Honey has been around since ancient times. It is commonly used as a sweetener or food preservative. Raw honey is rich in nutrients and antioxidants and has become a household staple as it’s a great ingredient for cooking and baking.
However, there are nutritional, health-related, and ethical reasons that someone might want to avoid honey. First off, honey contains high amounts of fructose and is metabolized differently from other sugars. That means that consuming too much fructose can raise blood glucose levels, increase insulin resistance, and even contribute to diabetes.
Secondly, many affordable honey products at grocery stores are artificial or heavily processed, meaning they no longer resemble pure honey or possess beneficial qualities. And finally, vegans and those with ethical concerns about bee populations may want to avoid honey and related products.
Below is a list of healthy replacements for honey. Try them out.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup comes from the sap of a maple tree. Similar to honey, it contains antioxidants and other important micronutrients, as long as it’s 100% pure maple syrup. It also has a very similar texture and consistency to honey and thus works well as an alternative in baking, cooking, and drizzling. For every one tablespoon of honey, you can substitute with one tablespoon of maple syrup.
Molasses
Molasses is very sweet with a warm flavor that’s quite similar to maple syrup. It’s a natural sweetener that’s free of added sugars. It has quite a thick consistency though, so one may prefer to use a little less molasses than honey rather than a one-to-one ratio.
Coconut Nectar
Coconut nectar is a vegan substitute for honey that’s derived from the flowers of a coconut tree. This syrup has a similar texture and consistency to honey and has a caramel-like taste. It is a little less sweet than honey due to its lower sugar content. That’s why coconut nectar has a lower glycemic index than most sweeteners.
Any of the above replacements are good alternatives to try. It just depends on your taste preferences.
[RECIPE] BLUEBERRY QUINOA HOT CEREAL
Serves: 1
Ingredients (use organic where possible):
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup dry quinoa
- 1/2 cup dairy-free milk
- Pinch sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon raw honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup blueberries
Directions:
- Add water and quinoa to a small pot over medium heat.
- Cover and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed.
- Stir in dairy-free milk, salt, vanilla extract, honey/maple syrup, and blueberries.
- Reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes or until thickened to your liking.
To Your Health,
Patti
