Halva: benefits and harms to the body

Real oriental sweetness will give not only pleasure, but also health benefits. What is the benefit and harm of halva and how to choose the best one, we will tell you with an expert

In the famous Arabian fairy tale, Aladdin orders Genie from a magic lamp to serve “the best halvah in Baghdad” on the table, and we can buy different types of sweets in an ordinary supermarket.

How to recognize high-quality halva, what are its benefits and harm to health, says Healthy Food Near Me.

Halva types

The name of the dessert comes from the Arabic word “freebie”, which means “sweetness” in translation. And that’s the whole point of gourmet food. Whatever halva a person tries, it will certainly be sweet.

Sunflower halva

There are only three ingredients in high-quality sunflower halva:

ground seeds,
sugar,
honey.

This halvah is rich in B vitamins, fiber and minerals. It supports the immune system and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

Sunflower halva is recommended for lactating mothers, as it is believed that it increases the amount of milk. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence.

Sesame (tahini) halva

The basis for the preparation of this halva is sesame seeds. If the dessert is prepared from whole seeds with a shell, halva is called sesame, and if it is made from crushed seeds, it is called tahini.

Sesame halva is considered healthier because it contains more nutrients. When preparing tahini halva, the seeds are ground into flour, so some of the valuable substances are lost.

Peanut halva

Considered an allergenic product. But for those who have no contraindications to its use, it can benefit. The dessert has a bright, rich nutty flavor and is able to provide a long-lasting energy boost.

Nut Halva

It is made from different types of nuts. They are responsible for its beneficial properties. Most often, the basis is walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios. This dessert is a great pre-workout and post-workout snack as it gives you quick energy. It is also good for heart health.

Pistachio halva

It is recommended to eat it for those who want to repeat the “exploits” of Casanova: pistachios increase sexual desire and are considered an aphrodisiac. This halvah is also useful because it helps to quickly restore the body after heavy physical exertion or after prolonged stress.

Halva based on flour

For its manufacture, any flour can be used: rice, corn, wheat. It is mixed with melted butter and a sweetener is added: sugar or a substitute. Sometimes other ingredients are added to the composition: rose water, pistachios or other nuts, dried fruits. This treat is popular in Armenia, Greece and Iran.

Almond halva

This is one of the best desserts for those who are on diets, as almond halva has a minimal calorie content. For comparison: in other versions of halva, it can reach 500 kcal per 100 g of product, but here it is only 200 kcal in the same volume.

Semolina halva

Very popular in Turkey and India. It bears little resemblance to the classic halva and is more reminiscent of semolina pudding. It is prepared from fat (for example, ghee), semolina and water (milk). It has a pleasant delicate taste and texture. Sometimes this halva is served with ice cream and whipped cream.

Halva based on vegetables and beans

It can have any color and taste, since the base is different: pumpkin, carrots, mung beans, sweet potatoes and other options. Cocoa, vanilla sugar, chocolate and nuts can be added to the dessert.

The history of the appearance of halva in nutrition

For the first time they tried to cook halva in the XNUMXth century BC in Persia. Ancient culinary experts served this treat on the table to King Darius I. The dessert quickly became popular and spread throughout the East. But in every country of the world, halva was prepared in its own way, and the best recipes were passed from father to son.

How the oriental delicacy appeared in Our Country is not exactly known. Historians believe that this happened approximately in the XNUMXth – XNUMXth centuries, when Turkish and Greek merchants brought halva.

Mass production of halva in Our Country began only in the 1930s.

The composition and calorie content of halva

Halva is prepared from different products, but the basis is always the same technique. The main ingredient (seeds, nuts, vegetables or flour) is crushed, a sweetener (caramel, sugar, honey) is added and beaten until a fluffy homogeneous mass appears.

In order for halva to melt in the mouth and have a characteristic fibrous texture, a foaming agent is introduced – licorice root extract or soap root.

The composition and calorie content of each type of halva is different. One of the most popular types of halva – sunflower – has the following composition (1):

Caloric value on 100 g	516 kcal
Proteins	11,6 g
Fats	29,7 g
Carbohydrates	54 g
Fibre	2 g
Calcium	211 mg, which is equal to 21% of the daily value
potassium	351 mg, which is equal to 14% of the daily value
Magnesium	178 mg, which is equal to 45% of the daily value
Phosphorus	292 mg, which is equal to 29% of the daily value
Hardware	3,2 mg, which is equal to 23% of the daily value
Vitamin V1	0,8 mg, which is equal to 53% of the daily value
Vitamin V2	0,1 mg, which is equal to 6% of the daily value
Vitamin V3	6,4 mg, which is equal to 32% of the daily value

Halva benefits

All the ingredients of high-quality halva are natural, so the dessert is considered healthy.

“Halva is a popular plant-based food that is rich in fats and amino acids,” says endocrinologist and nutritionist Alena Barredo. – Its average calorie content is 200-550 kcal per 100 g. The calorie content of the product depends on which nut paste or other ingredient is used in the base. Most often, halva is made from ground nuts or seeds, the product is sweetened with sugar (sucrose) or fructose.

