It is one of the most useful products, and an integral part of a healthy and wholesome diet.
Why exactly it has such a positive effect on our body and what features it has, we will consider in more detail in this article.
Flower honey is predominantly yellow (depending on the plants, the color can vary from green to brown), rich product, which is famous for its incredible smell, because it is made exclusively from flowering, and, accordingly, fragrant plants. The most popular among bees are meadow flowers of bright colors (,). 
A real natural viscous substance should have a uniform viscous consistency, a pleasant floral aroma, a sweet or slightly sour taste. No impurities are allowed. Often there are jars of flower nectar with crystals, this just means that the product was produced a couple of months ago.
Composition of flower honey
The exact composition of the finished product directly depends on the bouquet of plants from which the bees collected nectar. However, there are a number of elements that contain everything (proportions are approximate):
- split sugar - 73%;
- dextrin (starch semi-saccharide) - 5%;
- water - 17%;
- sucrose -2.4%;
- acids - 0.11%.
In addition to these elements, the composition includes such useful material like: calcium, magnesium, fluorine, copper, manganese, iron, zinc. 
calories
Contrary to the opinion that everything sweet is very high in calories, this product is relatively low in calories.
Important! Depending on the raw materials and consistency, the number of calories may be more or less. For example: a lighter product has less calories than a dark and thick one.
Types of flower honeys
The species depends on the plant that predominates in the composition. For the production of certain varieties, beekeepers establish apiaries near the places of mass growth of the desired flowers.
The most popular are:
Each species is special in its own way, has a unique aroma and taste: for lovers of greater sweetness, dandelion or linden is ideal, and more sour species are obtained from acacia or chestnut.
Benefits of flower honey
Due to the huge amount of nutrients, honey is considered one of the most beneficial products for the human body.
It has a huge number of useful properties:
- Contains a large amount of sugar, which makes it necessary to replenish vitality. Just a few spoons can bring the energy reserve back to normal. Honey is very popular for athletes, they can perfectly replenish strength after training.
- Helps to normalize blood pressure, thins the blood, favorably affects the functioning of the heart.
- Has disinfecting properties.
- Normalizes the work of the digestive tract (with indigestion).
- With constant use in food, the color of the skin is leveled and its appearance as a whole improves.
- It is especially useful for the fairer sex, because it helps to get rid of many gynecological problems.
Important! In case of minor malfunctions in the body, flower nectar may well replace medicines. And the effectiveness of using honey as a prophylactic against many ailments has been confirmed by many generations of our ancestors.
Application in cosmetology
Due to the fact that this sweet contains an incredible amount of useful elements, it is used not only as a tasty and healthy treat, but also in cosmetology for the preparation of masks, scrubs and various body wraps. 
Thanks to this substance:
- enlarged pores are narrowed;
- accelerates cell regeneration;
- moisturizes and cleanses the skin;
- skin respiration is activated.
The most common are scrubs using the product, since its consistency allows you to make the perfect viscous mixture for cleaning your face from dirt and dead cells.
Honey is mixed with coffee grounds, zest, and other products that will help make the scrub, mask or body wrap richer and more fragrant.
It is important to remember that owners of sensitive skin should not use such a product for cosmetic purposes. In order to determine how well your skin perceives bee products, you need to take a test. Apply a small amount of the substance to an inconspicuous area of \u200b\u200bthe skin (for example, the crook of the elbow or wrist) and leave for 15-20 minutes. After removing the remnants, monitor the condition of this area of \u200b\u200bthe skin for a while. If there are no unpleasant sensations during or after application, then the use of products based on this product is allowed. 
Contraindications
The main contraindication is allergy and individual intolerance to bee products. Also, negative consequences (diathesis or other allergic reactions) are possible with overeating.
However, there are other contraindications:
- diabetes;
- heart problems;
- problems with the digestive system (ulcers, gastritis);
- should not be used by pregnant women and children under 2 years of age.
