Sunflower honey: benefits and harms

There are many varieties of honey. Most known are species such as lime and buckwheat. But there is also sunflower honey. It also has a special taste, aroma and, if used correctly, will not only benefit the body, but also help to cope with certain diseases.

Features and Features

Sunflower honey, like any other, has its own specific characteristics. First of all, it has a low cost, unlike other varieties. This is due to the fact that the sunflower is grown in sufficiently large volumes. Many do not use honey from sunflower, as it crystallizes quickly. But, despite this, it has many useful properties. Also a distinctive feature of the product is the lack of stickiness.

Colour

When honey is only pumped out of the hive, it is light in color. As it crystallizes, its hue becomes darker and as a result acquires a yellow, mustard tone.

A white coating appears on the surface of the honey. It releases glucose.

Scent

The honey flavor of the product is not as pronounced as that of other varieties. There are notes of apricot, hay and pollen.

Many say that the smell of fried potatoes is felt. A feature of honey is also that the aroma is more pronounced before crystallization than after it.

Taste qualities

The taste of sunflower honey is not sharp, pleasant enough, sweet. A small bitterness is determined. After drinking in the throat, a slight tickle begins.

Crystallization

Sunflower honey is known for crystallizing quickly enough and changing its color to darker. It thickens after three weeks, but most often its consistency changes within 14–16 days after collection. In cells, the crystallization process occurs later.

The consistency after the appearance of yellow crystals is similar to fat. Solid particles melt quickly in the mouth. After crystallization, the product sits and hardens.

A rapid change in consistency is due to a significant amount of glucose. It is contained almost one and a half times more than, for example, in lime or buckwheat.

Composition and calorie content

Sunflower honey is known for its rich composition. But it depends not only on the weather conditions in which the flower grows, the collection time and species. The main components of the product are:

1. Iodine. It is required by the thyroid gland and other organs of the endocrine system for proper operation. A micronutrient deficiency leads to the development of certain diseases, such as nodular goiter, hypothyroidism and others.
2. Magnesium. The substance plays a major role in the functioning of the heart muscle, and also helps to strengthen muscle tissue. With an element deficiency, heart rhythm disturbances and leg muscle cramps periodically occur.
3. Sodium. It helps to transfer glucose, amino acids and other substances, as well as maintain normal osmotic pressure, water-salt balance.
4. Potassium. Participates in the process of regulating the number of contractions of the heart muscle. That is why with its lack, the risk of diseases such as tachycardia, arrhythmia increases.
5. A nicotinic acid. This is vitamin PP. It is required to maintain a normal amount of cholesterol in the blood.This substance may be harmful to the body. This is due to the fact that cholesterol accumulates on the walls of blood vessels and impairs blood circulation. As a result, the risk of developing a stroke or heart attack increases.
6. Ascorbic acid. Vitamin C, which is needed in large quantities. It helps maintain immunity, improves the body's resistance. With its lack, a person often begins to get colds, the likelihood of complications increases.
7. Carotene. This substance is important enough for the body, as it helps fight free radicals. It is these substances, in accordance with recent studies, that are the provocateur of the occurrence of cancerous tumors.
8. Vitamins of group B. This is a fairly large group, which includes several elements. They control the functioning of the nervous system, have a positive effect on the general condition, help to cope with stress, support immunity, quality of hearing, vision, have a positive effect on many biochemical processes.

Also, sunflower honey includes substances such as biotin, organic and fatty acids, choline, phosphatase, amino acids and other elements. All of them are required by the body in certain quantities. With their deficiency, certain symptoms may occur, the risk of developing certain diseases, including colds, flu, pathologies of the heart muscle and nervous system, increases.

The calorie content of sunflower honey is quite large and amounts to 320 kcal per 100 g. But it is consumed in small quantities, which practically does not affect the figure.

Useful properties of sunflower honey

General benefit

Honey obtained from sunflower pollen, in its composition has many useful substances. When used correctly, it has a positive effect on the body. Useful product features include:

1. Anti-inflammatory. Honey, like any bee product, helps to remove the inflammatory process localized in various organs and tissues.
2. Antibacterial. Honey from sunflowers when ingested allows you to destroy pathogenic microorganisms that cause a number of diseases.
3. Stimulating. Honey activates the body's defenses. As a result, immunity increases, and a person is less likely to get sick.
4. Enveloping. Due to its composition, honey envelops the organ mucosa, protecting it from the negative effects of various factors.
5. Sedative The product perfectly helps to cope with stress. It is also used in folk medicine to normalize sleep with insomnia, and can cope with stress and nervous tension.
6. Cleansing. The composition contains substances that help to remove harmful substances, thereby reducing the load on the liver.
7. Restorative. Due to the elimination of toxins, the work of the gallbladder and liver is normalized and restored.
8. Stimulating. Honey activates the metabolism, strengthens the immune system.
9. Firming. A bee product obtained from sunflower pollen strengthens the heart, blood vessels, normalizes blood circulation due to the sufficient content of potassium and magnesium.

