To answer the question of does honey have sugar in it, it is necessary to understand what honey is made of and what sugar is. Once we have answered these two questions, we can understand whether honey contains sugar. So let’s get started.
What honey is made of
Honey consists of glucose (approximately 38%) and fructose (approximately 31%). The proportions can vary depending on the type of honey. Some have more glucose and some have more fructose. 9% other sugars and only 1% sucrose. Water in honey is 20%, but the percentage can vary from honey to honey, somewhere more, somewhere less.
In addition, honey contains enzymes (diastase, invertase), organic and inorganic acids (succinic, citric, formic, folic); flavonoids; phytoncides; macro and microelements (aluminium, boron, iron, iodine, potassium, silicon, calcium, lithium, magnesium, manganese, copper, sodium, sulphur, phosphorus, chromium, zinc), as well as vitamins B1, B2, B6, E, K, C, carotene (provitamin A).
Glucose and fructose are monosaccharides, while sucrose is a disaccharide from the group of oligosaccharides, consisting of two monosaccharides: glucose and fructose.
What sugar is made of
Sugar is 99% sucrose. Recall that the disaccharide sucrose is made up of the monosaccharides glucose and fructose. Sugar is a food commodity, a refined product created by man. That is, it is taken from beetroot or sugar cane and isolated sucrose molecules. Everything else was discarded as ‘unnecessary’, such as fibre, proteins and other substances. Such isolated products do not occur in nature.
Sugar content of honey
It turns out that the combination of glucose and fructose gives sucrose, of which, as we know, 99% of sugar consists. Hence we conclude that honey contains 70% of sugar. But it is mainly in the form of two monosaccharides: glucose and fructose, not sucrose, of which 99% of sugar is made up.
How honey and sugar are digested by the body
Although honey contains sugar, it is digested differently by the body. In order for sugar to be absorbed by the body, it must be broken down into monosaccharides: glucose and fructose. After that, the body digests them. Honey, on the other hand, initially consists of monosaccharides. So it’s quicker and easier to digest. So it doesn’t have to do any extra work.
Conclusion
Yes, honey contains sugar in the form of glucose and fructose. Yes, it is a different form, but it is still sugar only in the form of disaccharides. If you think that by replacing sugar with honey, you can consume an unlimited amount of honey, I have to disappoint you. Honey should be consumed in moderation, within 1 tablespoon per day, if you have no contraindications.
