Is honey better for weight loss than sugar?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 11, 2026
Honey contains sugar and calories just like every other sweetener, with one teaspoon of containing 22 calories. Honey actually contains more calories than sugar, as one teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories. However, it isn't truly more fattening than sugar, considering the fact that it is sweeter than sugar.
Can I use honey instead of sugar for weight loss?
Honey is a natural sweetening agent, which makes it an excellent substitute for calorie-dense sugar. Speaking nutritionally, one tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose, but no fiber, fat or protein.
Is honey more fattening than sugar?
Lower in calories than honey
Sugar contains 49 calories per tablespoon, while honey has 64. However, honey is sweeter than sugar, so less may be needed to achieve the same sweetness.
Is honey good for you when trying to lose weight?
Consuming honey right before bed time can help you burn more calories during the early hours of sleep. This ingredient is enriched with essential vitamins, minerals and healthy fats as well. Essential hormones in honey suppress appetite and aid weight loss.
Does honey cause belly fat?
Honey will not make you lose belly fat, but including it in a solid plan of healthy eating and consistent exercise certainly won't do you any harm.
35 related questions foundIs honey a fat burner?
Raw organic honey contains living nutrients that stabilise the blood sugar and burn body fat. Sugar spikes blood sugar levels and increases body fat. And the living nutrients in raw organic honey stimulate the body's metabolism and increases its fat-burning capacity.
Which is better for you stevia or honey?
Natural honey is often considered a better option than processed stevia. Not only is honey good for blood-sugar levels, it has many other potential benefits. These benefits include soothing coughs, and it could even reduce the effects of seasonal allergies, although these claims require more research.
Is honey a keto?
The short answer: no. The long answer: still no, but that doesn't mean honey is bad for you or can't be part of a healthy diet. Honey just happens to be high in carbs––which are healthy and valid sources of fuel for your body in moderation––while the keto diet requires consuming almost no carbs at all.
Does honey increase metabolism?
Honey intake reduces blood sugar levels and prevents excessive weight gain. It also improves lipid metabolism by reducing total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which leads to decreased risk of atherogenesis.
How much honey should I eat a day to lose weight?
Research suggests that drinking about one teaspoon or 10ml of honey mixed with 5ml of lemon and 150ml of lukewarm water daily may promote the process of weight loss.
When should I take honey morning or night?
Usually the doctors recommend honey to be taken empty stomach early in the morning as it gives an instant kick and energy boost which is enough to counter an entire day. Also, while going to bed, a spoonful of honey not only gives a good night's sleep but also helps in digestion and relaxation of mind and body.
Can you eat honey on low-carb diet?
If you're on a low carb diet, you should limit your intake of sugar, honey, maple syrup, and other forms of sugar, which are high in carbs but low in other important nutrients.
Is honey a fast carb?
Both the type of carbohydrate and the presence (or absence) of fiber in a particular food affects its GI. For example, table sugar, honey, corn syrup, maple syrup, brown sugar and molasses contain easily digested disaccharides and no fiber, so they are fast carbs.
Does honey have a lot of carbs?
Although the nutrition profile varies depending on the type, a single tablespoon (21 grams) of honey typically has 64 calories and 17 grams of carbs with little to no fat, fiber, and protein ( 2 ).
Which sugar is best for weight loss?
Stevia — in packet, drops or plant form — is a dietitian favorite. Not only does it contain zero calories, but stevia-based sweeteners are herbal as opposed to artificial. Stevia blended with a sugar alcohol called erythritol (Truvia®) works well in low-carb baked desserts, too.
What is the healthiest substitute for sugar?
They're low in calories, low in fructose, and taste very sweet. Here are 5 natural sweeteners that could be healthier alternatives to refined sugar.
...
5 Natural Sweeteners That Are Good for Your Health
- Stevia. Stevia is a very popular low calorie sweetener. ...
- Erythritol. ...
- Xylitol. ...
- Yacon syrup. ...
- Monk fruit sweetener.
Is Blue agave better than honey?
Honey is better than agave nectar because it is: higher in antioxidants. lower in fructose-content. less processed.
Is it good to replace sugar with honey?
While honey does contain higher fructose levels, it's relatively low on the glycemic index, making it one of the best sugar substitutes of the bunch. One study found that replacing sugar with honey could actually lower blood sugar levels and prevent weight gain or aid in weight loss.
Is honey considered added sugar?
And even though honey comes from a natural source, it is still an added sugar, like corn syrup or cane sugar. “A lot of people feel better when they read a food label and see honey instead of sugar,” says Friedman.
Is honey sweeter than sugar?
There is slightly more fructose than glucose. Since fructose is sweeter than glucose, honey is a bit sweeter than sugar. Therefore people tend to use less. Honey has trace amounts minerals and vitamins.
Which carb is the healthiest?
12 High Carb Foods That Are Incredibly Healthy
- Quinoa. Quinoa is a nutritious seed that has become incredibly popular among health-conscious consumers. ...
- Oats. ...
- Buckwheat. ...
- Bananas. ...
- Sweet potatoes. ...
- Beets. ...
- Oranges. ...
- Blueberries.
How does honey compare to sugar?
Honey is actually 25% sweeter than table sugar, meaning you can use less in recipes. For example, if what you're making calls for one cup of sugar, a good rule of thumb is to go with a ¾-cup of honey.
Is honey sugar free?
Honey is a free sugar: Honey is made up of up over 180 components including sugars, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. The sugar components dominate, around 80% of its composition is monosaccharides (predominantly fructose) and 3-5% disaccharides, as well as water and non-sugar components.
What happens if eat honey at night?
#2: Honey helps your brain release melatonin, the hormone that your body uses to restore itself during sleep. This happens through a series of transformations in your brain: honey's sugars spike your insulin levels, releasing tryptophan, which becomes serotonin, which becomes melatonin.
What happens if you take honey every morning?
Excess consumption of honey may lead to weight gain, inflammation, heart disease, liver disease, dementia, and many other illnesses related to high sugar intake. Remember that honey consumption is prohibited to infants under 1 year old.