Though it's a good thing Dr. Weil recommends eating honey, it's about time! Apparently someone hasn't seen the latest research. There's no question it's better than refined sugar and artificial sweeteners simply due to its rich mineral content. Besides it's nutritional value, the therapeutic factors are even greater...
Is Honey Healthier than Sugar?
Dr. Weil's Daily Tip, 2011, Dec
If you are trying to reduce your intake of refined sugar, honey is one alternative. Honey has some health benefits over sugar, as it:
Raw honey may even help promote wound healing - research indicates it can be an excellent first aid measure when applied topically to burns, even very severe ones. (Don't treat a serious wound with the honey you get at the supermarket or health food store - you need a medicinal honey and someone with expertise to treat you.)
But honey also has its drawbacks. Its sticky consistency contributes to cavity formation, and can be worse for the teeth than refined sugar. Honey also should never be given to infants under one year of age, as it may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system. While honey may not be much healthier than sugar, if you like it I recommend buying raw honey, which is tastier and has a better texture than heated and processed commercial honey.
Is Honey Healthier than Sugar?
Dr. Weil's Daily Tip, 2011, Dec
If you are trying to reduce your intake of refined sugar, honey is one alternative. Honey has some health benefits over sugar, as it:
- Is sweeter than refined sugar, so you can use less.
- Contains trace enzymes; minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium; amino acids; and vitamins, including a wide range of B vitamins such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine.
Raw honey may even help promote wound healing - research indicates it can be an excellent first aid measure when applied topically to burns, even very severe ones. (Don't treat a serious wound with the honey you get at the supermarket or health food store - you need a medicinal honey and someone with expertise to treat you.)
But honey also has its drawbacks. Its sticky consistency contributes to cavity formation, and can be worse for the teeth than refined sugar. Honey also should never be given to infants under one year of age, as it may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system. While honey may not be much healthier than sugar, if you like it I recommend buying raw honey, which is tastier and has a better texture than heated and processed commercial honey.
The benefits of honey outweighed its drawbacks such as cavity formation and botulism concerns. I sense Dr Weil's prejudice against honey in his statement "while honey may not be much healthier than sugar, if you like...". With so much research supporting the goodness of honey, I beg to differ and would say with all my zest that honey is definitely much healthier than refined sugar!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more, Squareface! I even question whether he eats honey. The notion of cavity formation is ridiculous, as the proven antibacterial properties of honey prevent bacterial growth, thus no gingivitis and cavities. Honey is a pure food with no adulteration. You can't say that about other sweeteners, who've been processed, dried, rehydrated, cooked, etc.
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