The benefits and harms of sweet clover honey, which everyone should know about
An elite beekeeping product with a refined aroma, unsurpassed taste and special healing properties is unmatched. The benefits and harms of sweet clover honey encourage many to buy it. Some call this medicinal delicacy a panacea for all diseases, others are actively used in cooking, as well as cosmetology. Still, you need to know exactly what this rare sweetness is.
Details about the main
There are 5 main features of this variety.:
- Color. Depends on the region. In the south, sweet clover with yellow flowers grows, so honey takes on a golden-amber hue with a light mother-of-pearl. If bees have collected nectar from a white variety of a medicinal plant, then it turns out to be a soft creamy color.
- Consistency. Usually homogeneous and fluid with medium viscosity. The white variety is thicker. In most cases, it has poor water solubility.
- Aroma. Differs in a pronounced, but not saturated, floral scent with special notes of vanilla.
- Taste. Moderately sweet, neither cloying nor scalding, but with a distinctive vanilla aftertaste.
- Crystallization. After pumping out, after 3-4 weeks the mass thickens. During storage, it acquires a fine-grained structure.
The presence of clots, blotches and other formations in honey indicates a low quality of the product. In addition, excessive sweetness is inherent in products diluted with molasses or sugar syrup.
Its unique aroma will help to understand how to distinguish melilot honey from a fake. It is the contrasting vanilla smell that sets the product apart from all other varieties. Nevertheless, in its characteristics, it is similar to rapeseed, which is used by scammers. Flour or starch is added to the counterfeit. To identify these fillers, 2 drops of iodine are usually applied to the mass. If the product acquires a bluish tint, then it is a fake.
The energy value of the healing sweetness is 314 kcal / 100 g.
If necessary, melilot honey is dissolved in water. The appearance of sediment indicates the addition of sugar. Vinegar (1 tsp) is also added in parallel, which reacts with chalk and releases oxygen. Hissing or bubbles will tell the customer that the product is not natural.
The benefits and harms of sweet clover honey from the perspective of experts
To assess the strengths and weaknesses of an amazing delicacy, consider its chemical composition. Beekeeping product (100 g) contains up to 81.5 g of carbohydrates and 17.7 g of water.
Moreover, it includes 4 types of sugars:
- 10% maltose;
- 15-20% sucrose;
- 36% glucose;
- 45-50% fructose.
It also contains up to 70 useful compounds and components. A special place is occupied by such trace elements as iodine, iron, manganese and zinc. The benefits and harms of melilot honey are also due to the presence of flavonoids. The highest percentage is accounted for by rutin (vitamin P), which is considered one of the strongest representatives of this group.
The biologically active substance is widely used in the treatment:
- rheumatic diseases;
- uterine bleeding (during pregnancy or miscarriage);
- varicose veins (or their deformation);
- trophic ulcer;
- hemorrhoids.
Bees collect nectar from a honey plant - sweet clover. The culture blooms from June to September. From 1 hectare of plantations, 150-200 kg of valuable raw materials are obtained.
The high content of vitamins of groups C, B and PP gives the bee delicacy healing properties. These low molecular weight compounds improve the immune system. They stimulate the functioning of the nervous system. Substances of natural origin have a special effect on the reproductive organs and hormonal balance. Also, organic bonds are actively involved in tissue regeneration at the cellular level.
To understand what else sweet clover honey is useful, you should pay attention that it is rich:
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- calcium;
- sodium;
- magnesium;
- gray;
- chlorine.
Deficiency of these unique minerals leads to poor health, as these inorganic substances are involved in the functioning of many organs. Due to the fact that they help the gastrointestinal tract to process food, the body gains excess strength as well as energy. Phytosterols, alkaloids, glycosides and coumarins, which are also part of this delicacy, play an important role in human life.
Individual intolerance, diabetes mellitus, allergies (to legumes or herbaceous plants), as well as gastrointestinal diseases (especially erosion) are a good reason to refuse this healing sweetness.
Unique characteristics and application features
As the beneficial properties and contraindications of sweet clover honey show, it can be safely used for medical, culinary and cosmetic purposes.
Most often, doctors recommend taking a natural antibiotic as such.:
- pain reliever;
- immunostimulating;
- anti-inflammatory;
- expectorant;
- blood thinning;
- calming;
- antispasmodic;
- diuretic
- laxative.
Melilot honey is recommended for people suffering from arthritis and gout. A compress is applied to the most painful areas (for 30 minutes), abundantly moistened with sweet syrup (200 m of water, 1 tablespoon of the main ingredient and 20 drops of aloe essential oil).
One tablespoon of bee product at night promotes good sleep and the process of falling asleep. The positive effect on the functioning of the brain and nervous system reduces the risk of seizures and strokes. With regular use, the concentration of attention and the ability to remember increases. In addition, biologically active compounds help stabilize the menstrual cycle and normalize hormonal balance during menopause.
Flavonoids together with vitamins act as antioxidants. The complex of these substances neutralizes the action of free radicals, and also prevents the destruction of cell membranes.
Time-tested traditional medicine recipes
The peculiarity of melilot honey is that it is successfully used for both external and internal use. Usually it is included in healing potions, which are prepared in accordance with dosages and recipes. Otherwise, the desired effect may not be there. Folk healers identify several effective recipes.
With bronchitis
A severe dry cough is treated in a simple way. Mix crushed black radish with honey in a ratio of 1: 1. This medicine is taken 3 times a day, a teaspoon after each meal for 7-10 days. With the correct implementation of all recommendations, an expectorant effect is observed.
Some people don't like the cake they get. For this reason, before use, it is passed through a sieve, and then the juice is filtered with gauze.
However, there is another technology for preparing a natural medicine. A funnel is cut out in the root vegetable and 1 tsp is placed in it. sweet product. As soon as the cavity is filled with juice, it is taken 4 times a day for a tablespoon.
With hemorrhoids and varicose veins
At the initial stage of the development of thrombosis of hemorrhoids, it is advised to take a bath with the addition of melilot honey. Also, enemas are made according to this recipe: 20 g of the main raw material per 100 ml of water. The temperature of the liquid should be comfortable for the body.
Regardless of the degree of development of varicose veins, a medicine is used that strengthens the walls of blood vessels and capillaries. With progressive thrombosis, therapy is not successful.
To prepare a potion:
- grind in a blender 3 pcs. lemon;
- add 1 glass of honey from the melilot;
- mix thoroughly.
Every day, the sweet mass is taken 1 tsp. with an interval of 12 hours. For external use, an ointment is prepared based on goat fat and honey. Take 50 g of each ingredient. Then add chopped garlic (2 heads). First melt the fat, then stir in garlic. The mixture is simmered in a water bath for about 20 minutes. As soon as it cools down, add honey mass.
Store the resulting ointment in the refrigerator. It is applied to problem areas before going to bed, wrapping the leg well.
In cosmetology
Face masks with the addition of sweet clover honey help with acne. Its components help to moisturize and regenerate skin cells. Therefore, honey cosmetic procedures are classified as anti-aging. In addition, wrapping (for 40-50 minutes) of problem areas (cellulite) with cling film smeared with bee product turned out to be very effective.
Taking into account the benefits and harms of sweet clover honey, you can significantly improve your health and well-being in general.