Is Honey Better Than White Sugar?

The Yolk

Honey may raise blood sugar less than white sugar

• Glycemic index is slightly lower for honey
  • Glycemic index – how much a food raises your blood sugar
  • This varies between honey types and fructose content
    • Raw honey raises blood sugar less, but likely not by much
• Diabetes benefit
  • Natural simple sugars like honey are shown to be better for diabetics

Honey might add extra health benefits, white sugar adds none

• Antioxidant
  • Flavanoids have positive health benefits
    • Difficult to find amounts in honey and varies across types
    • Benefits to cardiovascular disease
• Antibacterial
  • Because of low moisture, hydrogen peroxide, and acidity in honey
  • Manuka honey has many benefits
    • Decreased the amount of plaque on teeth
    • Shows the most benefit for antibacterial uses
• May reduce sugar consumption
  • Honey is sweeter and less is needed for taste

The type of honey might matter

• Raw honey
  • Trace vitamins and minerals
  • Antioxidants
  • Sweeter
• Regular honey
  • Pasteurization heat removes some benefit
• Manuka shows the most benefit
• The trace amounts in raw are insignificant with the amount that will likely be consumed

Perspective

• Yes, honey is superior for a sweet treat as you would need less
  • Chose recipes using honey rather than white sugar
• Honey is still a sugar and will raise blood sugar
  • Enjoy sparingly
• The best approach is to cut back on sugar amounts slowly to adjust your preferred sweetness over time
  • Enjoy sugars sparingly and there’s no need to reach for artificial sugars

Research & Resources

• Honey may be a helpful substitute for sugar for those with mild diabetes
• A1C (glucose over time) increased significantly with honey intake but found other protective effects
• Honey did not increase weight and may have positive effects on cardiovascular measures
• Manuka honey and antibacterial properties

Recommendations

• Manuka honey
• Raw honey
• Honey recipes