The moment you have a cup of coffee , do you immediately grab a packet of sugar (or two) and mix it with a little milk? Do you need to add something sweet to your coffee even though it's common knowledge that sugar isn't the healthiest option?
There are many sugars out there: plain white sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, and even artificial sweeteners, but there is also the use of honey as an alternative.
Honey is a modern and healthy way to sweeten your coffee. Not only does it add a new dimension to your cup, but it also provides additional body along with several health benefits.
Honey vs. sugar
If you're someone with a nutrition background, you probably know that honey has more calories than sugar. Honey also affects blood sugar similarly to regular sugar. A teaspoon of honey has about 21 calories. Pure white sugar has only about 12 calories.
But when we talk about health benefits, we can't just look at calories. You have to look at the bigger picture to see why honey is the healthiest path. This is where honey can help where white sugar can't.
Health benefits
In addition to having a low GI (glycemic index), honey contains many vitamins and minerals. Vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and amino acids, while minerals include magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, sulfur, copper, iodine, zinc, and phosphorus.
Honey is also an antioxidant. This means it contains molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. This helps prevent cell damage. Honey also acts as an antifungal and antibacterial agent.
Honey is a simple carbohydrate and is a great way to get an energy boost. Plus, it doesn't have the negative side effects of commercial energy drinks.
Honey can also be used as a home remedy. It can control digestive problems such as diarrhea, indigestion, and stomach ulcers. It can even be used as a medicine to treat a persistent cough or sore throat.
Possible disadvantages of adding honey to coffee
While it may be the healthiest sweetener for coffee , there are some potential drawbacks associated with honey. Generally, these seem to be fairly minor and relatively easy to resolve. For example, if raw honey is used in coffee, it may take a little longer to dissolve than sugar. To avoid this, be sure to use hot water when making your coffee. Also, spend more time stirring the mixture. This will prevent the honey granules from settling to the bottom of the cup.
However, not all disadvantages are easy to manage. One of the biggest disadvantages is that some people may not be able to consume honey due to allergies. If this is the case, adding honey to your coffee can trigger these symptoms. Furthermore, in some cases, unprocessed honey can cause illness. This is because no impurities have been removed during processing.
For example, it may contain mold spores or bee venom. In some cases, this can cause reactions such as swelling of the mouth or throat. Fortunately, this is easy to avoid if you only buy processed honey or from verified distributors who take the time to grade the product.
Does honey alter the taste of coffee?
Honey can also change the flavor of your coffee. The flavor of honey depends on the type of pollen it's made from. For example, clover honey, the most commercial type, has a very mild flavor, while other varieties like buckwheat or manuka honey have a much stronger, purer flavor.
Still, even mild honey will alter the flavor of coffee compared to neutral-tasting table sugar or other sweeteners.
If you choose to add honey to your coffee, start with just a small amount of mild honey to limit how much it alters the flavor, and adjust the amount you add until you find your sweet spot.
Should I or shouldn't I put honey in my coffee?
Ultimately, the decision to add honey to your coffee or not will depend on how you like your cup of coffee. However, if you're looking for a healthier alternative to sugar and coffee sweetener, honey is a good option.
But if you're the kind of coffee drinker who values ββthe flavor of coffee above all else, then honey might not be the best choice because unless you can find a type of honey that pairs perfectly with your coffee of choice, you probably won't like the taste.
The bottom line is that you won't know whether you'll like honey or not until you try it.