Honey has been a staple in our diets for thousands of years, and is often considered a healthy food that can help boost immunity, alleviate colds, and regulate gut health. However, we should not let the weight of historical and cultural tradition blind us to its true nutritional value.
Honey and sugar are often seen as two very different types of sweeteners, with honey being viewed as a healthier alternative to sugar. However, when it comes down to their nutritional content and impact on the body, honey is essentially the same as sugar.
At its core, honey is made up of two main types of sugar: glucose and fructose. While the exact ratio of these sugars can vary depending on the type of honey, the general makeup is similar to that of sugar. This means that, like sugar, honey is high in calories and can have negative health effects when consumed in excess.
Despite the fact that honey and sugar are similar in many ways, there are some differences between the two. One of the main advantages of honey is that it contains small amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are not found in sugar.
Another important difference between honey and sugar is their taste. Because honey is a natural product, it often has a more complex flavor profile than sugar, with notes of floral, fruity, or even spicy flavors depending on the type of honey.
While honey and sugar are not identical, they are very similar in terms of their nutritional content and impact on the body. Both are high in calories and should be consumed sporadically, and neither should be viewed as a "healthy" alternative to the other.
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total caloric intake.”
The term 'free sugars' refers to monosaccharides and disaccharides that are added to foods and beverages by manufacturers, cooks, or consumers, as well as naturally occurring sugars in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates.
Simple! Naturally, with fruits like dates, bananas, strawberries, raisins, plums, pears, and apricots...
Eating fruit in its whole form is much healthier than consuming it in smoothies! Check out our previous post where we explain why, and offer some unique and creative ways to enjoy fruit!
With our scanner, according with the Food labeling and Advertising law from Chile, we detect honey as one of the principal ingredients for the “High in sugar” label. So don’t miss scan in your next shopping with our app!
Article written by Laura Guinovart Martín, certified Dietitian and Nutritionist; Specialized in TCA, Obesity and Food Development and Design; Nº Col:CAT002123
