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Is Honey in Coffee Healthier Than Sugar?
Honey is often touted as being healthier than table sugar, yet some question whether this claim holds water. Although honey may contain more nutritional value than sugar, that doesn’t automatically translate to healthy consumption – so it is crucial that we understand exactly what components comprise honey as well as its effects on our bodies.
Honey can be an excellent way to sweeten coffee without using as much sugar, while providing an exciting new flavour and aroma that may provide welcome change from traditional tastes. Health-minded coffee drinkers should opt for raw honey as it has more nutrients than its processed counterpart.
Honey can add significant health benefits to any beverage. As it ranks low on the glycemic index and won’t quickly spike blood sugar levels, honey is particularly advantageous for people living with diabetes or experiencing sudden spikes. Honey also boasts soothing properties and is rich in tryptophan, an amino acid essential in producing serotonin–hence improving sleep quality.
Honey has a higher fructose content than sugar, giving your body a sustained energy boost and helping you focus more at work. But honey should not be seen as an alternative healthy sweetener since its breakdown into glucose can still cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
Additionally, using processed honey may contain added sugar that’s bad for your overall health. Furthermore, honey has more calories than sugar; one tablespoon of honey contains 64 while 49 are found in sugar; adding honey could lead to overeating as you’ll likely end up using more than would have been necessary if sugar had been used instead.
Finding the ideal honey for your coffee boils down to personal preference. In general, lighter-colored honey is milder in its flavour – an ideal option if you enjoy lighter beverages like our Caramel Honey or Honey Nut Praline Flavored Coffees.
If you prefer a stronger flavor, dark honey offers more intensity in terms of sweetener than regular honey does. With a richer and deeper sweetness profile than its counterparts, dark honey adds richer and sweeter sweetness to any cup of joe you drink.
Though adding honey to your cup of joe won’t harm you, it is important to remember that the heat from coffee can destroy some of the beneficial enzymes and phytochemicals it contains. Therefore, for maximum benefit and taste retention it’s best to add your honey just before you brew so as to reap all its potential advantages. Heating will alter its taste; experimentation may be necessary until you find a perfect combination.