No doubt you’ve heard plenty about the health benefits of raw honey over the years. As a mainstay in most diets, it’s still a favorite.
If you’re on a diet now and want to include raw honey in meal plans on a daily basis, how many carbs does honey have?
Let’s look at that question in depth and whether your diet should take on the amount of carbs raw honey has.
Honey is Not Super Low in Carbs
All diets are different. Regardless, it’s worth noting if you’re trying to cut carbs, raw honey provides more carbs than you think.
Still, when balanced with other foods, you gain numerous benefits consuming raw honey every day.
According to health statistics, a tablespoon of raw honey contains a little over 17 grams of carbohydrate. Maybe this is a little high for those on Keto diets, yet still possible to consume raw honey if you’re careful.
Most people on low-carb diets continue to gain major benefits from raw honey by just consuming a couple of teaspoons. This is more than possible if adding this amount to drinks, cooked cereal, or nearly anything for breakfast.
What if You’re Not on a Keto Diet?
Those not looking to limit their carbs should still consume raw honey in moderation. As healthy as it is, you don’t need a lot to get the best benefits.
It does have 17g of natural sugar as well, so eating too much can always raise your blood sugar. And since it also has 64 calories in one tablespoon, it’s easy to gain weight if you eat too much.
The secret is to just consume raw honey moderately. When you merely use small amounts to sweeten up your favorite foods, it won’t put weight on and still keeps your blood sugar stable.
Beyond carb count, what else is in raw honey that can factor into how you plan your diet?
What Isn’t in Raw Honey?
Despite having 17g of net carbs, raw honey doesn’t have fat or sodium. Always remember to get your fat content from other sources of food, which is important for a balanced diet.
When you buy unfiltered honey, you’re also not getting any sodium or other additives that could prevent raw honey’s nutritional value.
Don’t count on raw honey being a protein or fiber source either, even though you can easily get both of those through other foods.
The Antioxidants in Raw Honey
One good reason to not worry about the carbs in raw honey is the exponential antioxidants it has.
Did you know raw honey has as many antioxidants as most fruits and vegetables? It’s a major incentive to add honey to your diet in a smart and conservative way.
As a result, you’ll have something that helps prevent cancer, plus heart disease, all in one product. These antioxidants are called polyphenols.
More Health Reasons Not to Worry About Raw Honey Carbs
In addition to the antioxidants you’ll get, raw honey also has properties allowing for removing bacteria and funguses. Phytonutrients are what make this happen.
You’ll find some raw honey varieties even help with wound healing and aid with digestive issues.
Of course, you’ve probably also heard about how raw honey can help with sore throats. If you ever catch a cold and can’t control your cough, two tablespoons of raw honey work as a cough suppressant.
With these health benefits in mind, the obsession over how many carbs raw honey has no longer matters. It’s just a matter of controlling your intake, just like you should do with any foods that taste overly good.
Let us help you store up long-term with our multi-gallon buckets of raw honey at Artie’s Harvest.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-honey-good-for-you
https://www.verywellfit.com/honey-nutrition-facts-and-calories-4164274
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/top-raw-honey-benefits#digestion-and-gut-health
