In today's world, everyone craves a sugary treat. This has led to a constant battle between sweeteners. Sometimes between natural and artificial, and other times between surgery derivatives. While it was easy, deciding the healthier option between stevia and truvia, honey and sugar may prove challenging.
But which is the better option? Read on, Let's find out together!
Honey
Honey is a naturally occurring delicacy. It is produced by bees from flower nectar. For thousands of years, people throughout the world have praised honey for its delectable taste and health benefits.
Honey is available in raw, pasteurized, and coloured grades. It contains 80% sugar on average.
Sugar
Sugar is also of natural origin, from sugarcane or sugar beets. However, it requires a lot of processing. Sugar comes in diverse forms, including muscovado, powdered, uncooked, turbinado, brown and white sugar.
Sugar comes with no added nutrients except brown sugar, a combination of white sugar and molasses.
Edges of honey over sugar
Since ancient times, honey has been held in high regard over sugar, here is why;
Higher nutritional value
Honey is more nutritious, as it may contain traces of antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. This links honey with beautiful skin and hair.
Its nutritional makeup varies, depending on the source of the nectar used in its production. While honey is pasteurized, sugar is highly processed. This causes sugar to lose any nutritional content.
Versatile
Honey is known to have a wide range of tastes, giving it numerous roles in the kitchen. Sugar, on the other hand, comes in one taste, thus a limited number of uses.
Wide range of flavour
Honey does not just bring sweetness to the table; it packs a flavorful punch. The taste of honey can vary wildly depending on the flowers the bees visit. It can be floral, fruity, or even a tad earthy.
Healing touch
Honey has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various ailments, from soothing sore throats to dressing wounds. Its antimicrobial properties and soothing nature make it a real-life superhero in the kitchen and the medicine cabinet.
Edge of sugar over honey
The following are the advantages of sugar over honey;
Less caloric than honey
While a tablespoon of sugar contains 49 calories, honey contains 64. This could pose some threat if consumed in large amounts.
Low price
Sugar is relatively inexpensive when compared to honey. The low cost makes it more available for consumption.
Longer shelf life
Due to its extensive processing, sugar has a lengthy shelf life. It could stay for a long time without spoiling or loss of taste.
Suitable for infants
Honey is not recommended for infants younger than one-year-old. As they risk infant botulism, a rare but deadly disease. Hence, it is advisable for kids under a year to avoid honey.
Which is best?
Both honey and sugar add sweetness to meals and snacks. However, they have different tastes, textures, and nutritional profiles. Honey seems to be topping the chart of the most viable option. But it's vital to add that an overconsumption of either one causes the same health hazard.
Effect of excess honey or sugar intake
Anything taken in excess affects the body system negatively, especially sugar or honey. Here are some of the ways;
- Weight gain.
- Weakened immune system.
- Boosted blood sugar.
- Cavities.
- Higher risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity and cholesterol control.
- Cavities.
- Alterations in gut bacteria.
As a result, it is advised to use both products in moderation or not at all. After all, Chewwies now have a way to mix both sugary and healthy with no kickback.
Conclusion
In the ultimate showdown of honey vs. sugar, there's no clear winner. It remains a matter of personal taste, needs, and ethical considerations.
While honey offers a unique flavour, some nutritional perks, and a touch of natural goodness, sugar is the dependable, neutral sweetener found in most pantries.
So, when it comes to your sweetening needs, why not let both honey and sugar have a spot on your kitchen shelf? Or better still use healthier options? After all, the real victory is in enjoying the delicious results of your cooking experiments with no health glitches.