It is no secret that sugar is dangerous for you—the candy stuff has been linked to a slew of well being points, together with weight problems and coronary heart illness. So it is smart that you just’d need to go for a extra “pure” sweetener.

Sadly, although, you might not be doing your self any favors by selecting honey over different types of the candy stuff.

A latest small research printed in The Journal of Diet discovered that honey is not any higher to your physique than desk sugar and corn syrup. Value noting: The research was funded partly by the Nationwide Honey Board (not a sugar firm), so it is fairly legit.

MORE: Sugar is Killing Us. Here is Every little thing You Must Know.

For the research, researchers from the USDA, the Grand Forks Human Diet Analysis Heart, and the College of Minnesota had 55 members ingest every day doses of honey, sugar, and high-fructose corn syrup for 2 weeks. After the 2 weeks have been up, scientists in contrast the members’ blood sugar, insulin, physique weight, ldl cholesterol, and blood stress readings.

What they found: The impression was just about the identical, it doesn’t matter what kind of sweetener individuals had. Most markers have been unchanged throughout that point (which is smart—you are in all probability not going to realize 5 kilos after having a every day dose of sugar for 2 weeks), however triglyceride ranges (blood fat which are a marker for coronary heart illness) rose with all three.

Whereas the information is a bummer for honey followers (and the Nationwide Honey Board), it is not surprising to everybody.

The American Coronary heart Affiliation already lumps honey in with different added sugars.

They state on their web site:

“Added sugars embody any sugars or caloric sweeteners which are added to meals or drinks throughout processing or preparation (similar to placing sugar in your espresso or including sugar to your cereal). Added sugars (or added sweeteners) can embody pure sugars, similar to white sugar, brown sugar, and honey, in addition to different caloric sweeteners which are chemically manufactured (similar to high-fructose corn syrup).”

Added sugars undoubtedly have a nasty rap. A research printed final 12 months within the journal JAMA Inner Medication discovered that added sugars trigger an elevated threat of dying from coronary heart illness. It might probably additionally impression your mind: A 2012 rat research from UCLA discovered {that a} high-sugar weight loss program can impair studying and reminiscence by principally slowing down your mind.

Analysis is combined on whether or not all types of sugar are equally dangerous, however the Mayo Clinic launched proceedings earlier this 12 months that declare “there isn’t any want for added fructose or any added sugars within the weight loss program.” And, apparently, honey.

MORE: What It is Prefer to Go a Yr With out Sugar

So whereas you do not have to fully shun sugar, it is in all probability secure to imagine that there isn’t any type on the market that is truly “wholesome.”

The article “New Bummer Research Says Honey’s Simply as Unhealthy for You as Excessive-Fructose Corn Syrup” initially ran on WomensHealthMag.com.