Can Honey Lower Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Levels?
Two tablespoons of honey a day keeps the doctor away, according to the latest honey research.
A recent study by the University of Toronto found that replacing added sweeteners - such as sugar - with honey can lower the risks of illnesses related to eating too much sugar, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
“These results are surprising, because honey is about 80 percent sugar,” says Tauseef Khan, a research associate in nutritional sciences at the University, in a university release. “But honey is also a complex composition of common and rare sugars, proteins, organic acids and other bioactive compounds that very likely have health benefits.”
How much honey should you have each day?
The research team emphasised considering the context of the findings; clinical trials in which participants followed healthy dietary patterns. Added sugars accounted for just 10 percent or less of daily caloric intake among the participants.
“The takeaway is more about replacement — if you’re using table sugar, syrup or another sweetener, switching those sugars for honey might lower cardiometabolic risks.” says Khan.
The honey that was found to have the most beneficial effects was those that were from a single source (mono-floral honey) and that were raw honey. Our 70% and 85% Pure Manuka Monofloral Honey fits this criteria.
Want to learn more about honey's health benefits? Check out our blog on the health benefits of honey for brain health here.
Oldfield, J. (2022, November 16). Sweet: Honey reduces cardiometabolic risks, U of T Study Shows. Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/news/sweet-honey-reduces-cardiometabolic-risks-u-t-study-shows
- Posted in Honey Research