HONEY... I SHRUNK MY ARGUMENT.....

Honey:

According to the American Diabetes Association, honey has slightly higher amounts of calories and carbohydrates than sugar. Honey contains 64 calories and 17 g of carbohydrates per tablespoon, while sugar has 48 calories and 13 g of sugar per teaspoon. Honey may be a healthier alternative than sugar for diabetics. However, the way your body reacts to these two sweeteners is where the difference comes in. Honey may be a better option, giving you more blood glucose control than sugar.

Honey is a carb food as well, just like rice, potatoes; Taking that into account when counting your total daily intake of carbohydrates, diabetics can work it out just like any other sweetener or carbohydrates. In a study on the effect of honey consumption on blood sugar, an increase in A1C levels was observed; Hence, cautious consumption of this food by diabetic patients is recommended, keeping in mind that it is another carbohydrate which comes with its own “CAUTION” card.

With appropriate control, many diabetics and pre-diabetes (people with blood glucose levels higher than normal person but not high enough to be considered diabetic) are still able to safely enjoy natural honey. Each diabetic is different and should learn how his or her body reacts to different foods containing carbohydrates. Bear in mind that the total amount of starches or carbohydrates in a food is the key consideration, not the amount of sugar. Also, when purchasing commercial honey for diabetic patients, be sure that it is pure and not adulterated by glucose, starch, cane sugar, and even malt;

Sadly, in our quest to avoid sugar in foods, we miss the point that all artificial sweeteners or calorie free diets/drinks, diabetic sweets contain corn syrup or artificial sweeteners that can be potentially even more harmful than regular sugar when consumed in the long term.

Honey and Diabetes:

If you are a diabetic and eating according to the glycemic index, then honey may be the best sweetener for you. The glycemic index of honey is 55, making it a moderate glycemic food. This means its effect on your blood glucose will be sustained and moderate -- it will not spike. When comparing honey to sugar, honey is far superior to sugar for diabetics. Sugar scores a 100 on the glycemic index, the highest score a food can get, making its effect on your blood glucose rapid and high.

Many researches show the beneficial effect of honey (increase in HDL, lowering triglyserides, lowering TC and LDL) in diabetes patients. Some researchers argue that fructose is a substance that doesn't need insulin to be changed into glycogen. So it is said that honey can be safely consumed by diabetes patients.

The use of monosaccharide fructose is often recommended to sweeten the diet of diabetics due to its significantly lower GI. The trouble is, fructose is absorbed differently than other sugars. It is not utilized for energy like glucose, but stored in the liver as triglycerides.

The ‘Fructose-Glycogen – No need of Insulin ’ argument given above for favour of consuming honey can be well countered, as fructose is proved to ‘switch ON’ a “FAT SWITCH” in humans which leads to the storage of fructose as fat, leading to overweight conditions, obesity etc. These two conditions are fundamental to Type II diabetes; Is’nt it?

Catch 22....? ( Readers… Please await a ‘Fructose-Fat Switch’ blog in this forum shortly..).

This fructose -liver route presents a great metabolism burden on the liver and can eventually lead to major health issues related to obesity and further health damages for diabetics.

One use for honey as a diabetic is to treat hypoglycemia. This is a condition in which your blood glucose drops below 70 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia can be dangerous and is marked by sweating, nervousness, confusion, shakiness, anxiety, fatigue and weakness. When you are experiencing hypoglycemia, it is best to treat it as soon as possible. Honey can offer some help.

Pure honey, especially from the wild has multifactor anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, haemostatic and nutritious properties. Health benefits of honey use include anti-allergic properties.

The last word is “ Honey is carb; Count it !”

No short cut to the queue of carbs here telling “ I am fructose, I do not need insulin” .....

I would say " I count you,HONEY)......................

[shiju7077]

what a honey news..........!