Honey has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which are not present in table sugar. Here are some key myths and facts which we discuss in this post; Honey vs Sugar.

2. Honey vs Sugar: Is Honey
Healthier?
• What do you reach out for when you brew a cup of hot tea, sugar or
honey? Both are food sweeteners but differ in their nutritional
benefits. Honey and sugar are carbohydrates that contain glucose
and fructose. However, in sugar, in the manufacturing process, the
organic acids, nitrogen elements, enzymes, vitamins and proteins in
the sugar cane are destroyed. In case of honey, just minimal heating
is required. Honey also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties
which are not present in table sugar. Here are some key myths and
facts which we discuss in this post; Honey vs Sugar

3. • Basics: Honey Vs Sugar
• It is essential to know the basics of anything before forming notions about
it. We all have heard about honey being the “The nectar of Gods”. Sugar is
considered bad for the health, but is it only the sugar? Let us first start with
the basics of both, Honey and Sugar and find out.
• Basics of Honey
• Honey is obtained as a result of the nectar collected by the bees from
flowers. It is found in liquid form which has a thick consistency. It can range
in colours from being pale yellow to dark brown.
It’s composition: honey is composed primarily of water and two major
sugars: Glucose and Fructose. It also consists of various enzymes, amino
acids, B vitamins, Vitamin C, Minerals and antioxidants. The antioxidants
found in honey are classified under flavonoids that are known for their anti-
inflammatory properties.
Nutritional Makeup: Honey is an excellent source of simple carbohydrates
which can instantly provide energy. It consists of 75-80% sugar. Due to the
presence of extraordinary levels of fructose, honey is sweeter than sugar. It
has 18%-25% of water content. It is often said the lesser the water content
of honey; better is its quality. Honey consists of 2% of minerals and
vitamins which can help in metabolising undesirable cholesterol and fatty
acids in the body and thus preventing obesity.It consists of 64 calories in
one tablespoon. This makes honey energy dense.

5. • Pros of Consuming Honey
• Honey has more levels of fructose than glucose, which leads to more
sweetness. This indicates you can use a smaller amount of honey as compared
to sugar in your foods and drinks without sacrificing the sweetness. The little
amounts of vitamins and minerals present in honey can benefit you more than
sugar. It can also help in desentisizing allergic reactions. It is anti-microbial in
nature. When used as a salve in gel form, it can assist in healing the wounds
and minor burns.It may also help deal with coughing and sore throats.
• Also Read : Top 10 Ways to Use Honey For Weight Loss!
• Downsides of Honey
• Honey consists of 64 calories per tablespoon, and that is high. It only includes
sugar primarily. Therefore it must be used sparingly. People who havediabetes,
heart diseases and obesity should keep a check on the amount of honey they
can consume by checking it out with a doctor.
• Warning for the Babies
Honey can be dangerous to the infants. This is because of the bacteria spores
present in honey that can cause botulism in infants. This can make the infants
ill. Therefore, it is advised not to give honey to the infants. In some cultures,
Honey is given to a baby when he or she is born. It is not advisable at all. Even
the smaller quantity of honey has the capacity of making the infant suffer from
botulism.
This was about the basics of Honey. To move further in this post of Honey vs
Sugar, we need to talk about the Sugar basics as well. Here are they.

6. Basics of Sugar
• Sugar is formed by a combination of glucose and fructose which bind together
to form sucrose. Since its manufacturing involves a lot of processing, sugar
lacks in vitamins and nutrients, unlike honey.
Its Derviation- Sugar is derived from sugar cane and sugar beet plants. It
requires multi-step processing before it reaches our tables. Now while talking
about sugar, one may ask about its different types. Sugar has three common
forms, brown sugar, raw sugar and the white sugar we usually eat. Brown sugar
is comprised of white sugar and molasses. This type of sugar may have some
traces of nutrients. It is primarily used for baking.Raw sugar is a less refined
form of white sugar. It is light brown in appearance and has larger crystals. Raw
and white sugar doesn’t vary in their nutritional content.
Nutritional Makeup of Sugar
Sugar is just 100% Sugar. No vitamins and minerals are present in sugar like
honey. This makes honey a better option.Here are the Pros and cons of eating
Sugar.
• Pros of Sugar
The recommended dietary allowance for carbohydrates per person (adults) is 130 grams.
That is what our brain requires to function. Sugar is an excellent source of fast fuel a.k.a
carbohydrates to the body. It is also low in calories. One spoon of sugar contains 16
calories approximately. It has a long shelf life, easily accessible and low cost.
• Cons of Sugar
It can increase the risk of certain diseases- eating a lot of sugar can increase the risk of
type 2 diabetes. It can also cause weight gain and obesity.
It can be harder to digest- while being very energy dense; it might be difficult for some
people to digest it because it doesn’t contain any enzymes, unlike honey.
So these were the benefits and downsides of sugar.

8. Benefits of Honey over Sugar: Is it Really
Better?
• • A lesser amount of honey is required- Honey has more calories than sugar, but
we need it in a smaller quantity as compared to sugar, since it is sweeter. In the
long run, honey is more expensive but can be used for a longer time if used
economically.
• • Honey is slowly absorbed- sugar is made up of sucrose which is bonded
together by two molecules. When we take sugar, our stomach has to use its
enzymes to digest it before we finally use its energy. Whereas in honey, fructose
and glucose are two sugars present separately because of the presence of a
specific enzyme that divides the nectar into these two sugars. The stomach does
not have to use its enzymes to break it anymore since they are absorbed directly
into the body. Hence, Honey vs Sugar, the glycemic index or GI of honey is lower
than sugar. This indicates that it is absorbed at much faster rates in the body.
The smaller the Glycemic Index rating, the slower is its absorption in the
bloodstream. This gradual uptake also indicates a healthier digestion process.
• • Honey is nutritious- Table sugar undergoes a lot of processing before it
becomes suitable for consumption. This, therefore, leads to sugar lacking in
minerals and vitamins that honey already possesses. Hence, sugar is often
called as ”empty calories”. In Honey vs Sugar, we recommend you to take honey
and not sugar if you are planning to shed some kilos since honey will be a
smarter choice.
Also, taste-wise honey has a better flavour over sugar. It can prove to be a better
sweetener in preparing certain dishes and beverages.

9. Bottom Line
Sugar and Honey are two very widely used sweeteners that have very
different tastes, textures and health benefits. You may find that some
people may enjoy the taste of sugar more than honey. It depends on
the personal preferences and the dish that’s on your table. Therefore,
taking both of Honey and Sugar in limited quantities does not harm the
health.
Honey has a better reputation in the eyes of many but sugar and honey
both used in excess can pose some health risks to a person, and
therefore, none of the both is BETTER over another.
This was about the Honey vs Sugar; Is Honey Better? We hope you
enjoyed reading the post. Do share the post if you like it. Take Care and
Stay Healthy and Happy.

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