This might actually surprise you
Nothing like a hot cup of tea to warm you after you’ve been out in the cold all day. And if you’re someone who likes to drink their tea sweetened, honey might seem like a healthy option to give your drink just a little taste of sweetness. But is honey really better for you than regular sugar? Let’s find out!
Natural
A lot of people think of honey as a more natural alternative but did you know that sugar is just as natural as honey? Sugar that you can buy in the grocery store is made of sugar beets and cane sugar. This means that up to a certain point, both are natural products and both are also considered ‘added sugars’ at the same time. Jenny Friedman, a dietitian based in Philadelphia, explains in TIME: “A lot of people feel better when they read a food label and see honey instead of sugar,” says Friedman. “However, in the long run, the nuance is more meaningful to the mind than the body. The body pretty much perceives sugar and honey added to foods the same way.”
Benefits
Honey has some health benefits that regular sugar doesn’t have. Especially when it comes to respiratory conditions, honey seems to have positive effects. The yellow, liquid sweetener can also improve your gut balance. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, meaning that honey can protect your body against different kinds of diseases. The catch? According to Friedman you’d have to eat a whole lot of honey if you want to get any of these benefits, “And unfortunately, consuming a lot of honey means consuming a lot of calories.” That means that if you would try and eat enough honey to get some of these benefits, you will also eat enough to increase your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes.
Even though it seems like honey might be better for you, there is almost no difference between te two. So next time you pour some tea for yourself, don’t feel guilty for choosing the regular sugar instead of honey.
