There are many reasons to be thankful for bees, and honey is one of them. The sweet, sticky substance is made by the buzzing pollinators after collecting nectar from flowering plants. <\/p>\n
Humans have been eating honey for thousands of years \u2014 and animals like\u00a0bears and honey badgers, probably longer. <\/p>\n
Honey adds a boost of natural sweetness to food and drinks. It\u2019s also used for medicinal purposes, like soothing coughs. <\/p>\n
Today, you can find dozens of honey varieties, from the classic bear-shaped bottle to speciality jars at your local farmers market. Increasingly, it seems like there are more options to choose from: clover, manuka, raw, unfiltered, and the list goes on.<\/p>\n
The type of honey largely depends on the floral source, or which blossoms the bees collect nectar from. The process from hive to bottle can also vary. These factors will affect the honey\u2019s color, flavor and consistency. <\/p>\n
There are more than unique 300 types of honey in the United States, per the National Honey Board<\/a>. <\/p>\n But does the source or processing of honey make a difference nutritionally? Is one type of honey better for you than others? We spoke to dietitians to find out.<\/p>\n Honey Nutrition Overview<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, honey is mostly made up of sugar and doesn\u2019t offer much else in the macronutrient department. <\/p>\n One tablespoon of honey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture database<\/a>, provides about:<\/p>\n 64 calories17 grams of carbohydrates17 grams of sugar<\/p>\n All of the carbohydrates in honey come from sugar, mostly in the form of sucrose and fructose. Other than those simple sugars, honey is mostly water. It has no protein, fiber or fat. <\/p>\n In terms of micronutrients, honey<\/a> contains trace amounts of vitamins B and C, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron,\u00a0but it\u2019s not a significant source of any vitamins or minerals. <\/p>\n However, honey does contain antioxidants and bioactive plant compounds, including flavonoids<\/a> and phenolic acids, Kristen Smith, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.com.<\/p>\n Is Honey Good for You?<\/p>\n When eaten in moderation, honey can be part of a healthy diet,<\/a> Smith says. However, it\u2019s still a source of added sugar and extra calories.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think of honey as a health food,\u201d Natalie Rizzo, registered dietitian and TODAY nutrition editor, emphasizes. Due to its high sugar content, she says she wouldn\u2019t consume honey by itself for its nutritional value.<\/p>\n That said, honey, unlike other many sweeteners, does offer some benefits in addition to a dose of sugar. \u201cHoney contains the natural antioxidants and flavonoids and polyphenols, which may help reduce inflammation,\u201d Smith adds.<\/p>\n Antioxidants can also help protect against free radicals, harmful molecules that damage cells.<\/p>\n Research shows honey contains slightly more vitamins and minerals than white sugar, says Smith. However, the amounts of micronutrients in honey are still relatively low.<\/p>\n So, honey may be a slightly more nutritious choice if you\u2019re looking to sweeten food and beverages, but it doesn\u2019t mean you should be eating honey in excess, the experts emphasize.<\/p>\n (Children under the age of 1 should not consume honey due to the potential risk of botulism, the experts note.)<\/p>\n What Is the Healthiest Type of Honey? <\/p>\n All types of honey share a similar nutrition profile. \u201cI would probably say they are all relatively the same,\u201d says Rizzo. Most honeys are about 80% sugar.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lack of robust scientific research comparing the health benefits of different types of honey, the experts note.<\/p>\n The type and dosages used in studies varies significantly, which makes it hard to attribute the potential beneficial effects to any specific type honey, according to a 2023 review of research on honey published in Nutrients<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, research suggests some types of honey are richer in antioxidants and plant compounds than others. <\/p>\n Dark, Unfiltered Honey<\/p>\n Dark, unfiltered honey, which gets its color from the type of nectar used to make it, may have more health benefits than other types, but the differences are likely modest, the experts say.<\/p>\n \u201cDarker honey varieties tend to contain higher levels of antioxidants,\u201d Smith explains. These include buckwheat and Manuka honey, per the National Honey Board<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cManuka honey does have more phenolic compounds, and research suggests it has antibacterial properties, but that mostly pertains to wound healing,\u201d says Rizzo.<\/p>\n When honey is not filtered, that may also mean it has more pollen, enzymes and antioxidants, but it\u2019s unclear if this alters the nutrient content\u00a0and therefore health benefits\u00a0in a meaningful way. (Honey is filtered to remove impurities and extend shelf life.)<\/p>\n \u201cResearch has not confirmed whether raw honey retains more nutrients than processed honey,\u201d says Smith.<\/p>\n Bottom line? Pretty much any honey will give you a similar health bang for your buck, especially compared to refined sugars, but don\u2019t get \u201ctoo fixated on the type of honey, as most varieties do still contain some beneficial antioxidants,\u201d Smith advises.<\/p>\n \u201cWeighing out what\u2019s affordable, what\u2019s available and what your preferred flavor profile is also important,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Does Local Honey Help With Allergies?<\/p>\n