Comparison of Honey and Raw Sugar to Refined Sugar

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What is the difference between natural and refined sugars?

Knowing the difference between natural and refined sugars is important to understand how they impact the body - according to Lindsey Wohlford, a Wellness Dietitian from MD Anderson Cancer Center. Natural sugar is naturally occurring in food, while refined sugars are processed and added to many food products. Consuming excessive amounts of refined sugar can lead to an increased risk of developing diabetes and other chronic diseases.

What has a higher glycemic index: refined sugar or natural sugars?

Refined sugars are highly processed and can have a higher glycemic index than natural sugars, such as honey, blackstrap molasses, and maple syrup. As stated by livestrong.com, sucrose or refined white sugar has a glycemic index of 63, while honey has a glycemic index of 58, and blackstrap molasses has a glycemic index of 55. Sodas and fruit juices are standard sources of refined sugar.

What type of sugar is found in honey?

Fructose is the best type of sugar in honey, as it is sweeter than glucose and contains more of it than sucrose. An info from an article by SBS Food, fructose is the main sugar found in honey, followed by glucose and sucrose, attributing to its sweet taste. Fructose has a lower glycemic index than other sugars.

Processing

How is refined sugar produced?

Refined sugar is produced by clarifying raw sugar with heat and lime. Cited from the US EPA (2020), cane sugar production is usually done through hand cutting, with clarification achieved through the use of heat and lime. In addition, this process results in emissions of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Are natural sugar alternatives healthier than white sugar?

Natural sugar alternatives are not necessarily healthier than refined white sugar, as they still break down into glucose (blood sugar) after the body processes them. An info from Harvard Health, agave syrup does have a different processing method than table sugar, but this does not make it a healthier alternative. Sugars labeled as "organic" or "raw" still end up as glucose after the body breaks them down.

What type of sugar is the sweetest?

Fructose is the sweetest sugar found in honey, making it the best type of sugar. As reported by ABC News, fructose is the main sugar found in honey, followed by glucose and sucrose. Fructose is known to be sweeter than glucose.

Natural/Artificial

What type of sugar is most abundant in honey?

Fructose is the main sugar found in honey, making it the sweetest of the three types, followed by glucose and sucrose. According to The Conversation, 2018, honey has a higher fructose content than glucose and sucrose, resulting in its sweet taste. Research has found that fructose is known to be sweeter than glucose.

Is raw honey healthier than regular honey?

Raw honey is more nutritious than regular honey, as it contains more nutrients and does not have any added sugars or sweeteners. As mentioned in Healthline, raw honey is processed differently than regular honey, making it a healthier choice. Raw honey also contains pollen which can provide additional health benefits.

Does honey have health benefits?

Raw honey has been found to reduce total cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, homocysteine and blood glucose levels, offering a greater health benefit than processed golden honey found in grocery retailers. According to a study conducted by the Department of Clinical Biochemistry of the Faculty of Medicine at Gazi University in Turkey in 2014, natural honey was found to have positive impacts on healthy subjects. Sugar and artificial honey had either negative or very small beneficial effects.

Color

What is refined sugar?

Refined sugars are processed to remove impurities, resulting in the white table sugar recognized worldwide. As indicated by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, the process softens and separates the sugar to yield this pure form. On livestrong.com, research shows that honey has a glycemic index of 58 while table sugar (sucrose) has a glycemic index of 63.

Which type of sugar is the healthiest?

Brown sugar is the healthiest type of sugar due to its higher content of compounds that provide color, as reported by Inverse.com in 2019. Raw sugar, brown sugar, and molasses are all healthier than refined white sugar as they contain more beneficial nutrients such as iron, calcium, and potassium.

What is the glycemic index of cane sugar?

The glycemic index of refined, raw, and unrefined cane sugars are not much different, ranging from 60 to 68 according to a study by The Glycemic Index Foundation in 2020. This small variation in the glycemic index means that all types of cane sugar can be used in moderation in a healthy diet.

Taste

What type of sugar is found in honey?

Fructose is the best type of sugar found in honey, as it is sweeter than glucose and sucrose. Sourced from ABC News, fructose is the main sugar found in honey, followed by glucose and sucrose, attributing to its sweet taste. Fructose is known to be sweeter than glucose.

Is honey healthier than refined sugar?

Honey is a healthier alternative to refined sugar due to its antioxidants, making it beneficial for your health. According to Healthline, in 2019, honey provides nutrients that refined sugar does not. Research suggests that honey contains flavonoids, phenolic acids and other antioxidants that may reduce the risk of some diseases.

Is raw and unrefined sugar better than refined sugar?

Raw and unrefined sugar is a better alternative to refined sugar, as it contains natural nutrients which are stripped away during processing of refined sugar, according to NDTV Food. Raw and unrefined sugar uses fewer chemicals to remove impurities compared to refined sugar. Other alternatives to refined sugar include brown sugar, date sugar, honey and maple syrup.

Texture

What makes honey sweet?

