Honey

[SiennaInLondon]

I have recently cut out sugar from my diet entirely after my dentist scared me with the phrase, 'Before they refined sugar, gum disease or heart disease wasn't nearly as widespread'. Obvious you might say? Well yes but not something you want to hear when getting a filling. Before I went to university, my teeth were flawless but with the freedom and lack of parents around, I went a little sugar crazy... and the rest is white fillings. Not good.

However, to replace the sugar cravings, (which providing you never let yourself get hungry during the day, aren't too bad!) I have been eating a lot of Medjool dates from the Middle East and honey with Greek Yoghurt. Of course nothing to excess is good but is there any reason (calorie content aside) I shouldn't be earting 1-2 tablespoons of honey a day till I get all the sugar out of my system? I think it might be making my tummy a bit runny but I am not entirely sure if that is it. Still, anything that is in the Torah and the Qu'ran can't be anything but good right?

Found this on Wikipedia though:
"Many people believe that honey is more wholesome or healthier than refined sugar, although most nutritionists say that all sweeteners are pretty much alike."

Does anyone find that honey makes their skin look like...well honey?

 

[VainJane]

Mmmm...I have heard that honey is a good sugar-replacement and that it has health benefits. And supposedly if you have allergy problems, eating local honey decreases the allergies (or something like that).

And, speaking of refined sugar, my friend (who loves all this health stuff) said that corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup are the main evil-doers in the world of sugary food. Supposedly they're worse than fat, regular sugar, etc. Not only that but they're what makes sugary/fatty foods addictive. So I guess cutting out those syrups decreases one's addiction to such foods.

I wish I had the self-control to totally cut sugar out of my diet....but I know that hell would sooner freeze over

 

[misssakura]

I find that adding honey to food makes it taste like feet. :x

 

[chanelnumber5]

Mmmm...I have heard that honey is a good sugar-replacement and that it has health benefits. And supposedly if you have allergy problems, eating local honey decreases the allergies (or something like that).

Yeh, eating LOCAL honey is supposed to decrease allergies, my grandmother who is an absolute health freak insists that the honey she buys must be locally produced as it prevents allergies, it makes sense after all - if the bees are collecting local pollen and you eat it you are being innoculated against the local pollen. Plus, if you are getting honey from a local producer rather than a big company they are far les likely to tamper with it add colouring, flavouring etc. Local is the best way to go IMHO.

I know this is kinda OT but is honey yay or nay for skin, I've heard that it works miracles for some but some say it blocks pores...

 

[high maintenance]

I find that adding honey to food makes it taste like feet. :x

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

i have a few tablespoons of honey every day or two. just for pleasure

 

[SiennaInLondon]

I find that adding honey to food makes it taste like feet. :x

Gosh, I know what you mean! Still, sweet is sweet and I'd take sweet feet over no sweet at all.

And Chanel, how can eating honey block your pores? Unless you mean applying it on your face?

 

[TheKiwi]

I adore honey! Especially in Greek yogurt. I have that nearly everyday. I buy the fat free Greek yogurt and add honey... mmm!

Here are some facts I've found on honey (from beeguys.com

• Honey is antimicrobial due to it's high sugar content, low pH and the presence of organic acids (Use it to treat cuts, scrapes and burns as well as to prevent scarring!)

• Honey may help treat your allergies!

• Honey is high in carbohydrates and is therefore a great energy source.

• Honey contains the vitamins B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.

• Honey contains the minerals calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and zinc.

• The natural antioxidants found in honey are chrysin, pinobanskin, vitamin C, catalase and pinocembrin.

• Unprocessed honey contains enzymes that are considered essential for good health!

• Generally, darker honeys and those with higher water content have stronger antioxidant potential. The antioxidants identified thus far in honey are pinocembrin, pinobanksin, chrysin and galagin. Pinocembrin is unique to honey and found in the highest amount relative to the others. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), catalase and selenium are also present.

• Diabetics must control their total intake of carbohydrates, not the type. Therefore, honey may be included in a diabetic diet. They must, however, comply with the medical regime and diet instructions prescribed by their individual healthcare providers to keep blood sugar levels under control.

• Honey is used as a hair and facial treatment due to the fact that it attracts and retains moisture.

• Using honey in your baked goods will keep them moist for a longer period of time.

• Honey never goes "bad". It is slightly acidic and, therefore, not conducive for bacterial growth.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

So is Manuka better than your run of the mill variety? I am kind of into Sainsbury's organic from Argentina at the moment.

 

[_ladybug_]

that's it - I'm joining the bandwagon (if there is one lol) and cutting out sugar - too many cookies and it hasn't even been Christmas yet! I don't like honey, but I figure if I replace that for my sweet intake, I'll immediately eat less because I dont enjoy it, and maybe the problem can be solved faster.


