Honey, especially robinia (also known as acacia honey, a honey from false acacia or black locust trees), clover, and unprocessed raw honey, may improve glycemic control and lipid levels when consumed within a healthy dietary pattern, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis led by the University of Toronto scientists.
Ahmed et al. showed that oral honey intake reduced fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, fasting triglycerides, and ALT and increased HDL-C, IL-6, and TNF-α. Image credit: Fancycrave1.
High intake of added or free sugars has been shown to contribute to the rise in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Health and nutrition guidelines call for a reduction in consumption of added sugars, with health agencies recommending an intake of no more than 5% to 10% of total energy intake per day.
Most regulatory agencies, including the World Health Organization, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the US Food and Drug Administration, include honey within their definition of free or added sugars. In contrast, honey is often regarded by the public as a healthier alternative to sugar.
Honey is a complex composition of sugars (common and rare), organic acids, enzymes, proteins, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and bioactive substances made by
