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Let’s talk Honey!

Why is honey a better choice? What benefits does honey hold? And why I use honey.

I ate sugar my entire life.

Then, in 2019, I was diagnosed with CML — and everything changed.

The medication they put me on made me so sick I could barely leave the house. I felt miserable. Desperate. And like so many of us do, I went looking for answers.

The first thing people in my Facebook support groups told me to cut out? Sugar.

So I did.

I went a week without it. Nothing changed.
I tried a three-day juice fast. Nothing changed.
I stopped taking some of the natural supplements I was on. Still, nothing changed.

The truth? I wasn’t ready.

You can cut things out. You can try every trick in the book. But until you decide you’re ready to change — really ready — it won’t stick.

It took me three years of struggling before I finally committed to changing my diet for real.

Breaking Up with Sugar

I started by cutting out processed sugar.

And let me be honest: for the first two years, I was terrible at it.

I’m a foodie. I have a sweet tooth, and I love Oreos.
I caved at gatherings. I’d indulge during the holidays. I’d beat myself up and say, “I’ll try again next year.” Even if it was January 3rd.

Dave Ramsey says, “You have to hate debt.”

For me, I had to learn to hate what sugar was doing to my body.

Our cells feed on glucose, and sugar is glucose. Cancer cells included. That reality hit me hard. I had to decide I hate feeding my cancer more than I love feeding my sweet tooth.

Am I perfect now? Absolutely not.

Every holiday, my sisters make Oreo balls. And listen — I LOVE those things. I could eat a whole batch in one sitting.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

It’s okay to have moments of weakness.
It’s not okay to let those moments become your lifestyle again.

Have the treat. Then remember your why. And get back on track.

That’s growth.

Why I Choose Honey

After experimenting with different sweeteners, I landed on honey.

I tried Stevia, Monk Fruit, and Swerve. They’re not bad — they just weren’t for me. (And please don’t skip them just because some amateur blogger didn’t love them. Find what works for you.)

Honey keeps recipes tasting as close to their original versions as possible. Yes, there’s a slight change in texture. Yes, there’s a learning curve. But for me, it’s worth it.

Is honey still sugar? Yes.
Does it affect blood sugar? Yes.

If you’re diabetic, please monitor your levels carefully. Honey will spike blood sugar just like other sugars.

But here’s why I prefer it:

It’s natural.
It’s minimally processed.
It comes with trace nutrients and antioxidants.
And when sourced locally, it may help with seasonal allergies.

Honey offers benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, making it good for soothing coughs and sore throats, promoting wound healing, and improving heart health (cholesterol and triglycerides) and gut health when used in moderation.

Honey is shelf-stable forever. They have even found jars of it in egyptian toombs! How cool is that?

Why Local Honey Matters

If you can, buy from a local farmer.

Local honey introduces small amounts of pollens from your area into your system. Over time, this may help your immune system build some resilience to local allergens. It’s not a cure — but many people find it helpful.

Plus, buying local supports your community. And I’m always here for that.

I reccomend Walmarts Pure n’ Simple honey if you can’t get any local.

How to Find Local Honey

Start here:

Farmers’ markets
Natural grocery stores
County conservation offices
Local feed stores

If someone doesn’t sell it, they probably know someone who does.

How to Use Honey in Recipes

You can substitute honey for sugar in most recipes. I use a sugar-to-honey conversion chart I found on Pinterest (thank you, Jan Hillburn!). Most of the time I follow it… and sometimes I just eyeball it and taste as I go.

Conversion chart is done by Jill Hillburn. — All thanks to Jill Hillburn for this conversion chart.

A few tips:

If your honey crystallizes, gently warm it up.
Don’t bake with crystallized honey unless you want little crunchy bits in your dough.
Expect a slight texture difference — especially in baked goods.

It’s not identical to sugar. But for me, it’s better.

At the end of the day, this isn’t really about honey.

It’s about making a choice.

It’s about deciding you want better for yourself — even when it’s hard. Even when Oreo balls are involved.

Find what works for you. Stay consistent. Forgive yourself when you slip. And keep going.

That’s the real sweetness.