Honey and sugar are the most commonly used as sweeteners in drinks, meals, or snacks. Both honey and sugar are carbohydrates and both of them are composed from two kinds of sugar that is glucose and fructose. But they have different portion of glucose and fructose. Sugar contains 50% of glucose and 50% of fructose. Meanwhile, honey is less in the portion of glucose and fructose comparing to sugar; 30% of glucose and 40% of fructose. However, both benefits of honey and benefits of sugar also provides health benefits for human.
What makes honey is healthier than sugar is because honey contains less glycemic index (GI) which means that sugar raises blood sugar levels more quickly than honey. Besides that, honey contains higher fructose content than glucose. Because fructose is sweeter than glucose, you only need to add smaller amount of honey in your drinks, meals, or snacks without losing the sweetness. Want to know other health benefits when you replace sugar with honey? Keep reading on this article.
Nutritional Information of Honey
Basically, honey consists of two kinds of sugar and water. It is made up from glucose (30%) and fructose (40%), set of minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron. Honey is sweeter than sugar because of the high content of fructose (40%).
Besides, adding honey to snacks or drinks or meals, honey also can be eaten raw and serves health benefits of raw honey and health benefits of local raw honey. For the detail nutrition information of honey, please look at the lists below.
Per 100 grams of raw honey contains:
Besides on the lists, honey is also the source of vitamin B, vitamin C, antioxidants, amino acids, and enzymes. The antioxidant found in honey is classified as flavonoids. It has anti-inflammatory which is good for body health.
Health Benefits of Replacing Sugar With Honey
The reason why replacing sugar with honey is good because honey serves more health benefits for us. The rich content of antioxidants and other substances is able to prevent and treat from numerous health problems. You may also read benefits of honey to a pregnant women
Honey is rich in antioxidants. The important antioxidants such as phenols, enzymes, flavonoids, and organic acids will be very helpful for body health if all compounds are combined because it will make a powerful antioxidant. A powerful antioxidant is able to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and some types of cancer. Moreover, it is also able to promote healthy eyes. You may also read health benefits of black sugar
Honey is a rich source of chemical substances such as flavonoids. Flavonoids have been believed to have anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-allergic properties. The high content of flavonoids in honey can be a healthier alternative to sugar.
Although honey can increase blood sugar level, but on the other hand it is able to lower the risk factors that are common to be the cause of diabetes disease. Honey can lower LDL cholesterols, triglycerides and inflammation, and raises HDL. HDL is good cholesterol for human.
You may also read: Health Benefits of Himalayan Honey
Honey has ability to reduce the LDL cholesterol level which is significant factor for heart disease. On the contrary, honey can increase the cholesterol level but the HDL one. HDL is good cholesterol that does no harm for our health.
Beside LDL and blood pressure, triglycerides also which are considered as important factor to cause heart disease. Moreover, it is also an indication of insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes). Base on multiple studies, honey is claimed to be able to lower triglycerides levels, especially when it is used to replace sugar.
The antioxidants content in honey is believed to be able to lower blood pressure. As we know that blood pressure is the main factor of getting heart disease.
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As it has stated above that honey is rich in phenols and other compounds that makes it powerful antioxidant. Honey is very good for health benefits of honey for heart. Honey may help the arteries in heart dilate, also increase blood flow to the heart. In addition, it can help to prevent the formation of blood clots which will cause stroke and heart disease.
Honey has been used as an antiseptic for years. It is claimed that able to speed up the recovery of wounds, ulcers, and burns. The high content of glucose and fructose easily absorbs water in the wound and inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Honey also can be used to your skin, especially when you used it to heal your wound and burns. Apparently, that usage has been applied since ancient Egypt. It is because the contents of honey found to be the most effective at healing partial thickness burns and wounds, for example after you undergo surgery.
Parents usually give their children honey if they have cough to relieve the cough. Cough is a common problem with upper respiratory infections. It can happen not only in children, but at all ages. Type of honey which is good to relieve cough is benefits rowse honey to relieve cough.
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More Health Benefits of Replacing Sugar with Honey
Even though honey provides lots of health benefits for us, but on the other side it still has disadvantages for us. What are the disadvantages? Let’s check this out.
You still need to be aware when you give honey to your little kid especially infant under 12 months. Honey contains bacterial spores which can cause botulism in infants. Infant botulism can be seen from some indications like constipation, generalized weakness, and a weak cry.
Honey can has similar effects as sugar on the level of blood glucose. It can increase the level of blood glucose which will be dangerous for diabetic people. Moreover, it can lead to get diseases such as weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Thus, there are many health benefits of replacing sugar with honey, in order to create a healthier lifestyle.