Honey

Although a very natural ingredient, honey is still classed as a simple sugar and is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, giving a sugar spike, which is not good if you are trying to control your blood sugar or to lose weight. If you do use honey then avoid blended honeys as they are often heated which means their natural goodness is destroyed. Also be aware that commercial beekeepers may also feed sugar or high-fructose corn syrup to their bees (because it is cheap!), so you are not getting ‘natural’ sweetness. Try only to use organic and use sparingly. Omit honey from recipes if following a vegan diet and substitute maple syrup.