Is honey better for me than sugar?

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:37 pm

In my coffee? Honey has tasted good so far but is it healthier? Any other options? Is "raw" sugar better? Trying to live healthier (e.g., stopped eating so much red meat and that helped a lot!). Thanks!

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:53 pm

Honey is better and I will often put it in my tea. That being said I am one of those people who like a little coffee with my sugar and that much honey just doesn't cut it in coffee. Honey goes great in a peanut butter sandwhich and is also good in a cheese sandwhich if you use sharp cheddar.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:42 am

Funny you should ask...

I get a digestive health e-newsletter. One of the articles from this week's edition notes that a Swedish study found that having a sugary drink â€” even something as light as two sodas a day, or sugar in your coffee or tea every day â€” doubles your chances of getting pancreatic cancer. Which by the way, beats out the three top cancers in terms of mortality. There's only a 25% survival rate. Basically, if you get diagnosed with it, notify your entire family and life insurance company, start filling out your will and line up your funeral arrangements.

When I read that report, I went in the kitchen and poured what little refined sugar I had on hand down the sink; and starting now, I'm off soda, period. The report also said that syrup-based drinks are culprits, too. Frankly, I can't stomach diet soda either. It's 100% fruit juice from here on in.

The study didn't say what kind of sugar but I'm assuming it's white refined sugar, and brown sugar (which is basically white sugar with molasses added to it). I rather think that it doesn't include honey because the body absorbs that easily, it has anti-oxidant properties and it's also anti-bacterial. I'm replacing my white and brown sugar with honey, apple cider syrup and maple syrup. I'll do some research and find out if turbinado (raw) sugar is alright, because I *do* like that stuff.

Side note: the health community is getting interested in camel milk products. Apparently, it has 1/4 of the fat of cow's milk, plus it has iron and 3-4 times as much Vitamin C in it. It's even safe for diabetics and the lactose-intolerant. I've never tried it but I'd like to. I went to my local Market of Choice last evening and asked the cheese steward if they had it and/or if they could get it. She said they didn't have it but she's hot to check it out now! No camel dairies around here but I'll bet anything there's at least one in Texas.

Edit: Another side note...I've been taking bee pollen for the past month. It's working great! I got six months' supply online for about $16.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:25 am

Honey is good. I only use honey in my tea. Its also good to use with a loved one.. though it can get messy. I stopped drinking soda a couple years ago and have felt alot better ever since. I had a stomach acid issue that I resolved without meds just by drinking only teas, water, and real juice. Odwalla makes a good juice, I havent had the chance to try any others.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:49 am

Honey is a more complex sugar, or has more types of sugar in it.

Plus it has insect feces in it.

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:44 am

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:12 pm

Just remember a lot of honey isn't made from bee pollen, but from sugar...

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:42 am

Speak for yourself, darlin'...I KNOW the people I get my honey from!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:40 am

So why are you drinking coffee instead of tea?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:46 pm

i just bought a product called Stevia.. A sweetener used in Japan.. If it works out I will add it to my herb garden.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:55 am

diane o'thirst wrote:Speak for yourself, darlin'...I KNOW the people I get my honey from!

That's the way to get it. I was just trying to indicate that "honey" means a whole gamut of things.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:06 am

theCryptofishist wrote:
diane o'thirst wrote:Speak for yourself, darlin'...I KNOW the people I get my honey from!
That's the way to get it. I was just trying to indicate that "honey" means a whole gamut of things.

/
Made the mistake calling a girl honey while in Japan 1954. She directed me to the toilet/binjo.

Desiree123 · Post by **Desiree123** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:59 pm

Honey is a LOT better for you. Your body recognizes a lot of sugary foods as poison, because it doesn't know what sugar is. Honey on the other hand, your body recognizes as natural sugars, so it is better for your colon, and your digestive system.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:08 am

Honey is a LOT better for you. Your body recognizes a lot of sugary foods as poison, because it doesn't know what sugar is. Honey on the other hand, your body recognizes as natural sugars, so it is better for your colon, and your digestive system.

Cites please. I've never believed this as fact, and I would like to know why people do think this is true.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:41 am

Cites please. I've never believed this as fact, and I would like to know why people do think this is true.

I'd also like to see the study.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:31 am

Here's a few URLs I dug up. I used the terms "health studies on honey" on Google:

This page deals with honey as a preservative:
http://www.news.uiuc.edu/scitips/02/0408honey.html

Hospital in Manchester, UK is treating mouth-and-throat cancer patients with Manuka honey (which, IMO, doesn't taste very good):
http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=12131

Help for diabetics:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/me ... 925-0.html

Nutritive breakdown article:
http://www.foodreference.com/html/art-honey-health.html

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:53 am

I'm not knocking honey, it is good stuff. I'm challenging the "white sugar is poison" notion. After all, our guts break down refined white sugar and honey into exactly the same thing: glucose. Certainly, honey is absorbed more slowly so has less of an immediate effect on blood sugar levels. The traces of minerals and nutrients in honey is minimal, far less than some of the claims you see made for it.

RANT! What makes white sugar "unnatural"? There's nothing mysterious about the refining and extraction process, and it certainly won't kill you in moderation. Yes white sugar in excess can play havoc with your system, but it is just plain sugar. Your body most assuredly "knows" what sugar is: glucose! A simple carbohydrate! If you feel better by using honey, then by all means make it your choice, but don't try to kid me about the basic chemistry involved. Rant Over!

I have a wonderful book called "Honey, Mud and Maggots: The Science Behind Folk Remedies and Old Wives' Tales" by Robert and Michele Root-Bernstein. Interesting!

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:18 pm

What about honey with bananas?

helitack · Post by **helitack** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:22 pm

I think the honey is healthier argument is the same as the red meat stays in your colon for ungodly amounts of time. Bunk.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:55 pm

best thing to do with either honey or sugar, is to add water, yeast, let ferment. Filter...maybe distill....then drink the alcohol

and then honey is better to smear on a friend and then lick it off. sugar just falls off....hmmmmm

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:01 pm

Very Happy and then honey is better to smear on a friend and then lick it off. sugar just falls off....hmmmmm

You must moisten your friend first.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:26 pm

AntiM wrote:
Very Happy and then honey is better to smear on a friend and then lick it off. sugar just falls off....hmmmmm
You must moisten your friend first.

Thats what a tongue is for!

Before, During and After!!!