Honey won’t add much protein to your diet – it’s mostly sugar. In fact, honey contains mostly sugar, but contains very little protein. Honey contains traces of protein depending on the product (up to 0.06 g in some honey products), but not enough to meet the daily protein requirement. Vitamins and minerals in honey are present in less than 1% of the recommended daily allowance.
Honey contains protein, but the amount is negligible. One tablespoon of honey often contains less than a single gram of protein. Therefore, honey should not be eaten for its protein content. Protein-rich alternatives, such as meat and nuts, should be pursued instead.
Vitamins and minerals in honey can include B vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, zinc, etc., which are mainly derived from soil and nectar-producing plants. In general, dark honey contains more beneficial vitamins and minerals than light honey. Unlike sugar, honey contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; therefore, it’s easy to assume that honey is healthier than sugar. To get the health benefits of the small amounts of vitamins and minerals in honey, you need to consume a lot of honey.
Raw Honey Is More Proteinaceous than Processed
Raw honey is arguably better than processed honey, but due to the low levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in honey (in recommended serving sizes), the health benefits of consuming raw honey may be minimal compared to processed honey. Unfiltered raw honey may contain more raw protein than filtered honey. In particular, there is no recommended daily intake of honey, however, due to its high sugar content, honey should be consumed in moderation. One ounce of honey contains 1% of the daily recommended value for iron, riboflavin, manganese and copper, while sugar contains no vitamins or minerals.
Besides water, honey contains very small amounts of proteins, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes, and polyphenols, including pollen flavonoids, which can help determine the origin of honey. The content of amino acids and protein in honey is relatively low, but important in its overall composition. Honey does not have such a high content of proteins, but their role is as important as the presence of protein in the body of any animal or person.
According to literature studies, honey proteins are obtained from plant pollen, but a significant part of the free amino acids in honey is added by bees. Honey proteins are ultimately formed from traces of pollen in the nectar of flowers used to make honey. The protein content of honey will vary slightly depending on the floral resources used to produce honey, and possibly very slight differences between bee colonies in the characteristics of the bees themselves.
Other Unique Traits of Raw Honey
Raw honey usually contains propolis, a resin that bees produce from sap-producing trees and similar plants. Raw honey is taken from the hive and bottled immediately, so it will contain traces of yeast, wax and pollen. Bees add enzymes that create additional compounds and the special nutritional value of honey, then convert sucrose to fructose and glucose, and then evaporate the water so that the resulting product does not spoil.
Much research has been done on the chemical composition of honey, but few have identified its proteins. Although propolis-derived allergens have been found in royal jelly and bee venom, we know nothing about their presence in honey.
A 2013 study examined the physicochemical properties, mineral and protein content of honey samples from the state of Ceará in northeastern Brazil. The researchers also found proteins not previously found in honey, such as hymenopectin, which plays a role in the antimicrobial properties of sweet substances.
Good Honey Is Barely Processed
Quality honey that has undergone minimal processing, unheated and fresh, contains many important bioactive and antioxidant plant compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. To get some antioxidants from honey, you can use it any way you would normally use sugar. Because it’s sweeter, you may need less if you’re using it as a substitute.
To get the digestive benefits of Manuka honey, you should eat 1 to 2 tablespoons per day. With these benefits, however, it’s important to remember that Manuka honey is sugar: One tablespoon contains 70 calories and 16 grams of sugar, and it’s free of protein and fiber.
One tablespoon of honey – about 20 grams – contains 64 calories and a minimum of 0.06 grams of protein. Honey is actually more nutritious than regular white sugar used in cooking or baking. While honey raises blood sugar levels, like other sugars, the antioxidants it contains may help protect against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Honey Has Several Health Benefits
Honey may have some protective properties related to blood sugar control, but it should still be consumed in moderation, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. There is also some evidence that daily consumption of honey can improve blood sugar levels. However, while honey may be slightly better than refined sugar for people with diabetes, it should still be consumed in moderation. When replacing honey with granulated sugar in recipes, it’s important to remember that honey has a stronger flavor, higher acidity, and higher moisture content than sugar.
Honey is good for you because it is especially rich in antioxidants that fight oxidative stress. While you can’t rely on honey to improve your protein intake, it pairs wonderfully with some protein-rich foods.
Most people will use a relatively complete protein-amino acid rice protein powder and combine it with eggs and milk that are low in protein but contain the amino acids needed by the human body to meet the needs of the human body. Usually, amino acids and proteins in flower honey are 0.3 g / 100 g, and in honeydew honey – an average of 0.6 g / 100 g. But it is not the quantity that matters, but its variety. Bottom Line: Honey is mostly sugar, contains small amounts of various vitamins and minerals, and is rich in health-boosting plant compounds.