In Our Country, the most common sunflower halva. She has a rich composition.

B vitamins reduce irritability and improve mood, support the health of the nervous system, and help to cope with sleep disorders. Strengthen hair and nails. Also involved in many synthesis processes in the body.
Magnesium eliminates vascular tone, thereby stabilizing pressure in the arteries and arterioles, improves muscle mass growth, and is involved in more than 300 body reactions.
Monounsaturated fatty acids and amino acids improve the condition of the vascular wall, participate in the functioning of the liver and cell membranes, and lower cholesterol.
Calcium and potassium support the bones of the body, are necessary for the productive work of the nervous system.

Halva is perfectly absorbed by the body, saturates well and gives the body energy, helps to cope with physical and mental stress.

A dessert made from nuts and seeds is healthier than other halva options, since nuts and seeds practically do not lose nutrients during processing. And if the recipe uses several types of raw materials, the benefits of the dessert increase several times.

The benefits of halva for men

A small portion of halva, made from nuts and seeds, contains substances necessary for the health and well-being of a man. B vitamins, calcium, potassium and iron make bones dense and strong, and muscles strong.

The composition of sesame and tahini halva contains a lot of antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties. They speed up the recovery of the body after heavy physical exertion and injury. And a 2016 study found that the antioxidant sesamol may be useful in colon cancer therapy (2).

The benefits of halva for women

Walnuts, almonds and cashews, which are used in the preparation of halva, are valuable sources of magnesium. This substance is necessary for the health of the nervous and reproductive systems of women. Magnesium prevents cramps and pulling pains during menstruation and is essential for conception and a healthy pregnancy (3, 4).

The benefits of halva for children

Halva is not recommended to be included in the diet of children under six years of age due to the high likelihood of allergies. Starting from the age of six, halva can be offered to children in limited quantities.

A 2009 study found that 47,4% of preschool children were anemic (5). Sunflower halva contains iron (100 mg per 3,2 g), the deficiency of which leads to this disease. It is also rich in vitamin B1 (100 mg per 0,8 g), which is important for the healthy growth and development of the child.

Halva harm

Halva is useful only when consumed in moderation.

— The allowable daily norm of the product for adults is 20-50 g. Children can be offered half the norm of an adult, — our expert Alena Barredo warns. – This sweet is forbidden for people with diabetes, obesity, metabolic disorders, metabolic syndrome and allergies. It is not recommended to eat halva during exacerbation of pancreatitis and cholecystitis, since it has a high sugar and fat content.

When buying halva, you need to choose a product of the highest quality. Sunflower kernels can accumulate cadmium. This is a toxic metal that negatively affects kidney function and the nervous system.

Therefore, you should give preference to products from a trusted manufacturer.

The use of halva in cooking

High-quality halva is made from fresh natural ingredients. Try to cook it yourself.

Sesame halva with coconut

It has a pleasant nutty taste and light coconut aroma. Ideal for a holiday table

Sesame seeds	150 g
Butter 82,5% fat	200 g
chips of coconut	25 g
Sugar	100 g
Powdered milk	100 g

Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan, add the sesame seeds and fry for 6-7 minutes. Add coconut flakes and stir. Add sugar and dry milk, mix again. Remove the saucepan from the heat and leave for 30 minutes.

Cover a 20 x 20 cm form with cling film, transfer the prepared mixture into it and put it in the refrigerator for 3 hours. Cut the finished halva arbitrarily and serve to the table.

Turkish semolina halva

Unusual dessert with a delicate sweet taste

Semolina	250 g
Powdered sugar	250 g
Butter	120 g
Milk	0,5 l
Vanilla sugar	1 Art. a spoon
Ground nuts (pistachios, almonds, pine nuts)	50 g

Melt the butter in a dry frying pan. Add semolina and, stirring constantly, fry it until golden brown. Add the ground nuts and fry for another 15-20 minutes until the mixture turns pinkish brown. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Pour milk into a saucepan, add powdered sugar and vanilla sugar, bring milk to a boil.

Pour hot sweet milk in a thin stream into the pan with semolina mixture, mix. Put the pan on the fire. While stirring constantly, wait until the semolina mixture absorbs the milk and becomes crumbly. Remove the halva from the heat, cover with a lid, wait until it cools completely.

Cut the cooled dessert into portions.

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How to choose and store halva

In order not to be disappointed after buying halva, you should carefully study the list of ingredients. High quality halva contains only natural ingredients. If you see unknown substances in the list of ingredients, it is better to leave the dessert in the store.

Try to buy halva by weight or in transparent packaging. On the surface of the sweetness there should be no drops of liquid and a dark coating.

Halva should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 18 ° C in a dry, dark place. Its shelf life varies for different varieties, but on average it is 1,5-2 months. Vacuum-packed dessert can be stored for up to six months.