Honey is sweeter, has lesser calories, healthful antioxidants and pre-biotic properties which scientists say may be better than table sugar for people who want to lose weight.

Jennifer Ilana Ischayek and researchers at the San Diego State University studied buckwheat honey and clover honey from Oregon, cotton honey from California and tupelo honey from Florida, reported the online edition of the health magazine WebMD.

They investigated claims that certain types of honey have a better glycemic index than others and found that one honey is as good as another - at least as far as glucose content is concerned.

Glycemic index is a measure of a food's effect on blood sugar. The researchers found very little difference in the honeys' glycemic indices. They ranged from 69.13 to 74.14. All were very close to table sugar's glycemic index of 68.

Foods with a high glycemic index, like starchy foods, are not good for people with diabetes and for those trying to lose weight.

The researchers note that honey is sweeter, but consumes fewer calories. The study appeared in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.