Honeycomb cereal is a popular breakfast cereal known for its unique hexagonal shape (like a real honeycomb) and sweet honey flavor.
It was first introduced in 1965 in United Stated by post cereals, and Since then become one of the beloved breakfast cereals among people.
The cereal is made from corn flour, sugar, whole grain oat flour, and honey and comes in a distinctive hexagonal shape.
And while there is no doubt about it’s good taste, Is Honeycomb cereal healthy?
Short answer: Honeycomb cereal is not healthy as it is high in sugar, low in protein and fiber and contain artificial color called tartrazine which has been linked to several health issues.
Let’s dive deeper into more about Honeycomb cereal, including its ingredients, sugar content, and more.
Also read: Is Vector Cereal Healthy? The Truth About This Breakfast
What is Honeycomb cereal made up of?
Honeycomb cereal is made from corn flour, sugar, whole grain oat flour, whole grain corn flour, honey, salt, natural flavor, yellow 5, wheat starch, and BHT.
The ingredients in Honeycomb cereal are simple, but it contains Yellow 5, an artificial color.
Yellow 5, also known as tartrazine, has been linked with negative side effects in some studies.
It has been known to cause allergic reactions like asthma and urticaria and can also become potentially harmful when metabolized by gut bacteria[6][7]
Although there is no confirmed evidence of cancer, it is classified as an azo dye, which means it can still cause cancer(if consumed in excess).
Honeycomb cereal also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals,
- Reduce iron
- Zinc oxide
- Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12
- Vitamin D3
How much sugar is in Honeycomb cereal?
Honeycomb cereal contains 13g of sugar per serving(40g). That’s equivalent to 4 teaspoons of sugar.
Most of the sugar in Honeycomb cereal is added sugar, despite the cereal containing Honey.
According to American Heart Association, the daily sugar limit for men is 36g, while for women is 24g.
Consuming a serving of Honeycomb cereal provides 36% of the daily sugar limit for men and 54% for women.
That’s a significant amount of daily sugar intake, just from one serving.
And if you also consume other sugar loaded foods throughout the day, your daily sugar intake can increase, resulting in various health issues in the long run.
Here is how Honeycomb cereal sugar content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal brand | Added sugar(g) | Total sugar(g) |
|---|---|---|
| Honeycomb cereal | 12 | 13 |
| Life cereal | 8 | 8 |
| Total cereal | 5 | 6 |
| Vector cereal | 11 | 11 |
| Cornflakes | 4 | 4 |
| Cheerios (Honey nut) | 12 | 12 |
| Kellogg’s Raisin bran | 9 | 17 |
| Special K | 4 | 5 |
| Honey bunches of oats (Honey roasted) | 8 | 9 |
How much protein is in Honeycomb cereal?
Honeycomb cereal is low in protein, with just 2g per serving.
This is not a good amount of protein; however, it’s important to note that cereals are meant to be consumed with milk, which significantly enhances the protein content of the meal.
For example, a single serving of Honeycomb cereal with 250ml cow milk provides up to 9g of protein, which is decent.
Here is how Honeycomb cereal protein content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal brand | Protein(g) |
|---|---|
| Honeycomb cereal | 2 |
| Life cereal | 4 |
| Total cereal | 3 |
| Vector cereal | 5.5 |
| Cornflakes | 3 |
| Cheerios (Honey nut) | 3 |
| Kellogg’s Raisin bran | 5 |
| Special K | 7 |
| Honey bunches of oats (Honey roasted) | 3 |
How much fiber is in Honeycomb cereal?
Honeycomb cereal is extremely low in fiber containing just 1g per serving, which is not even 5% of the daily intake.
Fiber is one of the essential parts of a breakfast cereal that helps satisfy your hunger for extended intervals.
While Honeycomb cereal may satisfy your taste buds, unfortunately, it won’t satisfy your hunger.
If you eat Honeycomb cereal in your breakfast, you will have to include other fiber-rich foods to obtain the required amount of fiber.
Here is how Honeycomb cereal fiber content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal brand | Fiber(g) |
|---|---|
| Honeycomb cereal | 2 |
| Life cereal | 3 |
| Total cereal | 4 |
| Vector cereal | 3.2 |
| Cornflakes | 1 |
| Cheerios (Honey nut) | 3 |
| Kellogg’s Raisin bran | 7 |
| Special K | <1 |
| Honey bunches of oats (Honey roasted) | 2 |
Is Honeycomb cereal high in sodium?
Honeycomb cereal is low in sodium containing 190mg per serving. That’s about 12% of the daily ideal sodium limit(1500mg) set by the American Heart Association.
Sodium is an essential part of a diet; however, too much can cause heart-related issues.
However, the sodium level in Honeycomb cereal is under control unless you eat two or more servings.
In addition, it contain less sodium than most of the popular breakfast cereals in the market.
Here is how Honeycomb cereal sodium content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal brand | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| Honeycomb cereal | 190 |
| Life cereal | 170 |
| Total cereal | 190 |
| Vector cereal | 220 |
| Cornflakes | 300 |
| Cheerios (Honey nut) | 210 |
| Kellogg’s Raisin bran | 200 |
| Special K | 270 |
| Honey bunches of oats (Honey roasted) | 190 |
Is Honeycomb cereal good for weight loss?
Honeycomb cereal is not good for weight loss as it contains a significant amount of sugar(13g per serving).
Although the Honeycomb cereal is low in calories (160 per serving), most of these calories come from sugar and starch, which are empty calories.
In addition, it is low in protein and fiber, which are important nutrients for weight loss as they help you feel fuller and prevent overeating and reduce cravings.
However, if you are physically active, having a single serving of Honeycomb cereal is unlikely to impact your weight loss significantly.
Remember that weight loss depends not only on one food but also on your overall diet and lifestyle.
Is Honeycomb cereal good for keto? Honeycomb cereal is not good for keto as it contains significant net carbs(34g per serving).
Is Honeycomb cereal good for diabetics? Honeycomb cereal is not good for diabetics as it is high in sugar and contain honey, which can increase blood sugar levels.
Is Honeycomb cereal gluten-free?
Honeycomb cereal is not gluten-free as it contains wheat starch.
If you have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, better look for other breakfast cereals.
Final words
While Honeycomb cereal does provide good levels of some vitamins and minerals, it is not a healthy breakfast cereal option for you.
It is high in sugar and low in protein and fiber. In addition, it has an artificial color called tartrazine which has been linked to several health issues.
If you are looking for a healthy breakfast cereal, look for one made with whole grains, has atleast 3g of protein and fiber, is low in sodium, and is free of artificial ingredients.
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