Honey VS Sugar:
Which One Is Better For You?
Here's a look at honey vs sugar. Is refined sugar neutral and okay for your health? Does it cause damage to your body? Is honey a better alternative? Let's find out...
"My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste." Proverbs 24:13
Aside from being absolutely delicious, organic raw honey is very good for you. It's high in vitamins and minerals (such as B2, B6, and iron) and has antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Pasteurized (heat treated) commercial honey does not contain all of these benefits. Raw honey is best.
White sugar is bad for your body. It is highly refined and full of empty calories. It doesn't contain any vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants.
photo by Elisabetta Grondona
There are more calories in honey than in sugar.
You get about 60 calories in 1 tablespoon of honey.
One tablespoon of sugar gives you about 46 calories. However, because honey is much sweeter than sugar, you don't need to use as much of it. So in the end, you may end up eating less calories.
Honey is very easy on your digestive system which makes it great for people with gastric (stomach) ulcers or other digestive disturbances.
Honey doesn't give you a huge sugar rush like you get with refined sugar. Honey is made up of glucose and fructose.
These simple sugars (monosaccharides) can enter your bloodstream easily since your body doesn't have to process them.
Sugar, on the other hand is made up of sucrose which your body must break down further into glucose and fructose.
Since refined sugar doesn't give you any nutrients, your body must take nutrients from it's reserves to help break down the sugar. That is how sugar depletes your body of nutrients. That is one major reason why sugar is so bad for you.
The results of this honey vs sugar debate are clear. Honey is a much better choice.
So as you make the switch over to organic raw honey and other natural sweeteners (I think it's best to use a variety of them), remember not to overdo it.
"It is not good to eat much honey." Proverbs 25:27
Yes, honey is a blessing, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
How To Substitute Honey For Sugar
Since honey is sweeter than sugar, you'll need to use less of it in your recipes to avoid making them too sweet.
For every 1 cup of sugar, use 1/2 to 3/4 cup of raw honey instead. When using honey, you'll also need to reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup and to lower the baking temperature by 25 degrees F.
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