1. Simple Carbohydrates
Honey is a great source of simple carbohydrates. Nectar itself is composed mainly of sucrose and water. Bees add enzymes that create additional chemical compounds, inverting the sucrose into fructose and glucose, and then evaporate the water so that the resulting product will resist spoiling.
2. Natural Sugar
80% natural sugar — mostly fructose and glucose. Due to the high level of fructose, honey is sweeter than table sugar.
3. Water content
18% water — The less water content the honey has, the better the quality of honey.
4. Minerals and Vitamins
2% minerals, vitamins, pollen and protein — Honey contains natural minerals and vitamins which help the metabolizing of undesirable cholesterol and fatty acid on the organs and tissues into the system, hence preventing obesity and promoting better health for us. The vitamins present in honey are B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. The minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. Manuka honey has a higher than normal conductivity, a way of measuring the mineral content of a honey — about 4 times that of normal flower honeys. The higher the conductivity, the better the value of the honey.
5. Antioxidants
One of the most encouraging honey nutrition facts – this natural sweetener is rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are a source of natural antioxidants and is free of fat and cholesterol!
6. Calories
One tablespoon of natural sweetener honey contains 64 calories. How does this number compare with table sugar? Full account in: Amount of Calorie in Honey.
7. Glycemic Index
* Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI), meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better digestion.We should try to avoid eating excessive high-glycemic foods which would prompt an elevated insulin release in our body as a result of the pancreas being stimulated to metabolize the sudden surge of glucose into the blood.
(Source of Charts: NutritionData.com)
Other Related Pages
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