Myth: Honey will make you thin

If I had a penny for every time somebody told me to give up stevia or splenda on health grounds and to switch to honey or agave syrup instead, I would be a millionaire.

Scientists are almost uniformly agreed that we eat too much white sugar or (in processed foods) corn syrup. So yes, there is a very strong case for cutting down on refined sugar and sugary products.

But the view that both honey and agave syrup are as calorie free as, say, stevia is bogus. Honey has many wonderful properties, but in calorific terms, it affects your body in much the same way as sugar. Agave syrup is even sweeter than refined sugar.

So, if you want to cut down on sugar for health reasons then this makes a lot of sense. But switching to honey or agave syrup may not be the best alternatives.