In addition, sunflower honey is used in folk medicine to treat a sore throat, with a runny nose. It is used to thin and remove sputum, which accumulates in the bronchi. Thus, honey is an excellent tool in the presence of respiratory, colds and viral diseases.

Honey is used to improve the absorption of drugs. This significantly increases their effectiveness, relief comes much faster. The product perfectly raises the mood, improves overall well-being, as it has an excellent taste and aroma.

For women

Honey obtained from sunflower pollen, if used correctly, can be beneficial for the female body.It has a beneficial effect on the skin, helping to eliminate fine wrinkles, acne, restore the natural complexion and prolong youth.

Also, honey contains substances that help maintain the beauty of hair. The substances that make up the product make them shiny, smooth and obedient.

In addition, as you know, women are more prone to stress and depression than men. Honey will help to cope with them, improve mood. Only 50–70 g of product per day is sufficient.

For men

For the male body, sunflower honey can also be beneficial. Due to its composition, it has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, helping to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Also, honey helps strengthen muscle tissue, which is experiencing heavy loads daily. It is believed that honey helps to increase sexual activity, and improve the composition of seminal fluid.

During pregnancy

At a time when a woman is preparing to become a mother, it is better to refuse to use honey. The thing is that this bee product, like all others, is an allergen. He even in the smallest quantities can cause unpleasant symptoms.

When using honey during pregnancy, especially in large quantities, in the future, the child may experience intolerance to this product. A woman should consult a specialist about the possibility of using honey.

When breastfeeding

After giving birth, when a woman begins to breastfeed, honey should also be careful. It does not need to be introduced into the diet before the baby is one and a half years old.

Any honey, including that obtained from sunflower, can cause allergies. It is expressed in the appearance of redness, a rash on the skin, itching, runny nose, cough, lacrimation and other signs.

Before introducing honey into the diet, you need to consult a pediatrician. Start using the product with a small amount, not more than half a teaspoon. Then during the day you need to monitor the reaction of the child. In the absence of unpleasant symptoms, the dosage of honey can be increased. But when signs of allergy appear, the product needs to be removed from the diet for a while. After 3-4 months, you can again try to enter it in the menu.

For kids

Children can be given honey no earlier than two years. The thing is that the bee product is quite allergenic.

In the absence of a negative reaction, honey, if used properly, will also be beneficial. First of all, it helps to boost immunity and cope with colds. In traditional medicine, various lotions, infusions that make it possible to cope with viral and infectious diseases are made on its basis.

Also, honey in a small amount helps to activate the brain. There is an improvement in memory and concentration, the child becomes more collected.

When losing weight

Honey is not used with a diet for weight loss. It has a large number of calories and glucose, which contributes to weight gain.

When you want to maintain weight, honey is not recommended to eat even in small quantities.

Traditional medicine recipes with sunflower honey

Honey is widely used in folk medicine, not only for the treatment of colds. For a long time, it has been used as additional therapy in the presence of other diseases that are characterized by an inflammatory process or arise as a result of the entry of viruses, bacteria, and infections into the body.

From cracks in the heels

Cracks in the heels appear as a result of excessive dryness of the skin. They often hurt and bleed. The following recipe will help to cope with such a problem. It will take 2 tablespoons of flour and a tablespoon of sunflower honey. All is thoroughly kneaded so that the dough turns out. It is divided into two equal parts and rolled into cakes.

Feet are steamed before bed so that the skin becomes soft.Then the resulting cakes are applied to the heels, fixed with a bandage, put on warm socks and left overnight.

After a week of heel procedures, they will become much softer, and the skin will heal, unpleasant symptoms will go away.

With anemia

Sunflower honey, like any other, contains enough iron. This allows you to use it with anemia when low hemoglobin is detected.

To normalize the composition of the blood for one month, you should use honey in an amount of 100 g daily. It can be added to tea, coffee. For the entire course you need to eat 3 kg of product. When used in its pure form, it is recommended to drink it with milk or kefir.

For wounds or burns

One of the properties of honey is the acceleration of tissue regeneration. Due to the content of various trace elements, it helps to quickly heal sun or thermal burns, wounds and cuts. There are several recipes, the most popular of them are:

1. Ointment. For its preparation, Xeroform powder will be required in an amount of 3 g, 80 g of honey and 20 g of fat. All components are thoroughly mixed. Ointment is used up to 3 times a day. A gauze dressing is then applied to the wound.
2. Lotions. They are used in the presence of long-term healing wounds and ulcers. The solution is prepared as follows. First, pour 50 g of eucalyptus into the pan and pour 500 ml of hot water. For 15 minutes, everything is kept in a water bath, allowed to cool and filtered. After that, add 2 tablespoons of honey, mix. Lotions are made by pre-moistening a gauze dressing in a solution. It is applied to the wound and fixed with a bandage, changing as it dries.