In any other cases, the use of honey will only positively affect the human body and enrich it with useful and important elements for full-fledged work.
Important! To get the maximum of useful substances, honey must be dissolved in a slightly warm liquid (water, milk, tea).
Flower honey candied: what to do
Any high-quality bee product must, over time. influences the crystallization of honey several factors:
- product storage temperature;
- container handling;
- humidity;
- "maturity" is an indicator of the product, which indicates that all the sugar has dissolved naturally, and excess moisture has been evaporated.
Separately, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the crystallized substance does not lose its useful properties, on the contrary: it freezes for longer storage.
Nature has presented man with a unique product - flower honey. This sweet delicacy is loved by adults and children, due to the high content of carbohydrates, the product fills the body with energy and strength. Flower nectar is used for flu and colds, as it has medicinal properties. No wonder in Russia honey was considered a product for good health. So what else is it useful for, where is it used and how to use it?
Types of nectar
In the vastness of Russia, you can find honey from 150 plant species, the most common varieties are: sunflower, dandelion, acacia, burdock. It is unrealistic to get it from one plant, so a conditional bar has been introduced: if the nectar of any one flower is 40-60%, flower honey is considered monofloral.
When flower honey contains different nectar without the predominance of any one species, it is called polyfloral. In everyday life, it is known under other names: forest, meadow, herbs, etc.
Composition and calorie content
Natural flower honey is a concentrate of useful substances, literally everything that is needed for life “in one bottle”. In its composition:
- Simple carbohydrates (fructose, glucose, sucrose) and polysaccharides (dextrin).
- Vitamins (C, K, B1, B5, B6, B9, H) and minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, zinc).
- Enzymes - more than 15 types, including catalase, invertase, phosphatase, glucose oxidase.
- Phytoncides (natural antibiotics) - benzoic acid, avenacin, tannins and others.
- Organic acids - acetic, oxalic, citric, lactic.
- Aromatic substances, flavonoids.
For 100 gr. (half a glass) accounts for about 300 kcal. The darker, thicker and more aromatic variety, the higher.
Value, medicinal properties
The properties of this sweet product were noted by the inhabitants of Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Until the middle of the 20th century, its various varieties formed the basis of the diet of a typical inhabitant of Russia. Flower honey:
- has antibacterial properties - heals ulcers, disinfects, dries skin rashes;
- tones and fills with energy;
- excellent immunomodulator;
- recommended for diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, pain in the lower back, kidneys, gout;
- A favorite tool of cosmetologists, suitable for all skin types.
The specific properties of each variety depend on the honey plant. For example, the chamomile variety is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties, the linden variety is diaphoretic and antimicrobial, and the sage variety heals ulcers.
To get rid of fatigue and restore strength after hard work or training, just eat a spoonful of flower honey.
Contraindications for use
Flower honey is well tolerated by the body. However, it should be limited in diabetes mellitus (), completely eliminated in enterocolitis, gastric resection, cholecystitis, after gastric surgery and with allergies. Also, do not give it, but you can use the product, but only after consulting a doctor.
How to choose good honey?
In a store or on the market, it is difficult to understand whether the original or a fake is on the counter, so you have to evaluate it visually.
- When buying in a store, you should pay attention to packaging and labeling. The jar must be made of glass, the lid is hermetically sealed, and the date and place of collection, GOST and ISO are written on the label.
- When buying "from the hands" you need to smell it, taste it and evaluate the viscosity. The aroma, taste and color must correspond to the declared variety, do not contain extraneous sourness or unpleasant odors. The fresh product is viscous, and the crystallized product has a homogeneous structure, without a clear separation and water.
It is better to buy honey in large retail chains: they do not want to risk their reputation, so they check jars that are ready for sale.
Flower honey from the market will do more harm than good. This is an overheated composition of incomprehensible quality without any guarantees. But to buy from a familiar beekeeper is an opportunity to get a natural product inexpensively.
