The Honey Bear....

I used to stare at this guy every morning before I went to school back in the 80's, I feel as though he knows alot about me.. and we shared a great deal through out life.  That is because the Honey Bear was always in our house, and I am thankful for him.   He came to the rescue in the middle of the night when I would awaken with a horrible cough as a young child.   My mom had her own special remedy which may have included honey and lemon that always worked.  Honey Bear also liked my grandma's house.. as he hung out there... and most likely knows all the gossip in town.  Oh.. if the Honey Bear could talk....

I recently dumped all my jelly and jams.. and brought honey back in my life.  Studies are sure agreeing with my most recent drastic move to consume honey on a (semi- daily basis).  Honey contains oligosaccharides, a type of sugar that helps promote the growth of immune boosting bacteria in the gut, and promotes a healthy intestinal tract.  Honey has also been shown to lower cholesterol (the bad cholesterol I should say) p.s by the way.. my LDL dropped 30pts), and reduce levels of C-reactive protein (this measures the inflammation in your vessels) and you sure want the number to be low.  Another promising study has shown that honey used in place of regular sugar can help stabilize blood sugar levels. 

According to an article in Runners World (Sept 2011) Liz Applegate, Ph.D reported a study on cyclists consuming 60 calories of honey (1 Tbsp) with water every 30 minutes worked as well as consuming an energy gel in improving efforts at the end of a long workout.  

According to my peeps over at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics...

Is Honey More Nutritious than White Sugar?

This is a common misconception. Honey is actually several sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose and others) formed from nectar by bees. Ounce for ounce, the nutrients in honey and white sugar are about the same. A teaspoon of honey weighs slightly more than a teaspoon of white sugar, so it has slightly more calories. A teaspoon of white sugar has about 15 calories; a teaspoon of honey, about 21 calories. Honey is sweeter than white sugar, so you need less to sweeten foods.

Here is an excerpt from another great informative article (Today's Dietitian) about honey written by: — Bryan Roof, RD, LDN, is a chef, dietitian, and food writer living in Boston. (see below)

"Honey is graded by color, with the characteristic clear, golden amber often commanding a higher retail price than darker varieties. Honey flavor, however, differs as a result of the flower varieties from which the nectar is harvested. Clover, tupelo, and orange blossom honey are derived from nectar specifically from those types of flowers, whereas wildflower honey comes from an assortment of flowers.
Honey is available most often in raw or pasteurized form. Raw honey is unprocessed, meaning it’s removed from the hive and bottled. It will contain trace amounts of yeast, wax, and pollen. Consuming raw honey is believed to lessen the effects of seasonal allergies. Pasteurized honey has been heated and processed to remove impurities and kill any potentially harmful bacteria. However, it still may contain botulinum endospores, so you shouldn’t give it to children under 12 months of age due to the inability of their immature digestive systems to destroy the spores.
When it comes to cooking—and baking in particular—honey can be problematic and isn’t necessarily a straight swap for sugar. Honey is sweeter and more hygroscopic (water absorbing) than sugar, which can cause excess browning and moisture in the finished product."

Rock on Honey Bear....

via pinterest