Scientists have found honey that is good for diabetics and safe for teeth

Scientists have discovered a rare, healthy sugar in the natural honey of stingless bees, or meliponines. The associate professor said that indigenous peoples of Australia have long used local bee honey for healing.

“We tested the honey of two species of Australian stingless bees, two Malaysian and one Brazilian, and found that up to 85 percent of their sugar is trehalulose, not maltose as previously thought,” notes Fletcher.

Tregalulose is a rare sugar with a low glycemic index and is not found as a major component in other foods.

“Traditionally, it was thought that that honey from ruthless bees is good for diabetes, and now we know why. A low glycemic index requires more time for sugar to be absorbed, glucose does not spike in the blood, as is the case with other sugars,” Fletcher emphasizes. “Interestingly, trehalulose also has anti-caries properties, which means that it is not dangerous for tooth enamel.”