Honey Has Nutrients, But in Tiny Proportions

By Karen Collins, The North County Times (USA), 3/15/2008

Q: Is it true that honey contains more nutrients than white sugar?

A: Just because a food contains vitamins or other nutrients does not mean that it provides enough of them to benefit your health. Although honey provides small amounts of a variety of vitamins and minerals (for example, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, B vitamins), nutrient analysis reveals that one tablespoon offers less than 1 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for each of them.

Some studies now suggest that honey may contain natural phytochemicals that can increase antioxidant activity in the blood. Yet these studies rely upon nearly a dozen teaspoons of honey daily to see an effect, adding a whopping 230 calories per day to the subjects' diets. In contrast, fruits and vegetables provide significant antioxidant effects while supplying just 25 to 50 calories per serving. Further research is needed to determine if antioxidant benefits can be obtained from smaller amounts of honey.