We'll see how long I can last

 

[chanelnumber5]

Gosh, I know what you mean! Still, sweet is sweet and I'd take sweet feet over no sweet at all.

And Chanel, how can eating honey block your pores? Unless you mean applying it on your face?

Yeh i mean applying it to your face, completely off topic i know, but I'm just curious about wether it does block pores or not - as Nivea use it in some of their face masks and I've heard loads of people say honey as a mask etc is really good but other says it blocks your pores. But anyway back on to eating honey: Sienna have you noticed a difference is your health/skin since youve cut out sugar?

 

[ele]

yeah a chinese herbalist told me to cut sugar out from my diet, but said that honey was ok ! so now i love honey, but i eat sugar again now , try buy the best quality possible !

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Yeh i mean applying it to your face, completely off topic i know, but I'm just curious about wether it does block pores or not - as Nivea use it in some of their face masks and I've heard loads of people say honey as a mask etc is really good but other says it blocks your pores. But anyway back on to eating honey: Sienna have you noticed a difference is your health/skin since youve cut out sugar?

Well I have been out of university since May and thus have had the time and energy to get myself into a rigorously healthy lifeplan. My skin is very good now generally so I can't tell the difference without the sugar. I have gone for two weeks without sugar but then I broke it at a friend's birthday party. Now I have to start all over. Still if you get yourself into the mindset that sugar is a no go in your diet, even if you break it with a bit of chocolate of something every few days, then you are still consuming a lot less sugar. I have noticed that my teeth aren't sensitive anymore though!

I don't think the thing about honey blocking your pores makes sense. I mean all masks will block pores but that is why you only wear them for 10 minutes instead of three hours.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Oh and it isn't nearly half as bad as you might imagine giving it up. I used to think oh I know what Pete Doherty is going through, they say sugar is as addictive as cocaine. Bollocks. (well maybe coke but not crack or smack!) It is a simple lifestyle change.

You just have to be quick to suppress hunger pangs with fruit and nuts. Say, 'I am hungry and I want that chocolate but first I am going to eat these pinenuts and this banana and if I still want the chocolate afterwards, I will eat it.' Trust me, you wont want the chocolate. Natural foods are very filling.

I am sh*t at restaurants though. My willpower escapes me.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

We'll see how long I can last

Dont think of it that way! Because the minute you break the no sugar/honey diet, then you will think you have failed and will go back to sugar.

 

[thebeautybrains]

I have recently cut out sugar from my diet entirely after my dentist scared me with the phrase, 'Before they refined sugar, gum disease or heart disease wasn't nearly as widespread'.

Of course, before refined sugar people were dying in their 40's. Now that people are living well into their 80's there is bound to be more of every kind of disease. The refined sugar isn't causing the problem. Just remember dentists spend 4 years studying people's teeth. That doesn't make them health experts. Dentists and specialized doctors are no more expert in health matters than most other people.

I once knew a heart surgeon who believed in Feng Shui. It shattered my belief that doctors were smart.

 

[TheKiwi]

I once knew a heart surgeon who believed in Feng Shui. It shattered my belief that doctors were smart.

Feng Shui is just a lifestyle choice to create a peaceful, balanced atmosphere. It doesn't make that person any less smarter to believe in that.

 

[thebeautybrains]

Feng Shui is just a lifestyle choice to create a peaceful, balanced atmosphere. It doesn't make that person any less smarter to believe in that.

Feng Shui is just made-up mysticism. If you took 10 Feng Shui "experts" you would get 10 different answers on how you should arrange your furniture. It's no more credible than astrology. You can create a peaceful, balanced atmosphere without Feng Shui, astrology or any other pseudo science gobbely ****.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Ok well all I know is that sugar can get into a really nasty cycle which you convince yourself you cant get out of. Whether or not it in itself has a signigicant effect on heart disease or whether it is a question of how much sugar people have, is beside the point. Sugar is a slippery slope. Although if you don't recognise the benefits of something natural instead of something refined, I worry for your diet!

Also are baklavas meant to have sugar or are they just honey? I just went ot the local arab store and they had sugar so I couldn't buy them. Are proper high quality baklavas meant to be made free of sugar? Any Turks about?

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Feng Shui is just made-up mysticism. If you took 10 Feng Shui "experts" you would get 10 different answers on how you should arrange your furniture. It's no more credible than astrology. You can create a peaceful, balanced atmosphere without Feng Shui, astrology or any other pseudo science gobbely ****.

You can argue this to infinitum but science itself is pseudo science. I hope you know it isn't infallible and knowledge from various schools of mysticism and religion has been verified centuries later and to much taxpayer expense by science.