Could honey really be a diet food? It seems counterintuitive to think of a sweetener as a weight-loss tool, but the truth is that honey really can be a great benefit to your overall weight control program.
How can you use honey to knock off the pounds? Here are 5 easy ways.
Start the morning sweet.
There are several reasons to start the day with a combination of water, lemon, and honey. One of the best reasons is that the sweet drink will boost your energy and can rev up your metabolism. It will also help relieve constipation, improve your digestion, and even make your skin look better.
Use cold water for a burst of energetic hydration, or sip it in hot water to ease stress and start the day relaxed.
Get more for less.
Speaking practically, honey contains more calories than processed sugar. Honey has about 22 calories per teaspoon, while sugar has about 16. Looking at things mathematically, substituting honey for an equal amount of sugar will add to your caloric intake. However, honey is sweeter than sugar, so you are likely to use less.
Honey boasts many nutritional benefits that sugar just doesn’t have. Sugar is truly just empty calories, but honey contains several vitamins and minerals, in addition to helpful enzymes. Because of this, honey is broken down differently in your body. It doesn’t raise your blood sugar as quickly as sugar does, and it doesn’t have the same negative impact on your gut.
Use honey rather than sugar in coffee, cereal, tea, and anything else you sweeten before consuming. Try raw honey for maximal nutritional benefits.
Bake with better nutrition.
Honey is a great substitute for sugar when baking. You can usually use about half as much honey as you would sugar in a recipe. You might have to do some experimentation to get the quantity right. Reduce the other liquids in your baking to get the right consistency.
Bring on the cinnamon.
Cinnamon is a spice that helps your body process sugar more efficiently. Add it to honey, and you are significantly increasing the benefits.
Add one tablespoon of honey and a half tablespoon of cinnamon to warm water. Drink this at night before you go to bed and after meals to help your body digest your food.
Pump up your workout.
Honey can give you more energy, allowing you to put more effort into your exercise. It’s also great for helping your body recover more quickly.
Take a teaspoon full of honey before you work out, and you’ll find yourself working harder and feeling better.
Honey really can help you lose weight, especially when combined with a smart diet and exercise plan. Try these simple ways to get more honey into your life, and you’ll be surprised at the positive changes you’ll experience.
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