Honey, the main character of the Kolomna Fair, is valued not only for its pleasant taste and aroma, but also for its healing properties. Obtained naturally, it is rich in enzymes, minerals (salts of sodium, calcium, chlorine, iodine, phosphorus, iron, magnesium), as well as trace elements (manganese, copper, nickel, zinc and others). Honey contains a number of organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric), a large amount of B vitamins, vitamin C. Amber gold is a storehouse of easily digestible carbohydrates, which are indispensable for physical and mental stress. The rich chemical composition makes sweetness not only a nutritious product, but also a natural medicine. Since ancient times, healers have successfully used honey for diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and sleep disorders. Honey improves blood quality, increases the content of hemoglobin in it and the number of red blood cells. Honey also has a beneficial effect in the treatment of external wounds and skin diseases.
Immediately after pumping, honey is a viscous substance of light, amber or dark tones. The color depends on the type of honey, the time of harvest, the breed of bees, the condition and quality of the comb, but does not indicate quality. The same type of honey, collected in different places and at different times, will differ in appearance. During the first two months (with the exception of chestnut, acacia), liquid honey is gradually candied, becomes thicker and changes color. The crystallization process does not affect the nutritional value of the delicacy, however, lovers of a liquid honey consistency can melt the sweetness in a water bath at a temperature not exceeding 45 °.
How to choose natural and high-quality honey?
The high demand for sweetness, the relatively high price encourage unscrupulous producers and beekeepers to fake, dilute and falsify honey. Often, instead of a healing product, you can get a useless, and sometimes harmful analogue. The search for quality sweets is better to start from the place of purchase. You should trust beekeepers with a good reputation and experience. Before purchasing, use the opportunity to taste honey, test the quality. A natural product should not drip off a spoon and be very liquid. If you lower a thin stick into a container with sweetness, then real honey will follow it with a continuous thread.
Another sign of real honey is the aroma. The smell is usually subtle, delicate, rich in various notes. Honey in which sugar is added often has no odor character, and is similar in properties to sweetened water.
You can put 1 drop of honey and rub it between your fingers. High-quality honey will be completely absorbed, while fake honey will roll into lumps.
How to store honey?
After purchase, honey should be stored in a dark glass container, dry and protected from light. Metal containers are completely unsuitable for these purposes: in them, the sweetness is oxidized and becomes poisonous. The optimum storage temperature is +4-+10°.
How to use sweetness?
Bee honey goes well with porridge, water, nuts, milk, fruits, tea and drinks. It should be added to barely warm dishes in order to preserve the natural value as much as possible. At temperatures above 40°, more than 200 unique ingredients are destroyed, and the healing cocktail turns into a sweetener.
With health benefits per day, an adult can eat no more than 100-150 g of amber sweetness in several doses, children – 1-2 teaspoons. It is not advisable to introduce a child to treats during the first year of life. For best absorption, it is optimal to consume honey 1,5-2 hours before a meal or 3 hours after a meal. Scientists have also proven that bee honey is more useful in combination with warm water and other products than when consumed in its pure form.
With caution, people with diabetes, allergies, children of the first three years of life, patients with scrofula and exudative diathesis should enjoy sweetness. Honey is contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity to the product, after which urticaria, nausea, dizziness, and gastrointestinal disorders begin. In all other cases, the product remains a healthy, safe and tasty treat.
Honey advice for every day
The combination of natural benefits and the natural taste of bee honey will help make the morning rise easier and more pleasant. The cocktail recipe is simple: mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1 glass of warm water, and give support to your body in the autumn-winter period. Such a simple drink improves the functioning of the digestive tract, strengthens the immune system, and supports the heart muscle. Enjoy your meal!