Honey Nutrition

 

 Honey nutrition is central to how honey heals. While great taste is always desirable in the foods we eat, honey delivers supreme sweetness with an added nutritional punch that helps your body function well and heal more quickly.

Nectar from flowers is mainly composed of sucrose and water. Honeybees gather the nectar from the blossoms they visit and then add special digestive enzymes that produce extra chemical compounds, inverting the sucrose to form fructose and glucose. These enzymes will gradually evaporate the water leaving behind a sweet sticky syrup that kills bacteria and resists spoilage giving it a superior shelf life.

The nectar also contains the special properties of the plant from which it came. If the bees collect nectar from only one plant source such as the Manuka tree, the honey will have extra nutrients not found in the honey made from more than one plant source.

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Honey is a rich source of carbohydrates, containing:

• 80% natural sugar -- mostly fructose and glucose. Due to the high level of fructose, honey is sweeter than table sugar by roughly 1.5 times.

• 18% water. The less water content the honey has, the better the quality of honey.

• 2% minerals, vitamins, pollen and protein.

Vitamins found in honey are B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. Minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.

Conductivity of Honey 

Electrical conductivity is a way of measuring the mineral content of different types of honey. It is a good indicator of the botanical origin of honey and today it's used in routine honey control. This measurement depends upon the ash (mineral) and acid content of honey. Higher content , results in higher conductivity and better quality.

Manuka honey has much higher than normal conductivity... roughly four times that of normal flower honeys. This fact makes it a potent healing powerhouse and the king of honey nutrition.

For health conscious consumers that also want rich taste, here are some surprising facts:

Honey is an all-natural sweetener that contains potent antioxidants to fight aging and reduce cell damage! It's also fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium free!

Honey Calories and GI

* One Tbsp. of natural honey contains only 64 calories.

* Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI). Its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream resulting in easier digestion and fewer sugar spikes. Fewer spikes mean fewer sugar crashes as the pancreas responds with corresponding doses of insulin. This has a positive affect on mood and less weight gain.

* Natural honey contains many minerals and vitamins which help metabolize undesirable cholesterol and fatty acid on the organs and tissues of our bodies, thereby preventing obesity and promoting better overall health.

Conclusion:

Honey nutrition is another way for an individual to be well-fed and healthier without sacrificing taste. Honey has most of the advantages of table sugar but has the distinct advantage of being good for you at the same time. It can even heal common maladies and it promotes weight loss. As such, it's a wonderful sweet tool in your body's self defense arsenal.