of sugar on the function of insulin, it is a leading driver of type II diabetes.

It all comes down to moderation. Although honey has seemingly more nutritional value than sugar, it can be just as detrimental to your health. Keep that in mind next time you reach for the sugar or honey in your cupboard.