How Healthful Is Honey? And Other Answers About Food

Q. My husband swears that honey is sooo good for you and, as a result, thinks he doesn't need to monitor it like other sweeteners. I tell him that even though honey may be healthy, it's still sugar and he shouldn't put it on everything. He even adds it to smoothies that already have sweetening berries, protein powder, and Splenda. Doesn't honey spike insulin levels like other sugars? -- Lorraine, Studio City, CA

A.You're correct that your honey's use of honey would be healthier if it were more balanced. Like fame and fortune, there are both good and not-so-good things about this sweetener.

Eighty percent of what makes up honey is sugar, and a tablespoon contains about 64 calories. Table sugar has about 48 calories in a tablespoon -- that's 33% less! Both spike insulin and blood sugar at about the same rate, so drizzling (or sprinkling) with abandon can lead to health risks including weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Too much sugar of any type -- honey, corn syrup, table sugar -- can also raise your risk of pancreatic cancer by 70%, since your pancreas has to go into overdrive producing insulin, and that leaves the organ vulnerable.

Plus, it sounds like your spouse is sabotaging his taste buds by overly sweetening everything. As a result, naturally sweet, good-for-you fruit, such as strawberries, apples, and bananas, won't taste good enough, which can lead to overeating.

Now, the upside: Honey is rich in compounds that can help fight aging and disease, especially if you choose the darker variety known as honeydew honey, which is derived from tree sap, not plant nectar, and richer in amino acids and compounds that protect your cells. Just remember to keep honey (yours and the stuff on the table) under control, and gradually eliminate other simple sugars and artificial sweeteners. Over time, the taste buds do learn to appreciate natural sweetness again. Try these three healthy, natural sweetening tricks.

Q. I've heard you say that we should stay away from “four-legged” fats. What do you mean by that? -- Anonymous

A. A four-legged fat is simply a fat that comes from a four-legged animal -- that includes the fats in butter, beef fat, bacon, and cheese. What's so dangerous is that products from mammals contain saturated fat, and the "s" in saturated fat stands for "stay away." While the fat in chicken (a two-legged fat) is somewhat better, the best fat has no legs at all (think avocados, fish, olives, and almonds). Saturated fat turns on genes that are activated long after the taste is gone; those genes cause aging of your immune system, build plaque in your arteries, raise cholesterol, and inflame blood vessels. On the other hand, the right amount of no-legged fat (unsaturated) helps your body absorb certain vitamins, boosts heart health, keeps nerves and cells working optimally, and raises your good cholesterol. Just remember that all fats are fattening -- they have about 120 calories per tablespoon -- so you can't slurp them up as if they were water. Aim to get no more than 25% of your total daily calories from leg-free fat. Try this Raspberry-Avocado Smoothie for a cool and creamy treat.

Q. I have just recently started drinking white tea, but I'm not really sure exactly what it is. What are the benefits, and how does it compare to green varieties? -- Anonymous

A. White tea is made from the buds and early leaves of the same plants used to make green and black teas. So it's likely that the white stuff offers some of the benefits of other shades of tea -- they boost your immune system, improve your attention span, and lower your risk of heart attack, some cancers, stroke, and Parkinson's, to name a few.

In fact, white tea may even contain extra benefits. Since it is less processed than green or black tea, it has more of some tongue-twisting but body-loving compounds, like epigallocatechin-3-gallate (which helps muzzle aging free radicals) and methylxanthines (theobromine and caffeine). Both have been found to help increase fat burning. Two to three cups of any of these disease-fighting teas -- iced or hot -- is enough to reap the benefits. If caffeinated teas upset your stomach, throwing a bag of peppermint or ginger tea in with your brew may keep things settled. Find out how white tea can help keep your skin young.