These recipes will help to quickly get rid of wounds, burns, ulcers in a short time.

With increased gas formation

In case of excessive gas formation, you can use the following recipe. To prepare it, you will need a glass of boiling water and a tablespoon of honey. All must be mixed in a separate pot and boiled over low heat for 15 minutes. Take 2 tablespoons up to 10 times a day.

Also, with increased gas formation, it is recommended to add a tablespoon of honey and wormwood to a glass of boiling water. Then boil everything over minimal heat, strain and let cool. Take a solution in a tablespoon before breakfast. It can be stored no more than 2 days.

For joint pain

Honey also helps with the appearance of pain of varying intensity in the joints. To prepare the remedy, you will need a tablespoon of honey and aloe juice, 2 tablespoons of vodka. Mix everything and put on a sore spot. Compresses will help with arthrosis, osteochondrosis, arthritis, rheumatism or radiculitis.

To restore strength

The product can restore strength after mental or physical exertion, prolonged illness, with general weakness.

For cooking, you need to take 500 g of honey and walnuts, which you need to chop, 200 ml of aloe juice. Leave the leaves of the plant before use for a week in the refrigerator.

Mix all components. Take a tablespoon for a month. Store the mixture in the refrigerator. The course can be repeated after a break of 10 days.

To strengthen the heart

The heart is an important organ that experiences tremendous stress daily. It is important not only to maintain, but also to strengthen. To do this, you can apply one of the recipes of traditional medicine. You need to take a tablespoon of dried or fresh rosehip berries, 2 cups boiling water. Boil everything for 10 minutes, then insist half an hour, strain. Then add a tablespoon of honey. Take the solution in half a glass 3 times a day for a month.

There are many folk recipes based on honey. All products should be prepared and taken in strict accordance with the instructions. Before use, you need to make sure that there is no allergy to sunflower honey.

Application in cosmetology

Honey is an excellent tool that helps restore beauty, prolong youth. It is also used in cosmetology. On its basis, many different masks, creams, shampoos are created.There are also several recipes for honey products that you can cook yourself.

The most popular are face masks. They help smooth out wrinkles, eliminate the first signs of aging, and prolong youth.

For face

With egg
Such a tool is used when the skin is sufficiently dry. It helps moisturize the skin.

Preparing a mask is quite simple. To do this, mix one egg and a tablespoon of honey. You can also add a small amount of heavy cream. Apply the mass on the face and leave for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

With aspirin
The mask is perfect for women who began to show the first signs of aging. The tool will extend the youthfulness of the skin. To prepare the mixture, you will need an aspirin tablet, which must be dissolved in 2 tablespoons of warm water. Then add a large spoonful of honey.

The mask should be applied once a week for 10 minutes. It can also be used in the presence of acne, acne, acne. The effect will be noticeable after the first procedure.

With lemon
According to many, this mask is the most effective for oily skin. It will help eliminate shine, narrow pores, stop small inflammations that cause acne. A mask based on honey and lemon perfectly fights acne. The tool also eliminates pigmentation and freckles that bother many.

But before using such a mask, it is important to know that lemon dries the skin. That is why it is mixed with honey. The ingredients are taken in equal proportions to 2 tablespoons. In the case when the mask is supposed to be used as a bleaching agent, the product of bee production should be added cold. If the remedy is used to eliminate fat content, honey should be slightly warmed up.

After mixing the components, you need to apply the mask on the face, leave for 15 minutes, and then rinse. Use no more than 3 times a week.

For hair

Honey can also be used to maintain the beauty of hair. It helps to restore their structure, restore shine and strength. The most popular remedies are:

1. Air conditioning. It is used as a moisturizer. To prepare it, you need to mix the yolk and honey in equal amounts. Apply the mixture along the entire length of the hair, leave for half an hour and rinse.
2. Clarifier This tool is suitable for women with blond hair. To cook it, you need to mix 2.5 tablespoons of cinnamon, honey, olive oil, hair conditioner. Apply the resulting mixture to the hair, wrap them in plastic wrap and warm with a hairdryer. Keep the mask for 4 hours, then rinse with water.

Thus, honey is an excellent tool that will help support a woman's natural beauty without resorting to the use of expensive creams, ointments.