Work in the apiary to pump out flower honey. Video
Honey, like any product, has its own varieties: forest, honeydew, flower, etc. All of them are good and useful in their own way, all have a lot of useful properties. In this article we will talk in more detail about the flower form, find out its characteristics and features.
What is honey and how does it happen
From the name of sweet nectar, it is clear that bees collect pollen from plant flowers in fields, meadows, and gardens for its production. Its qualities and properties determine the plants from which the bees collected raw materials for production. If the collection is dominated by one plant, then the product is called monofloral, if several or a whole bunch - polyfloral.
monofloral
Monofloral varieties are not as common as forbs, because it is difficult to find an area planted with a sufficient amount of one species of flowering plants. In addition, this plant should bloom at a certain time, when the bees are not distracted by other fragrant flowers. A variety is called monofloral when it contains at least 50% pollen from one crop., for example, acacia, heather, buckwheat, linden, raspberry, sunflower. 
polyfloral
Polyfloral honey or forbs is a combination of pollen from many fragrant flowers. Such varieties are distinguished by the time of collection, by place or external characteristics. Its external qualities (aroma, taste, color) determine the plants that prevail in the pollen collection area. Useful properties will also be due to the properties of the crops that served as pollen suppliers. 
What does flower honey look like?
Flower nectar is usually less dense, although viscous, mostly light in color.
Color
From golden and rich yellow to brown.
Aroma
Saturated, playing with many shades: fruity, floral.
Taste
Tart, sweet, with a long aftertaste.
Crystallization time
Polyfloral varieties are usually candied by winter, monofloral varieties can crystallize later.
Collection period
The beginning of the season - the beginning of spring; collection ends in autumn. 
Did you know? There is poisonous or drunken honey - this is a product for which pollen and nectar are collected by bees from plants that contain toxic substances. Since not all poisonous plants produce nectar, the poisonous variety of honey is extremely rare. Mass poisoning with such a product was described by the commander of Ancient Greece Xenophon, he wrote about the sudden illness of Colchis warriors after drinking honey sweetness.
What is useful and how it affects the body
Flower nectar in its composition contains a huge amount of minerals, vitamins, enzymes, essential acids and antioxidants. Possessing a high calorie content, it nevertheless does not burden the stomach, is easily and quickly absorbed, and even improves digestion, thanks to the enzymes necessary for this process.
Since ancient times, honey has been used as a preservative, keeping food in it for a long time. This feature indicates high antimicrobial, antiseptic properties, in addition, the product has anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects.
Ascorbic acid, essential oils and tannins in the composition determine the therapeutic effect for colds, diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, facilitate the thinning and discharge of mucus and sputum from the lungs and bronchi, create an unbearable environment for the life of microbes and viruses, strengthen the immune system. 
, glycosides, have a beneficial effect on cardiac activity and blood pressure, strengthen and give elasticity to the walls of blood vessels, thin the blood. Natural sweetness has a calming effect on the nervous system, normalizes sleep. Thanks to antioxidants and, E, the health and beauty of the skin, teeth, hair and nails is maintained.
Important! Please note that honey is not used as an independent therapeutic drug, the product can serve as a powerful, but auxiliary tool. The maximum effect will be given by a complex treatment determined by a specialist doctor.
How not to make a mistake when buying
When buying, given the differences in the varieties of a flower product, it is easy to make mistakes, but there are unifying properties that will help you avoid these mistakes:
- real honey has a slight mucosal irritant effect; after tasting, a sore throat will be felt;
- the structure of natural nectar is viscous, but plastic - it is easy to wrap it around a spoon, it will not immediately spread;
- aroma and rich taste: neither one nor the other will have one characteristic note, and the smell and taste will be multifaceted and rich;
- natural sweetness begins to crystallize by winter.
Rules of use
Many have heard the names "Honey cake", "Honey gingerbread" and know that sweetness is added to the dough for cakes and gingerbread, cookies to give an unusual taste to the product. There are other advantages of a natural sweetener: firstly, it is healthier than sugar; secondly, it keeps the dough fresh and soft longer. However, keep in mind that honey is sweeter than sugar, so you need to add less of it, otherwise the dessert will turn out to be too cloying.
