Did you know that Manuka honey can be used as a natural sweetener, as an alternative to refined sugar?
Manuka Honey: A Natural Sweetener
Sugar is omnipresent in the foods and drinks we consume today; whether it’s in teas and coffees, soft drinks, cakes and chocolate – it can be easy to consume more than our healthy share despite our best intentions.
Known for its unique sweet taste and versatility, honey is a perfect healthier alternative to refined sugar. Although honey and refined sugar are both carbohydrates, consisting of the two types of sugar, glucose and fructose, their composition and nutritional values are different.
Refined sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose, whereas honey contains 40% fructose and 30% glucose, plus small amount of minerals, including magnesium and potassium. Refined or granulated sugar also has a higher Glycemic Index level, which means it’s responsible for raising our blood sugar levels more quickly.
As a result, replacing the sugar that we add to our teas and coffees or include as part of our recipes with honey could potentially help us to adopt a healthier diet.
However, not all honey is made equal; it’s dependent on the genetic makeup of the plant that the bees take away to create the honey, which means their individual properties in regards to their antibacterial effects may differ. This is where Manuka honey stands out.
The Natural Goodness of Manuka Honey
With every type of honey having its own unique properties, how can you choose the right one?
Manuka honey is world-renowned for its uniqueness. Grown primarily in New Zealand, the Manuka flower has been studied to contain a number of chemical compounds that may have a positive influence on our wellbeing. This is why the honey created by the pollinating bees is used for a wide range of applications; to be taken internally for general wellbeing and to apply topically to support wound healing.
