Have you always loved putting honey in your tea, especially in winter? If this liquid sugar has the reputation of warding off winter viruses, or even soothing a persistent cough, in reality, it’s not a good idea. Claire Trommenschlager, dietitian-nutritionist, explains to us why you should no longer pour honey into your cup.
Honey, a superfood
While honey remains a sweetening product, composed mainly of fructose and glucose, it also contains trace elements, enzymes, vitamins and antioxidants – which help fight free radicals. With all these virtues, honey can help us fight certain viruses and winter diseases.
“Honey has many properties: healing, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant…“, confirms Dr. Nina Cohen-Koubi, nutritionist. “It is an anti-cough and a thinner. In case of cold, stuffy nose, cough, a spoonful of honey in herbal tea in the morning is a good option.“, continues the specialist.
Thyme honey, harvested mainly in Mediterranean regions, is distinguished by its exceptional antiseptic properties: it fights respiratory infections, relieves coughs and soothes sore throats thanks to the thymol it contains.
Honey also offers a real “boost” in case of effort: with its 300 Kcal per 100 g, it is a fantastic concentrate of energy. Finally, it would help wound healing and nourish the skin.
However, honey loses some of these qualities… when combined with a cup of tea. Here are the reasons.
Why is putting honey in hot tea not such a good idea?
In reality, it is not so much the tea-honey combination that is the problem, but rather the heat of this drink. Above 60 degrees, the structure of honey is in fact modified: it becomes a simple chain of carbohydrates, rich in empty calories but devoid of nutritional qualities.
“It is in fact not recommended to add honey to tea, especially if it is very hot, because the heat will destroy some of the benefits of the honey. Honey contains about 1% enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and finally antioxidants, and these antioxidants are sensitive to heat, just like enzymes.“, assures Claire Trommenschlager.
Ideally, it is better to consume this honey raw to benefit from these effects,”unless it is used here simply for its flavor“, continues the expert.
“That being said, it is better to limit yourself to a small teaspoon of honey from time to time (for its soothing effect on the throat) but not to consume it all day, because it is still sugar. If all its benefits are not totally destroyed by heat, consider avoiding the addition of honey as soon as possible”, concludes the dietician.
And if you love this sweetening product, at least consider adding it to a lukewarm tea so as not to miss out on its virtues.