Professor Tim Spector Reveals Intriguing Reason He Chooses White Sugar Over ‘Healthier’ Honey and Agave

We have long been warned that eating too much sugar is bad for our health and our teeth.

But diet guru Professor Tim Spector warns that so-called ‘healthier’ alternatives such as honey and brown sugar are just a ‘gimmick’.

In a video on social media, he said the only difference between a squeeze of honey and a pinch of white sugar is the “high price.”

Both products cause your blood sugar levels to rise, your teeth to rot and you to gain weight, he adds.

Instead, the top nutritionist and founder of the ZOE diet app advises opting for traditional white sugar, which is inexpensive.

In the TikTok video, which has been viewed nearly 6,000 times, Professor Spector argues that many sugar alternatives are no better.

He said: ‘Manufacturers always try to hide the fact that they have added sugar to our products. They use over 200 different names for sugar, which we do not recognise.

‘In the shops we are offered alternatives to sugar that people say are healthier.’

But there is one difference and that is the price.

He added: ‘But I can tell you that there are real differences between sugar and these other modern alternatives, and they have a positive impact on your wallet.

“Some of them are six or seven times more expensive.”

For example, a 340g bottle of honey costs around £3 at Tesco, but white sugar costs £2.15 for 2kg.

In a video on social media, he says the only difference between a squeeze of honey and a pinch of white sugar is the huge price difference

“None of these products, whether it’s coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup or these brown looking sugars in all their different forms, molasses etc. have no benefit whatsoever in terms of your sugar spikes,” he said.

This is because the chemical structure of the sugar in some products is identical, even though the sugar in these products is less processed.

This means it still counts towards your daily free sugar intake and can lead to extreme blood sugar swings.

The NHS recommends adults eat no more than 30g of free sugars a day – about seven teaspoons a day.

This includes white sugar and honey, but sugars naturally found in milk, fruit and vegetables do not count as free sugars, the NHS explains.

Eating sugary foods or carbohydrates can cause your blood sugar levels to rise.

After you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar molecules called glucose.

This is then absorbed into your blood and carried to the muscles and cells in your body and used as energy. The excess is stored in the liver, muscle or fat cells.

Blood sugar spikes occur when your blood sugar levels first rise and then suddenly drop sharply.

While it’s normal for your blood sugar levels to rise after you eat, your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes is increased if you have frequent large blood sugar spikes.

According to Diabetes UK, high blood sugar levels can also damage your blood vessels and lead to serious heart problems.

However, Professor Spector admits that there may be one good reason to buy more expensive honey.

He said, ‘There are some benefits to honey, for example, but it’s not just if you’re taking it to help your cough. And all those other tricks are just a bit of a cough.’

“If you want to save money and sweeten things, go with sugar.”