A part of our diet for more than 4,000 years, honey represents one of our only "insect" foods—made by busy bees from sweet flower nectar. Honey is a supersaturated solution of water and sugars (primarily fructose, which is the sweetest type of sugar) and has some nutritional powers worth noting. 

• Calorie for calorie, honey tastes sweeter than regular table sugar. You'll have to do a taste test, though, because honey and sugar don't measure up teaspoon for teaspoon. Honey has more carboydrates and calories per teaspoon because it's a liquid and is denser than dry sugar.

• Studies show that the sugars in honey are well digested and quickly make their way into circulation. Add a tablespoon of honey to a cup of water for an excellent pre-workout energizer. During a long workout, a tablespoon or two of honey taken with water will also help boost endurance.

• Honey contains antioxidants that may have some health-boosting properties, but it's honey's anti-bacterial properties that have made the sticky "ointment" a longtime favorite for treating burns and small wounds. Also, certain types of honey are sold as homeopathic remedies for medical use. (Check with your physician before using honey on a wound, though!)

Liz Applegate, Ph.D.