Honey is a source of food that we all consider healthy and beneficial. Honey also consists of simple sugars such as glucose and fructose. Honey is an alternative and healthier choice that we refer to when we do not want to consume refined sugar because sugars need very little digestion in the intestine before circulation. Enzymes in the intestine break down simple sugars and then provide absorption. In this way, they enter the blood directly and increase the blood sugar level. But no matter how many nutritional values honey has and the benefits honey gives us, honey is a food that we should limit while eating because honey is sweet. As with any healthy food, when we consume honey in excess, honey loses its innocence and begins to give more harm to our bodies than good. Well, does honey raise our blood sugar level?
Due to honey is a source of sugar, it increases our blood sugar levels. The glycemic index is a measure that shows how quickly carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels. When we analyze the glycemic index of honey, we see that there is no big difference between honey and sugar. The glycemic index of sugar is 65, while the glycemic index value of honey is 58. This means that honey, even if not as much as sugar, increases our blood sugar despite all its benefits.
On the other hand, if we want to keep blood sugar under control, we should choose products with a low insulin index. The insulin index is a blood test to determine whether pancreatic beta cells have sufficient function and whether people who may have hidden sugar develop resistance to the hormone insulin secreted by the pancreas. However, white sugar has an insulin index of more than 120. Therefore, refined sugar increases glucose in the blood and increases the likelihood of complications in diabetes. At the same time, honey is a high-calorie product. Honey has approximately 328 kcal in 100 grams. If you need to lower your blood sugar levels, you can choose foods with fiber next to honey. Because foods with soluble fiber slow down the absorption of glucose, and soluble fiber regulates your blood sugar. Also consuming soluble fiber next to honey reduces the effect of honey on blood sugar.
So patients with diabetes can eat honey? What happens if patients with diabetes eat honey? As you can see from all these, type 2 diabetes should consume a limited amount of honey. In the past, experts used to say that patients with diabetes should stay away from sweet foods such as honey. On the contrary, today some experts say that these patients may consume honey in small quantities but they should not eat honey very often. It’s a decision that could alter from person to person. But everyone, especially people taking insulin, should pay attention to the fact that these patients do not only consume honey during the day. Besides honey, they consume carbohydrates. This is exactly why, with a healthy diet, everyone should calculate how many carbohydrates they take every day, including honey. This is quite significant for their health.
Another point is that honey may contain some antioxidants. Yet this does not mean that you only get antioxidants from honey, and therefore you should consume honey. Honey will be an arbitrary choice, not a mandatory one since you can also get all these beneficial nutrients from foods other than honey. Moreover, other foods provide you with antioxidants without raising your blood sugar. So when do patients with diabetes need honey?
Patients with type 2 diabetes need honey when they experience hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a problem of low blood sugar. The patients experience this problem when they go hungry, exercise excessively, or takes an overdose of insulin. Eating 2-3 spoons of honey in such cases will raise blood sugar and then turn it to normal. Or you can make a sweet drink with honey or something else, the choice is up to you. Then the patient should rest and wait for recovery. In short, it will be healthier to stay away from foods rich in honey and high-carbohydrate sugar, except for situation of a sudden drop in blood sugar. High blood sugar can cause damage to our vital organs.
What Lowers Blood Sugar Immediately?
We said a sudden drop in blood sugar was called hypoglycemia. And there’s a problem with high blood sugar. It’s called hyperglycemia. In this case, the fastest and most effective way to lower blood sugar is to take insulin. Heavy foods, acidic drinks, lots of sugary foods, and staying without action are acts that are effective in raising blood sugar. Sometimes patients may have complaints such as shortness of breath, a dry mouth, nausea, or vomiting, in such cases, it is best to go to the hospital. High blood sugar is a significant situation, and you need to be careful. High blood sugar can cause serious situations. For example;
- High blood sugar damages the nerves in the feet and hands. It can lead to leg cutting.
- High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the eyes.
- High blood sugar increases the risk of kidney problems.
- High blood sugar increases the risk of heart problems.
To prevent such diseases, you should keep your blood sugar levels at normal rates. There are some foods that you can eat to lower your blood sugar when your blood sugar rises.
12 foods to lower blood sugar;
- Cinnamon
Heart disease is the reason for the most deaths in the world. Diabetes, on the other hand, is the biggest trigger of heart disease. However, cinnamon is helpful for us with its ability to regulate blood sugar. Studies show a positive change in blood sugar values if patients with diabetes consume 1 gram of cinnamon per day. At the same time, cinnamon prevents the development of insulin resistance in healthy individuals. Cinnamon lowers LDL cholesterol while it increases HDL cholesterol, and is also effective in lowering blood pressure. In other words, consuming cinnamon regularly reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. You could consume cinnamon adding to any food and beverage you desire.
- Fenugreek
Fenugreek, an antidiabetic spice, provides great benefit to patients with diabetes by regulating the oscillation of insulin.
- Turmeric
Another food that we can call a miracle is turmeric, which has a lot of benefits. Turmeric is also very easy to consume. You can add turmeric to both meals- drinks, and prepare yogurt cures. If you consume turmeric regularly, it maintains your body resistance, reduces your risk of diabetes, and lowers your blood sugar.
