Honey is most commonly used ingredients in kitchens by cooks across the world. Some folks prefer honey over other sweeteners & consume the same in moderation. It can be considered an alternative to sugar however since it is consumed in smaller quantities it cannot replace totally replace sugar. Jaggery & dates are better alternatives to sugar. So why is honey used as staple in most of the countries? Let us find out.
There are more than 300 types of honey. Clove honey is the most popular one consumed in the US. Other varieties of honey include, eucalyptus honey, orange blossom honey & even avocado honey on store shelves.
Nutritional value of Honey
1 teaspoon of honey has:
Calories: 64
Fats: 0 gram
Sodium: 1 gram
Carbohydrates: 17 grams
Sugar: 17 grams
Fibre: 0 gram
Protein: 0 gram
All calories in honey comes from carb specifically sugar. The glycemic index of honey depends upon the type of honey you buy. It varies from 45 to 64. One tablespoon of sugar has glycemic index of 65
Fat & Protein does not contribute to calories. You need to accumulate a lot of honey to get some bit of protein but since honey is high in sugar, it is not recommended. Besides, you shall not get much of micronutrients( vitamins or minerals) from honey since the sweetener is consumed in small quantities. Vitamins & Minerals such as B Vitamin, Copper, Zinc, Calcium, Iron & others mainly come from soil & nectar producing plants. Therefore source of honey will determine which nutrients you get from honey. Darker honey is likely to provide more minerals than pale honey.
Since honey provide smaller amount of health promoting minerals, it is said to be healthier than sugar. Honey is considered to be better for those suffering from diabetes. Due to honey’s distinctive flavor, small portion of honey gives higher satisfaction than larger quantity of sugar. This makes small consumption of honey much easier as compared to small consumption of sugar.
Raw /unprocessed honey comes from beehive. This form of honey is not heated or pasteurized. On the other hand, pasteurized honey is filtered & processed to create a clear looking product which is easier to pour. However such pasteurized fine takes away all the minerals & do away with all the benefits of consuming it.
