Why Honey Should Be Included in Diabetic Diet?
Honey is sweeter than sugar, so keep that in mind. You only need a small amount of honey to replace sugar. Honey and other sweeteners should be avoided until your diabetes is under control, because they can impact blood sugar.
Honey should only be ingested in little amounts. Before using it as a sweetener, see your healthcare professional. If you have well-controlled diabetes and wish to incorporate honey into your diet, go for pure, organic, or raw natural honey. Because all-natural honey contains no added sugar, these types are safer for diabetics.
What is honey?
Honey is a thick, golden-coloured liquid made by honeybees and other insects such as wasps and bumblebees. It comes from the nectar that bees collect from flowers and store in their stomachs until they return to the hive.
- Sucrose (sugar), water, and other things make up nectar. It’s made up of about 80% carbohydrate and 20% water.
- Honey is made by bees eating and regurgitating nectar over and over. The water is removed during this procedure.
- Bees then store the honey in honeycombs to utilise as an energy source throughout the winter months when food is scarce.
- Honey has slightly more carbs and calories per teaspoon than table sugar, while being a natural sweetener.
Are there benefits of eating honey?
Honey has the potential to raise your insulin levels and help you control your blood sugar. Honey is a source of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory qualities, thus replacing sugar with honey can be beneficial.
Antioxidant-rich foods can help your body better digest sugar, and honey’s anti-inflammatory effects may help you avoid diabetes complications. Insulin resistance occurs when the body does not respond appropriately to insulin as a result of inflammation.
How can honey prevent diabetes?
Despite the fact that honey may enhance insulin levels and assist diabetics control their blood sugar, there does not appear to be any definitive study supporting honey as a diabetes preventive factor. However, this is a possibility.
Honey may have a link to a reduced glycemic index, according to researchers. Honey, as compared to sugar, had a lower glycemic effect on all participants in a study of 50 persons with type 1 diabetes and 30 people without type 1 diabetes. C-peptide, a chemical released into the bloodstream when the body manufactures insulin, was also increased.
Wrap up
Honey is a natural sweetener with the potential to lower your glycaemic index. However, like with any sweetener, moderation is essential.
Before including honey into your diet, consult your doctor. Honey isn’t for everyone, especially those who need to control their blood sugar levels. If you’re going to eat honey, make sure it’s organic, raw, or pure honey with no additional sugars.
