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The diabetes diet consists of nutritious foods with a controlled amount of sugar. Those with a sweet tooth, in particular, try to sneak a little sugar into their food. Otherwise, they look for sugar substitutes. Honey is one of the favorite sweet ingredients for diabetics. When topping it with oatmeal or a fruit salad, people with diabetes try to include honey in some way. But is honey safe for diabetics? This is a question that arises in the minds of diabetics and their family members. Read on to find out whether honey and diabetes go hand in hand or not.
To dig deeper into the relationship between honey and diabetes, HealthShots reached out to Priscilla Marian, Executive Nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Kalyani Nagar, Pune.
What is honey?
You should thank the bees that produce a soft, thick brown-colored substance called honey. Marian says bees produce honey by harvesting and then refining the sugary secretions of plants. High concentrations of glucose and fructose, a monosaccharide, make honey sweet. It has a distinctive flavor with a sweetness similar to sucrose, and that’s why people who love sweetness love it.
Honey and its benefits
For a long time, people have been using honey for healing wounds and also for skin care (benefits of honey). The expert says it contains antioxidants, phenolic acids and flavonoids. It’s pure sugar with no fat, but there are traces of protein and fiber as well as small amounts of nutrients like vitamins and minerals. It is said that the darker the honey, the better it will be in terms of antioxidant content. These antioxidants protect us by neutralizing reactive oxidation reactions that develop in cells contributing to conditions such as premature aging,
diabetes and heart disease.
Honey and diabetes
Marian says honey should be used with caution if you have diabetes. It is important to control high blood glucose levels to avoid further health problems. Honey is sweet, but since it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities, it can be used sparingly in controlled diabetics. This also occasionally when blood glucose levels are well within range (healthy eating tips for managing blood sugar levels). Honey may increase levels of adiponectin, which is a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation in some diabetics, non-diabetics, and people with prediabetes.
Honey consumption by diabetics
Diabetic conditions differ from person to person, so it is best not to compare your condition with others. The expert says that honey can only be consumed sparingly under the proper medical guidance. Half a teaspoon of honey can be taken on low sugar days (in case of hypoglycaemia) with lemon tea or lime water just for taste change and stabilization of the sugar by a diabetic. It cannot be free daily food and long-term continuous use, as it can accelerate the effects of type 2 diabetes.. Thus, honey cannot replace sugar in diabetics. It may be a better alternative in the regular non-diabetic population due to its health benefits.
Also Read: Here Are 5 Things That Happen When You Eat Too Much Honey
Raw vs Processed Honey
Raw and fresh honey is rich in many medicinal values as it is rich in antioxidants. The expert explains that each time a fresh ingredient is heated, processed or cooked, the first nutrient lost is the antioxidant and leaves the product less valuable. Thus, it is always beneficial to prefer raw and fresh honey over processed one to enjoy its benefits.
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