3 Surprising Health Benefits of Honey

Since ancient times, honey has been used as both a food and a medicine.

It's very high in beneficial plant compounds, and offers several health benefits.

Honey is particularly healthy when used instead of refined sugar, which is 100% empty calories.

Here are the top 3 health benefits of honey that are supported by science.

1. Honey Contains Some Nutrients

Honey is a sweet, thick liquid made by honeybees.

The bees swarm their environment and collect the sugar-rich nectar of flowers.

Then inside the beehive, they repeatedly consume, digest and regurgitate ("vomit") the nectar.

The end product is honey, a liquid that is supposed to serve as stored food for the bees. The smell, color and taste depend on the types of flowers the bees visit.

Nutritionally, 1 tablespoon of honey (21 grams) contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose.

It contains virtually no fiber, fat or protein.

It also contains trace amounts (under 1% of RDA) of several vitamins and minerals, but you would have to eat many pounds to fulfill your daily requirements.

Where honey shines is in its content of bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants. Darker types tend to be even higher in these compounds than lighter types.

2. High-Quality Honey Is Rich in Antioxidants

High-quality honey contains many important antioxidants. These includes phenols, enzymes and compounds like flavonoids and organic acids.

Scientists believe that it is the combination of these compounds that gives honey its antioxidant power.

Interestingly, two studies have shown that buckwheat honey increases the antioxidant value of the blood.

Antioxidants have been linked to reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer. They may also promote eye health.

3. Honey Is "Less Bad" Than Sugar for Diabetics

The evidence on honey and diabetes is mixed.

On one hand, it can help with some risk factors that are common in diabetics.

For example, it lowers LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and inflammation, and raises HDL (the "good") cholesterol.

However, some studies have found that it can also increase blood sugar levels, just not as much as refined sugar.

So, while honey may be "less bad" than refined sugar for diabetics, it is still something that diabetics should only consume with caution.

In fact, diabetics may do best minimizing all high-carb foods.