A traditional mindset exists among many people that honey must not be consumed by people suffering from diabetes. People are aware of the fact that sugar intake is dangerous for diabetics. Keeping that fact in mind they simply believe that honey should never be added to the diet of a diabetic. Just because honey is sweet to taste, it does not mean that honey and refined sugar plays equal role.
Honey and Diabetes
If you are a diabetic then almost everybody across the world and people around you will advise you to ban sugar from your daily diet. Pure honey is healthier than refined sugar and other available sweeteners. But, everything has a limit. Hence, it is the same in case of honey consumption by diabetics. Honey is a natural ingredient of sugar in the form of thickened liquid. Honey contains glucose and fructose and is good as it is naturally created by honey bees. It does not have added chemicals or artificial sweeteners.
What exactly is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a deficiency of the pancreas, where it fails to produce and use insulin in a sufficient manner. It is basically a metabolic disorder. The ingested sugars and starches cannot be deployed, and hence are eliminated in the urine. Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, extreme thirst or hunger, weight loss, fatigue, numbness, and several infections. There are two types of diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce any insulin. Whereas, people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes either don’t produce enough insulin or their cells stop them from doing so. Hence, as a result type 2 diabetes, patients tend to be overweight, and face the problem of obesity because of the high insulin levels, unable to channel glucose into muscle cells, convert glucose into fat and cholesterol instead. Therefore, honey being a natural sweetener is indeed a sweet remedy to treat obesity.
Is Honey Good for Diabetics? Can Diabetes Patients Consume Honey?
Refined sugar is deprived of essential nutrients. Thus, the vitamins and minerals from the body of a diabetic will be entirely used up for the absorption of processed sugar. Excessive sugar leads to swelling of the liver and later enters the bloodstream in the form of fatty acid which in turn increases the sugar level.
Honey being a natural sweetener contains the protective nutrients and also amino acids. They work together to maintain proper functioning of metabolism. Honey has less Glycemic Index (GI) compared to refined sugar. This means it does not rush in sugar into the body as fast as processed sugar. The required amount of insulin is also observed to be very less than regular sugar. Honey prevents excessive sugar to enter into the circulation of blood.
Honey contains high calories and is also sweeter than sugar. This indicates that a diabetic does not need to consume large amount of honey for its excessive sweetness. Only a teaspoon of honey is sufficient for sweetening a drink of a diabetes patient. Consumption of honey will also facilitate the person to attain more energy and feel revitalized. But, one important point you should keep in mind while consuming honey is that it is raw and pure. Pure honey does not enhance the level of blood sugar if consumed within control.
A diabetic can consume two spoons of pure honey with yogurt in the early hours of the morning. It is healthier and will not increase the sugar level. Processed honey should always be avoided by diabetic patients. Eating fresh salads and eating raw honey has the same good values. Studies have revealed that raw honey consumption can positively diminish the level of blood sugar from sixty to one hundred milligram. Adding raw honey into the diabetic’s diet is preferable but not in large amount.
This is quite shocking but it is true that diabetes can be very well be cured and kept in control if the patient follows a balanced diet. Now-a-days, even doctors recommend honey for diabetics to consume a spoonful of pure honey every morning. This is because it is a food rich in anti- oxidants.
Therefore, consumption of honey can be helpful in providing beneficial effects on body weight and blood lipids of diabetic patients. However, proper care should be taken while consumption of honey by diabetic patients. But before you decide to make the switch, it is recommended that you make sure to first consult your doctor or your dietician.
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