- Broccoli Sprouts
- Vinegar
If you consume a lot of carbon dioxide, add vinegar to your meals. Especially apple cider vinegar is helpful. Vinegar alone is so pungent, so you should consume it by adding it to your food or water. Vinegar controls insulin, lowers blood sugar, and is beneficial for hidden sugar because vinegar gives a feeling of saturation.
- Garlic
Garlic is the largest source of antibiotics, whether raw or cooked. Garlic prevents the formation of fat in the bodies of people with insulin resistance. In addition to protecting us from many diseases, it also balances blood pressure and sugar.
- Blueberry
Blueberry lowers blood sugar, ensuring that the body is not lubricated.
- Sweet Potato
Although sweet potatoes balance blood sugar, we have to consume them in limited quantities. Because sweet potatoes have a high level of sugar, they raise blood sugar. In addition, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index.
- Flaxseed
Flaxseed is another food that lowers blood sugar because it has omega fatty acids. Also, flaxseed is a food that patients with diabetes, patients with high blood pressure, and even healthy people should put to their diet.
- Avocado
Avocado has a property that prevents the sugar taken from entering the blood. The source of this feature is that it is rich in monounsaturated fats. People who want to lose weight often prefer avocado because it also speeds up fat burning.
- Nut
Nuts reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Nuts are also heart-friendly. Nuts help weight loss because it gives a feeling of satiety and speeds up metabolism. Also, they are good for forgetfulness diseases. These are just a few of its benefits.
- Dandelion
Dandelion is suitable for us to consume as tea form. This plant balances blood sugar as well as increasing our body resistance. In other words, dandelion prevents blood sugar from rising, and if our blood sugar rises, it also helps to lower it.
Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia)
Extreme thirst
Dry mouth
Constant hunger
Often urination/need to urinate at night
Dry and itchy skin
Fatigue or extreme exhaustion
Difficulty in concentration
Excessive fat in the abdomen/increase in weight
Repeated infections
Blurred vision
Slow healing of cuts and wounds
Nerve problems
Stomach problems
Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
Dizziness
Weakness, lethargy, and aggression
Feeling of hunger
Sweating and thirst
Nausea
Tachycardia
Shakiness
Nervousness
Fatigue
Concentration problems
Confusion
Foods That Help You To Control Blood Sugar
None of us want our blood sugar to rise. Yet, blood sugar could occasionally rise from the diseases we have or the food we eat. In situations like this, we have to stay calm, including the people around us. After the first intervention, there are some foods that we can consume to lower our blood sugar. The foods that I am going to mention are not only to lower blood sugar. They are also foods for people who want to keep their blood sugar levels under control. The most significant point to consider when preparing a diet plan should be the number of carbohydrates taken daily. Foods that contain high carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, pasta, fruits, and sweets, will increase sugar, so it will be correct to consume a limited amount of them. For this reason, a vegetable-based diet will satisfy our bodies and allow us to stay away from poor quality meals. So, here some foods that help you to control blood sugar;
Raw or cooked vegetables; Raw or cooked vegetables give flavor to our meals and make us healthier thanks to the numerous vitamins and minerals it contains. You can consume flavors like mushrooms, eggplant, tomatoes, brussels sprouts, zucchini by adding spices such as low-fat sauces, red pepper, garlic onions. These foods will help to keep your blood sugar levels.
Greens; Choose low-carb, vitamin-rich greens. You can create a delicious taste by blending different flavors such as black cabbage, spinach, chard with different recipes. You can enrich your menu by adding a protein-rich and non-heavy salmon next to your greens.
Delicious, Low-Calorie Drinks; You can prepare low-calorie drinks yourself. All you have to do for this is to add lemon and cucumber to your water. Or you can add a stick of cinnamon and lemon to your tea. These will keep you full and prevent you from eating frequently.
Granular Fruits
Whole grain, high sedimented Foods; Legumes such as dry bean, chickpeas, lentils, even if they do not have low carbohydrates, are good for our intestines. And they are filling us. Due to they keep us full, they protect our blood sugar levels.
Fat; It’s healthy fats we’re talking about here. As an example of healthy fats, we can give olive oil, avocado, and fish oil. Limit your amount of fat even if they are healthy. Do not add extra fat if the food you are eating is fatty.
Protein; You can get protein by eating plain yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, lean meat, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, black cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. These nourishments are high in terms of protein.
Summarize
First of all, our research question “Will Honey Raise Blood Sugar?” and the answer to the question, as we mentioned above, is yes. This answer is valid for both healthy people and patients with diabetes because honey is sweet. Honey is a food that we have to be careful about consuming, since no matter how many benefits honey has, the sugar amount of honey has is high. In other words, honey is a beneficial product when used correctly. In addition, honey is not the only sugar and carbohydrate-derived nourishment we take inside our bodies during the day. As well as honey we are getting sugar from bread, pasta, rice, in short from pastries. That is why we have to pursue the daily amount of sugar we take ourselves. Some beneficial nourishments that are found in nature lower blood sugar levels if blood sugar rises. They control blood sugar levels besides lowering them. Consuming these vegetables, grains, and proteins makes our body more vigorous, resistant, and healthy. That is why we must add those vegetables to our nutrition plan. Moreover, experts say that healthy adults should eat an average of 6-10 dessert spoons of honey per day, and children should take 1 gram of honey per kilo per day. Be your doctor and balance the amount of sugar you will get into your body according to the other foods you eat during the day.
Honey Jars That You Can Buy Online
