The Nutrition And Calories In Honey Vs Sugar

Honey and sugar are very similar sweeteners, but their nutrition facts differ slightly

Image Credit: Christian-Fischer/iStock/GettyImages Honey and sugar are very similar in that they are both natural sweeteners. Honey is produced by bees and is a result of the nectar they collect from flowers, while sugar is a product from sugar cane or beet plants.

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 Honey's color can range from pale beige to medium and dark amber with corresponding flavor ranges from mild to strong and bold, depending on the type of flower that the bee collected its nectar from.

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  Nutrition and Calories in Honey

All of the calories in honey come from sugar, which is a type of carb. There is no fat, saturated or otherwise, in honey, according to the USDA.

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 1 Teaspoon of Honey

21 calories 0 g fat 5.8 g carbs 5.7 g sugar 0 g protein

1 Tablespoon of Honey

64 calories 0 g fat 17.3 g carbs 17.2 g sugar 0.1 g protein

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 1 Cup of Honey

1,030 calories 0 g fat 279 g carbs 278 g sugar 1.02 g protein

Nutrition and Calories in Sugar All of the calories in sugar come from sugar, which is a type of carb. There is no fat, saturated or otherwise, in sugar, according to the USDA.

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 1 Teaspoon of Sugar

16 calories 0 g fat 4.2 g carbs 4.2 g sugar 0 g protein

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 1 Tablespoon of Sugar

49 calories 0 g fat 12.6 g carbs 12.6 g sugar 0 g protein

1 Cup of Sugar

774 calories 0 g fat 200 g carbs 199.6 g sugar 0 g protein

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 Honey vs. Sugar: Which Is the Better Sweetener?

Honey contains 24 fewer calories per ounce than sugar, making it one of the best sugar substitutes for calorie counters. Honey is also favored on account of its nutrient content. One ounce of honey contains 1 percent of the recommended daily value of iron, riboflavin, manganese and copper, while sugar contains no vitamins or minerals.

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 Related Reading Manuka Honey Boasts Some Major Health Benefits — but Only if You Choose the Right Jar

‌Correction: An earlier version of this story included incorrect nutrition facts for a teaspoon of honey and a tablespoon of sugar.‌ ‌We appreciate readers who bring errors like these to our attention! If you spot something in one of our articles, please reach out: editorial@livestrong.com.‌

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  references
  
      USDA: "Honey"
    
      USDA: "Sugar"
       




  references
  
      USDA: "Honey"
    
      USDA: "Sugar"
    




Honey and sugar are very similar sweeteners, but their nutrition facts differ slightly

Image Credit: Christian-Fischer/iStock/GettyImages

Manuka Honey Boasts Some Major Health Benefits — but Only if You Choose the Right Jar

      USDA: "Honey"
    
      USDA: "Sugar"