Although both may add sweetness to your drink, their nutritional benefits vary. Honey and sugar are both carbohydrates composed primarily of glucose and fructose.
Both can result in weight gain if overused. So which is healthier? Bees use the nectar they collect from flowers to create honey. This thick substance is typically consumed in liquid form and can range in color from pale yellow to dark brown. Honey is composed primarily of water and two sugars: fructose and glucose. It also contains trace amounts of:. Many of the antioxidants found in honey are classified as flavonoids.
Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties, which may provide some health benefits. The exact nutritional makeup of honey varies based on its origin. There are more than varieties of honey, including:. Each variety of honey has a distinct color and flavor. For example, buckwheat honey is a popular dark honey known for its malty taste. 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.
The trace amounts of vitamins and minerals found in honey may also have added health benefits. Raw, unpasteurized honey contains trace amounts of local pollen, which may help desensitize allergic reactions. Overall, honey goes through less processing than sugar does. It requires pasteurization only to become table ready.
Honey can also be eaten raw. 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. Honey may be dangerous for infants younger than a year. This is because it contains bacterial spores that can cause botulism in infants. Sugar is made up of a combination of glucose and fructose, which bond together to form sucrose.
It has no added vitamins or nutrients. A calorie-dense carbohydrate, sugar is derived from sugar beet and sugar cane plants.
Infant botulism is a unique form of food poisoning. Children under twelve months of age may not have a strong enough immune system or sufficient stomach acids to fend off this form of bacterial spore.
When a young child eats the tainted honey, the bacterial spores activate and produce botulism food poisoning. Although the risk is very low, children should not be fed honey until they have reached one year of age to avoid potential food poisoning. So is there a definitive answer to which is healthier, honey or sugar? Both should be consumed in limited amounts. Honey may have a slight edge, but excess consumption of either is more dangerous to your health than the advantage of choosing one over the other.
If you are interested in beekeeping there are several groups in this area including one located in Miller County, as well as a seminar coming soon. For more information about the group or honey, contact the Miller County Extension Office, or visit us in room at the Miller County Courthouse. We're online at chadley uada. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office or other appropriate office as soon as possible.
Dial for Arkansas Relay. Honey Versus Sugar-Which is Healthier? If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Honey and sugar are two of the most commonly used sweeteners. Honey is often regarded as the more healthful option, but is this really the case? Both honey and sugar add sweetness to meals and snacks. However, they have different tastes, textures, and nutritional profiles.
This article explores the benefits and disadvantages of both honey and sugar for health and diet. Honey and sugar are both carbohydrates , consisting of the two types of sugar: glucose and fructose.
Refined fructose, which is found in sweeteners, is metabolized by the liver and has been associated with:. Both fructose and glucose are broken down quickly by the body and can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Sugar is higher on the glycemic index GI than honey, meaning it raises blood sugar levels more quickly.
This is due to its higher fructose content, and the absence of trace minerals. But honey has slightly more calories than sugar, although it is sweeter, so less may be required. Both sweeteners can lead to weight gain if overused. It is a viscous liquid produced by honeybees and ranges in color from straw yellow to dark brown. The bees collect nectar from flowers and mix it with enzymes to form honey before storing it in honeycomb cells to keep it fresh.
Honey varies in its nutritional composition based on the origin of the nectar used to make it. In general, it contains trace amounts of local pollen along with other substances, such as:. Some research indicates that dark honey has more antioxidants than light honey. Also, honey is less processed than sugar as it is usually only pasteurized before use.
Raw honey is also edible and contains more antioxidants and enzymes than pasteurized varieties. A study found that children with bronchitis who were given dark honey experienced greater symptom relief than those taking a placebo. However, the benefits were small. More recent research suggests that honey is better than no treatment at all for a cough, although some medications provide greater symptom relief.
Anecdotal reports indicate that locally-produced honey may help reduce seasonal allergy symptoms. However, clinical studies have not demonstrated this consistently. One study published in , found that people with birch pollen allergy, who took birch pollen honey, experienced:.
They were also able to reduce their antihistamine intake by 50 percent compared to the control group. Also, one treatment for allergies is to desensitize the body to reactions by repeatedly introducing small amounts of allergens.
In line with this, local honey may contain traces of the pollens that cause seasonal allergies. Due to its composition, regular sugar has to be ingested before being broken down. As bees add enzymes to honey, the sugars are already partially broken down, making it easier to digest. A variety of honey products are available for purchase online. One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, which is higher than that of sugar at 49 calories per tablespoon.
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