Harm and contraindications

As you know, any honey, including sunflower, can not always be used to treat diseases, prepare cosmetics and use inside. Contraindications include:

1. Allergy. Flower pollen, including sunflower, is an allergen. It can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, rash, redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes and skin, itching. Honey should not be consumed by people who are allergic to pollen. The presence of intolerance to the product can be determined independently. To do this, apply a small amount of honey on your wrist and leave it for a while. If redness or itching does not appear after a day, then there is no allergy.
2. The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Honey is not recommended for women who are expecting a baby or breastfeeding.An allergen can enter the baby's body, which will cause the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.
3. Diathesis. In children and adults with excessive use of sweet, the skin on the face turns red and peels. In the presence of diathesis, honey should not be eaten.
4. Diabetes mellitus of any type. In the presence of this disease, it is strictly forbidden to consume honey. It contains a large amount of glucose, which can lead to an increase in blood sugar.
5. Excess weight. The composition of honey contains a large amount of carbohydrates, which contribute to the gain of excess weight. Obese people are contraindicated in consuming bee products, including sunflower honey.

In the absence of contraindications and proper use, honey will only benefit the body. It will help to cope with various diseases, strengthen immunity, maintain youthful skin, but it should be introduced with caution.

How to choose and store

Choose sunflower honey correctly so as not to make a mistake and not to get a fake. Buy a product only from trusted sellers, markets, fairs.

As a result of the fact that sunflower honey crystallizes quickly, it is difficult to pack it, which should be considered when buying. Such honey in rare cases is given out for another, as it is the cheapest. It is quite thick, has a yellowish color. The aroma is weak, but quite pleasant, with honey, mustard and oak notes.

Quite often, sellers give their goods at fairs. Sunflower honey has many small grains that melt quickly in the mouth. The product has a delicate structure. After consuming honey, a slight tickle appears in the throat.

Honey should not be too thin. This consistency should alert. Also, it should not have a caramel flavor or acidity. A white coating may appear on the surface, which is not a sign of a poor-quality product, but is formed as a result of a high glucose content. Bees are often fed sugar. Honey in this case will not have a flavor.

It is necessary to store the bee production product, which is obtained from sunflower pollen, in a dark place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. The optimum temperature is considered to be from +4 to +20 degrees. When it rises higher, then honey loses its useful vitamins and minerals. Humidity should not exceed 75%.

Honey should be stored in dishes that are well rinsed in advance. Usually glass containers are used for these purposes. Porcelain or clay is also suitable. The product of bee production is not recommended to be stored in iron containers, as they oxidize honey. As a result, it becomes unhealthy.

During storage, it is important to consider that honey absorbs odors well. Therefore, it should not be stored in close proximity to paints, gasoline and other substances with a pungent odor.

How to distinguish from a fake

Sunflower honey can not always be found in the store, as it quickly crystallizes. It is best to purchase a product from mid to late July only from trusted sellers.

You can distinguish natural honey from a fake using iodine. To do this, a small amount of the product must be dissolved in water and add a few drops of iodine. If the solution turns blue, then honey contains starch. If it has not changed, honey is natural and made only from nectar.

Interesting facts about sunflowers

1. In the Guinness Book of Records, there is a record that the largest sunflower had 82 centimeters in diameter. He grew up in Canada. The tallest flower that ever existed was grown in the Netherlands. Its height was about 7 meters.
2. Sunflowers are planted in large areas. This allows you to get not only a large number of seeds, which are quite useful for the body, but also honey.From one hectare you can get up to 50 kg of useful product.
3. Not many gardeners know that sunflowers should also be planted in a special way. They are sown before or after sunrise. According to legend, this way you can get a fairly large crop, which will not harm the birds.
4. Sunflower seeds are known for their beneficial qualities, amazing taste. They belong to a rare class of products. They completely lack cholesterol and cholesterol. Thus, flower seeds will benefit the whole body, including the cardiovascular system.
5. The seeds contain a large amount of fiber, minerals such as selenium, calcium, iron, zinc, a lot of B and E vitamins, phytosterols. These substances increase the body's resistance to various diseases, reduce the risk of oncology, stroke and heart attack due to the regulation of cholesterol in the blood.
6. As you know, sunflower is always turned towards the sun. But not everyone knows that even in cloudy weather the plant is an excellent landmark on the terrain, since its basket is always turned towards the sun, even when it is hidden behind the clouds.
7. It is believed that the birthplace of the flower is North America. According to legend, the sun was presented to the Indians by the gods. It is a symbol of the sun and was considered sacred to the Indians.
8. The flower was brought to Europe in the 16th century by the Spaniards.

Sunflower is an amazing plant. It is used in traditional medicine for the preparation of medicinal infusions, solutions and decoctions. But among healers, honey, which is obtained from the pollen of a flower, is also popular.

A bee product helps to cope with a number of diseases, including colds. Due to its properties, honey has a negative effect on viruses and pathogens, eliminating symptoms and inflammatory processes. He found his application in cosmetology. On its basis, many face and hair products have been created. Creams and masks can also be prepared at home. Thus, sunflower honey should be used not only to improve mood, but also to enhance immunity. With proper use, the product will not harm the body, but will only have a beneficial effect.

Photo of honey from a sunflower