The product is often used in various marinades and salad dressings. It is most often combined with citrus peel, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, garlic, ginger and coriander. In addition to the marinade, they are coated with meat during frying, which gives a unique spicy-sweet crust.
Honey is added to various desserts: fruit salads, mousses, puddings, cream for cakes and pastries. It is used to make marshmallow and nougat with nuts.
Did you know? Honey is often mentioned in the religious texts of Islam and Christianity: in the Koran there is a separate sura "Bees"; in Christian texts, honeycombs are called the food of John the Baptist during his hermitage in the desert; mentioned in the book of Solomon's parables, and in the Bible itself.
Storage conditions
Honey is not stored in metal containers, it quickly oxidizes in such an environment and loses its properties. In a glass, ceramic or clay container with a tightly closed lid, preferably at sub-zero temperatures, without moisture and light, honey products last longer. It is not recommended to change the storage temperature, otherwise the nectar will crystallize unevenly.
Application in other areas
For preventive purposes, many people eat a spoonful of natural sweets every morning before breakfast, and a drink to maintain immunity is also popular among the people - tea with lemon and honey.
Important! When preparing, you need to know that honey should be put in warm, but not hot tea: at temperatures above +60°С it loses most of its useful properties.
In folk medicine
Natural medicine helps in the prevention and treatment of such diseases:
- influenza, SARS, acute respiratory infections;
- throat diseases (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis);
- diseases of the lungs and bronchi;
- anemia;
- avitaminosis;
- endocrine diseases.
The product is useful for digestive problems; heavy physical exertion; various inflammatory processes, including skin diseases. Its use is shown in the recovery period after surgery, with nervous disorders, insomnia. In cosmetology
Beekeeping products are actively used in cosmetic products: cream, scrub, mask, milk. The tool helps to restore the elasticity of the skin, nourishes, cleanses and rejuvenates the skin, relieves inflammation, whitens, heals cracks in case of excessive dryness.
Honey is used in massage treatments, body wraps and other spa treatments. It is known for its beneficial effect on hair, in case of damage and dullness, loss. Hair masks nourish the hair follicle, restore the structure of the hair along its entire length, and help get rid of dandruff.
Contraindications and possible harm
Polyfloral varieties usually have a more saturated composition, so this kind of product should be used with caution for the following health problems:
- pancreatitis;
- gastritis;
- enterocolitis;
- gastrointestinal ulcer.
Allergy sufferers are advised to test for a possible negative reaction. Diabetics should not get carried away as bee products contain sugar. Excessive consumption with excess weight is undesirable - there are a lot of calories in sweets (302-330 kcal, depending on the composition). It is undesirable to use nursing mothers and children under three years of age. The healing properties of bee products have been known since ancient times; the founders of medicine (Galen, Hippocrates, Avicenna, etc.) used it as a medicine in their time. Recognized its properties and official modern medicine, using as part of various medications.
Flower honey in a number of areas is considered a kind of panacea. It is used both in medicine and in cosmetology, and finds justified application in dietetics. So, what is this product and how true is its legendary popularity.
Benefit
The benefits of flower honey largely depend on the area and from which plants it is collected. With this information, you can expect to receive the following effects:
- healing of purulent wounds, ulcers and skin rashes (sage);
- anti-inflammatory therapy (chamomile);
- diuretic effect (thyme);
- treatment of laryngitis, bronchitis, other ENT diseases (linden);
- positive effect on the work of the intestines, stomach, kidneys (geranium).
Flower honey is a high-calorie product, however, due to its unique ability to be quickly absorbed, it is also used in dietary nutrition. The benefits of this type of honey are officially confirmed by scientific studies. It has been proven that it has a beneficial effect on the treatment of insomnia and neurological disorders, strengthens the immune system and forms a kind of barrier to colds and pathogenic infections. It naturally tones the body, gives strength, relieves nervous tension and strengthens the nervous system as a whole, due to which it is recommended in the postoperative period, after leaving the diet.
