Chestnut honey is a popular beekeeping product in European countries. For example, in France, this variety is considered one of the most useful. The French love him for a bitter taste, used in confectionery. In our country, real chestnut honey is not easy to buy. This product is produced only in the Krasnodar and Altai Territories and the Republic of Adygea.
What is chestnut honey and how to get it
This is honey made by bees from nectar and pollen collected from flowers of chestnut wood (Castanea). The name of the product directly indicates the plant from which the bees collected nectar. During flowering chestnut is a good honey plant, its flowers are shaped like bells.
The finished beekeeping product turns out dark, brown-red color, with a bitter taste and a pleasant aroma of chestnut flowers. It contains a huge amount of nutrients that help him take a leading position among other varieties.
Special signs: honey does not crystallize for a long time, it can remain liquid for years, but it does not become less useful. Used to treat the stomach, kidneys, skin. Good for strengthening the immune system and in diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Chestnut honey is also harvested from the flowers of the so-called horse chestnut (Aesculus). A moderately viscous product, almost colorless, crystallizes rapidly. Despite the pleasant texture, it does not apply to valuable varieties.
Chemical composition
Chestnut honey is a natural wonder. This product contains in certain proportions beneficial substances, a very significant amount of vitamins.
Characteristics of the chemical composition:
- food enzymes;
- iodine;
- vitamins C, PP, A, group B;
- minerals (iron, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, calcium, sulfur, lead);
- organic acids;
- phytoncides;
- biogenic stimulants.
At the same time with honey, vitamins strengthen the skin, hair and nails. In addition, all other substances, entering the blood, accelerate the metabolism, normalize the work of the reproductive system, heart, increase tone, immunity and promote longevity.
Five important beneficial properties
The product of beekeeping can be used in the midst of seasonal epidemics of ARVI and flu for prophylactic purposes, then the body can resist a cold when everyone is sick.
Spoon of chestnut honey:
- Increases immunity (a person is sick less, abandoning the usual sugar in favor of chestnut honey).
- Takes off fatigue (due to the high content of fructose and glucose).
- Improves digestion (enzymes, organic acids facilitate the process of digestion and are good for the stomach).
- Stimulates cell regeneration and growth (this product is able to prolong life due to the high content of biological stimulants).
- Calms nerves and helps to resist stress (to feel calm and confident, you can take warm milk with honey, this drink will help you relax, and sleep well in the evening).
It is interesting to know that chestnut honey collected from an apiary in harsh climatic conditions is more concentrated and biologically active than the southern beekeeping product.
Calorie and storage features
100 grams of chestnut honey contains about 300 kilocalories. With high mental or physical exertion, this product will bring many benefits. It does not contain sucrose, 70% consists of fructose and glucose. Once in the body, these substances instantly fill it with energy.
Honey easily absorbs extraneous odors, so Russian beekeepers kept their "harvest" in lime linens saturated with wax. At home, you can easily do without a barrel. The main thing - to put a glass jar of honey in a dark place where the air temperature is not higher than 20 degrees.
Indications for use
Therapeutic use:
- To thin the blood. When the blood is too thick, it is dangerous because the formation of blood clots increases, the work of the blood vessels becomes difficult, a blood clot can block the small vessel, which leads to a stroke.
- Against cough, with respiratory diseases. Due to its antibacterial properties, this product effectively reduces the intensity of cough, just eat 2 teaspoons before bedtime.
- Used to treat skin and stomach. B vitamins, which are so rich in chestnut honey, are the best natural substances for treating skin infections and wound healing. Organic acids and enzymes provide invaluable assistance to the gastrointestinal tract, they facilitate the absorption of nutrients.
Strictly by the rules
If treated with honey, its amount is determined by the current disease. Permissible daily intake: for an adult - 100 grams and 50 grams - for a child. This amount must be divided into two or three doses.
In order to assimilate the honey, it must be taken two hours before or after meals after three hours. This will help the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the product to appear stronger.
Honey should be washed down with warm tea, milk or boiled water. Cold drinks slow down the absorption of nutrients, and hot drinks kill some of their healthy properties.
Chestnut honey is healthier than granulated sugar, but its daily rate should not exceed 100 grams, divided into three doses. It is desirable to reduce the use of other sweets in the calculation that 1 gram of sugar will account for 1.25 grams of honey.
Application in cosmetology
The use of chestnut honey in cosmetology is based on the content of significant amounts of vitamins necessary for the skin. If there are no allergic reactions, first of all you need to use this product for home treatments for body and face. Another important argument against honey - sensitive skin, for her natural masks may be too heavy.
Simple tips
Honey bath for the body: dilute 250 grams of honey in water. You can take a honey bath up to three times a week. After the procedure you need to take a shower. It has a tonic, tonic, sedative effect.
Honey body wrap: melt over low heat 100 grams of honey and dark chocolate, 150 grams of cocoa powder. Cool the mixture slightly, apply to clean skin, wrap with a wrap, top with a terry towel. After half an hour, rinse the fragrant mask, during which time the mask nourishes and smoothes the skin.
Moisturizing face mask: a teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of glycerin, egg yolk to grind to homogeneity. Apply to skin, rinse off after 15-20 minutes.
Nourishing face mask: in equal parts, mix honey, egg powder, sour cream, mix thoroughly. Apply to the skin, excluding the eye area. After 20 minutes, gently rinse with warm water.
Anti-aging face mask: a teaspoon of honey + a tablespoon of oatmeal + a whipped yolk. Grind the mixture well. Apply a thin layer of mask using a cotton pad. After 15 minutes, gently rinse with warm water.
Is it possible to recognize a fake
The right honey to taste not only sweet, if you take a drop of a good product in your mouth, it does not immediately spread, but will keep its shape for some time. At the same time in the mouth there is a slight tartness and burning. You can drip honey on a saucer, a quality product will retain its shape, it will not spread on the surface.
A quality product creates a slide on the surface when it is poured. In this case, the honey string is not interrupted, even if you raise the spoon high, the jet will simply become thinner. You can turn the spoon, the honey should be wound on it continuously.
Unfortunately, to determine the fake only in appearance will not work. Neither color, nor taste, nor any other external feature are indicators of quality. However, enthusiasts are trying to find a way to identify fakes.
For example, they test a product with a chemical pencil, if the ink spreads, then honey is no good. In fact, this simple test can only determine the moisture level of the product, and only careful laboratory analysis can accurately determine the authenticity.
Who should eliminate chestnut honey from the diet
There will be no negative reactions to chestnut honey, unless the person is allergic to bee products. Often, an allergic reaction is not on the product itself, but on the chestnut flowers from which it is collected.
No matter how useful this product is, there are people with individual intolerance. As a rule, after taking itching, runny nose, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, urticaria can begin. Hence, this natural gift must be abandoned.
Honey is a high-calorie product that is well digested. That is why doctors advise moderation. There is no sweet delicacy with spoons: with diabetes, overweight, pancreatitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer in the period of exacerbation.
