Industry sponsored marketing of the week: Honey
Honey has an industry behind it? Of course it does.
The National Honey Board (a USDA-sponsored checkoff entity) is working hard to convince dietitians that honey is a health food. Here are three examples sent to me by members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, who received these ads via e-mail.
I. “Harness the power of honey in the Mediterranean diet this summer…Incorporating honey into the MSDP [Mediterranean-style dietary pattern] is a natural fit.”
II. Another reader, Katherine Walcott, sent me this one about how honey can boost probiotics. She points out that the ad links to an article in health.com and then to studies one and two , both supported by the National Honey Board.
III. Yet another dietitian sent me yet another ad, this one featuring dietitians extolling the benefits of honey as part of nutritious diets.
RD: Honey offers antioxidants, heart health and more
Honey may offers numerous healthful benefits: it is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids, which help neutralize reactive oxygen species, potentially reducing the risk of conditions like premature aging, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, writes registered dietitian nutritionist SaVanna Shoemaker. Honey may aid in blood sugar management by increasing adiponectin levels, though it should be consumed in moderation, especially by people with diabetes. Studies suggest honey can improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and improving blood fat levels. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for treating burns, wounds and coughs in children over 1 year old, however honey should never be given to children under 1 year of age.
Comment
I need to point out the obvious: honey is a form of sugar. It is a mix of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and traces of other sugars, minerals, and flavors. Its main benefits? It is delicious, but most people are unlikely to eat much of it, and not nearly as much as they might eat of sucrose table sugar. Can it be part of nutritious diets? Of course it can. A health food? Depends on how much you eat of it.
Also obvious: the purpose of the National Honey Board is to convince you to eat more honey.
