The Low Down on Honey

By Runners World

Do you add a little honey to your tea or spread a tablespoon on toast? Good move.

While honey contains a few more kilo-joules per teaspoon than sugar, it has a number of healthy advantages.

When buying honey, remember that light and amber-colored varieties are mild-tasting, while darker ones have a bolder, richer flavor. Each also has a slightly different antioxidant profile.

Here’s why runners should enjoy the sweet stuff:

Fuel performance

A study on cyclists found consuming 250kJ of honey (one tablespoon) with water every half-hour works as well as an energy gel in improving sprinting efforts at the end of a long workout.

Control blood sugar

Studies show that using honey rather than regular table sugar can help steady blood-sugar levels – great news for those with pre-diabetes or insulin resistance.

Boost antioxidant levels

Compared to other sweeteners, honey has higher levels of antioxidants. In one study, subjects who drank tea with honey showed a 7% increase in antioxidant levels compared to subjects who had tea with sugar.

Curb cholesterol

Using honey instead of sugar for two weeks can lower your ‘bad cholesterol’ and reduce levels of C-reactive protein, a measure of inflammation in vessels.

Improve G.I. health

Honey contains oligosaccharides, a type of sugar that fuels the growth of immune-boosting bacteria in the gut, promoting a healthy intestinal tract.