Fructose is the main sugar found in honey and is known to be sweeter than glucose, making it the best type of sugar for sweetening. Sourced from The Conversation, "The sweet taste of honey is attributed to its higher fructose content" (The Conversation, 2018). Studies have shown that raw honey has higher levels of antioxidants than other types of honey.

What is the glycemic index of unrefined, raw, and refined cane sugars?

The glycemic index of unrefined, raw, and refined cane sugars is not significantly different, ranging from 60 to 68 according to a study by the University of Sydney on Whatsugar.com in 2020. While refined white sugars have a glycemic index of 64±4, both raw and brown sugars have an index of 62±2.

What are natural sweeteners?

Natural sugars, such as coconut sugar, date sugar, molasses, and raw sugar, can be used in baking and to sweeten food and drinks. Benefits of using liquid natural sweeteners, like honey or maple syrup, include the ability to use less amount compared to regular sugar. As stated by BistroMD (2020), one only needs about 3/4 cup of honey for every cup of sugar. Eating natural sugars can be a healthy alternative to refined sugar.

Nutritional Value

What is the best type of sugar?

Honey is the best type of sugar due to its higher fructose content, which makes it sweeter than glucose. According to The Conversation, fructose is the main sugar found in honey, followed by glucose and sucrose, making it the preferable choice of sweetener. Research has found that honey may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could contribute to its health benefits.

What is the difference between natural and refined sugar?

The difference between natural and refined sugar is that natural sugar is found in fruits, vegetables and other food sources, while refined sugar is produced from plants such as sugar cane and sugar beets. Cited on the American Cancer Society, for a 1,500-calorie diet, the maximum recommended daily intake of sugar is 10 percent of total calories, or no more than 150 calories, or 38 grams. Refined sugars and sweeteners also come from corn and agave sources.

What is refined sugar made from?

Refined sugars are processed to remove impurities and color, resulting in a product such as table sugar or sucrose. According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, the original product used to make refined sugar comes from either sugar cane or sugar beets. Other types of refined sugars include powdered sugars, syrups, and natural processed sugars. Eating too much refined sugar can lead to a variety of health problems, such as weight gain and dental decay.

Cost

What type of sugar is found in honey?

Fructose is the best type of sugar found in honey, due to its sweeter taste than glucose or sucrose. Cited on ABC News (2018), honey is mainly composed of fructose, followed by glucose and sucrose, making it a popular sweetener. Fructose is known to have a higher sweetness than glucose.

What are the benefits of honey?

Honey is a sugar substitute made up of fructose and glucose, sweeter than table sugar, and contains minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. An info from BBC Good Food, honey is a natural sweetener with nutritional benefits. The high level of fructose in honey can add a unique flavor to dishes.

Can honey bees be fed with organic sugar?

Feeding honey bees with organic sugar is a cost effective way to give them the nutrition needed for a healthy colony. An info from the Department of Primary Industries, organic raw sugar (Daabon) has a sucrose level of 99.85% and an ash content of 0.03%, making it a suitable replacement for white sugar. This practice can also be beneficial for honey production, as it increases the bees' ability to store and produce honey.

Calorie Content

How does honey compare to sugar?

One cup of honey contains 1,030 calories with 278 g of sugar, 279 g of carbs and 1.02 g of protein. Compared to sugar, honey has higher calories, sugar and carbs but lower fat content. Via livestrong.com, honey is a healthier alternative to sugar since it has beneficial nutrients like antioxidants and vitamins.

Honey is a healthier option than sugar, providing fewer calories per gram. Per 100 grams, table sugar provides 100 grams of sugar, while honey provides 82.4 grams of sugar, according to a study by Stephanie Kay Nutrition in 2021. Honey also has a higher water content than sugar which contributes to its lower caloric value.

Which type of sugar is the sweetest?

Fructose is the sweetest and best type of sugar found in honey, followed by glucose and sucrose. Attributed to ABC News, 2018, fructose is known to be sweeter than glucose.

Adulterants/Impurities

Is honey safe for infants?

Honey is slightly better than sugar as a sweetener due to its higher caloric content per serving and being a natural sweetener. An info from Healthline, honey is primarily made up of sugar and should not be given to infants younger than one year old. Honey may have higher levels of antioxidants than table sugar.

Does honey have fewer calories than sugar?

Honey contains more calories than sugar, but has less fructose and glucose. This has been reported by Medical News Today in 2017. Honey and sugar consist of both glucose and fructose, making them both carbohydrates.

What is the difference between refined sugar and brown sugar?

Refined sugar has a higher sucrose content than raw sugar, usually around 99.96%, while brown sugar has 96% on average due to the addition of molasses. This was stated by The Bell Chem in their article on January 10th, 2022. Raw sugar is also less processed and contains more minerals and vitamins than refined sugar.

Source:

• Mdanderson : refined sugar, What, the difference.
• Epa : 9.10.1.1 Sugarcane Processing, US EPA.
• Theconversation : which type, sugar, - The.
• Livestrong : What, Refined Sugars, Refined Sugars.
• Abc : which type, sugar.