When you brew a cup of hot tea or make a caramel pudding, do you reach for honey or sugar? Although both add sweetness to your drink, which one is actually healthier?
Since Busy Bee is naturally a bit biased towards honey, let’s dive into the benefits of honey while drawing a comparison with the other popular sweetener, sugar.
Cholesterol Profile: A recent study found that participants consuming water with natural honey for a certain number of days, lowered their total “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol while raising “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
On the contrary, eating too much sugar increases risk of not only heart diseases but also type 2 diabetes. It also causes blood sugar to spike tremendously for people with diabetes.
Low Blood Sugar It’s no secret that honey is super sweet. For people suffering from low blood sugar, honey is a quick and effective treatment. A tablespoon of honey helps the body quickly absorb the sugar, helping to feel back to new in no time.
On the other hand, sugar consumed in such large quantities provides a quick burst of fuel followed by a sharp drop in energy. People may even find sugar harder to digest than honey, because it simply doesn’t contain enzymes.
Coughs and Sore Throats: Another health benefit of honey? Well, it helps to help fight a pesky cough. This natural sweetener has been found to be just as effective as a typical over-the-counter dosage in suppressing coughs and easing irritation. In addition to quelling coughs, honey acts as a mild antibacterial that benefits and soothes a sore throat.
For sugar, in this case it should be avoided to reduce the risk of cavities. Dental caries or cavities develop faster and in more teeth with a high sugar diet. This is very true for everyone from all age groups!
Writer: Sharika Nawal