Contributed by Carol Kline
Is Honey a Healthy Sweetener?
Eating high-quality honey is beneficial because it contains natural antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, most of the honey eaten today has been heavily processed. Like most foods that have been chemically refined, many of the healthful benefits have been reduced or eliminated. Commercial honey is often treated with an excessive heating process that can destroy some of the critical natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals.
All honey is very high in fructose, which can ultimately raise your blood sugar. So consider limiting your use of honey to less than one teaspoon per day. Raw honey is another option as it is less processed, but doesn’t have the same potent antibacterial properties as unprocessed Manuka honey. Manuka honey is now being used in medical products such as wound dressings. This gives you about 20 grams of fructose, leaving you a little room for healthy servings of fresh fruit, or some of the many other foods that contain added fructose you normally eat.
Another added benefit to honey is that if you use local honey, it will help with seasonal allergy sensitivities.
Reference: www.Mercola.com