In cosmetology, the ability of flower honey to soften and deeply nourish skin cells is valued. Honey hair masks cleanse the hair well and lighten it gently. This product is also used to strengthen nails.
Harm
The maximum dose that can be consumed without harm to the body during the day is 150 g for an adult and three times less for children. It is strictly forbidden to dissolve honey in boiling water: when mixed with water, hotter than 60C, hydroxymethylfurfural is formed - a powerful carcinogen that can cause the appearance and development of malignant tumors. AT pure flower honey does not contain carcinogens (this is relevant only for an environmentally friendly product, without synthetic impurities and chemical additives).
The high content of carbohydrates in the composition of flower honey makes it a forbidden product for people suffering from diabetes. As part of high-quality natural flower honey, the content of saturated fats is zero. Honey is dangerous for allergy sufferers: it can cause severe suffocation, swelling of the upper respiratory tract, redness and eczema on the skin. Honey has the ability to increase body temperature and thereby increase perspiration. This influence puts a significant burden on the human heart, so the use of flower honey for people suffering from heart disease is recommended to be limited.
calories
The calorie content of flower honey may vary depending on the specific composition of the product. Honey of dark shades with a thick texture and rich aroma is traditionally more high-calorie.
Contraindications
In addition to individual intolerance and allergy to this product, contraindications to its use are:
- gastritis (chronic, progressive form);
- pancreatitis;
- diabetes mellitus (second degree);
- exudative diathesis;
- enterocolitis;
- acute rheumatism;
- scrofula;
- resection of the stomach (in the postoperative period);
- cholecystectomy.
It should not be introduced into the diet of young children until they reach the age of two. Nursing mothers can include flower honey in the menu, but in small doses, monitoring the reaction of the child.
It is important to remember that honey can provoke a strong flow of milk, so women with lactostasis or mastitis should use it carefully.
The nutritional value
Vitamins and minerals
Depending on the composition of flower honey, the content of one or another vitamin, microelement can change both upwards and downwards.
Flower honey is useful for the human body, if you use it in doses and choose a really high-quality product without synthetic additives, dyes and flavors. It is able to give a healthy appearance to the skin, nails and hair, due to which it is fully used in various areas of cosmetology. In medicine, this honey is valued for its unique ability to quickly and carefully restore strength and strengthen the immune system.
Known as the most fragrant of all varieties. But this is not its only advantage. The variety of plants in the composition of bee nectar also makes it one of the most useful. What properties this honey has and why you should use it daily - read our article.
Bees work on collecting all late spring (sometimes even earlier summer), so flower honey is also called spring or May honey. This variety is called polyfloral. This means that its composition can be varied - it all depends on the climate and the location of the apiary.
In Ukraine, May-June is the period of flowering of the following honey plants:
- Apple tree
- cherry
- raspberry
- strawberry
- clover
- dandelions
- cornflowers
- alfalfa
- sainfoin
- sweet clover
- geranium
- valerian
- mint and others
Which of these honey plants will get into your honey is difficult to predict. Trust the bees - they will not collect bad things. Little workers always choose plants that have a more fragrant and alluring smell. This is what makes this variety so aromatic.
Related Articles:
How to choose honey?
How to determine the quality of honey at home?
Characteristics
The main "trump card" of flower honey is its persistent and rich aroma. This variety is considered one of the most fragrant and will surely please the receptors of sophisticated gourmets.
The external characteristics of a natural product also depend on which plants are included in its composition. It will be yellow in color, but may have impurities of different shades - from greenish to brown.
The "selection" of honey plants also affects the period of crystallization of bee nectar. As a rule, it hardens a little longer than other varieties - pumped out in May, it will thicken only by the beginning of autumn. In this case, the structure will be fine-grained.
Calorie content and daily allowance
The flower variety is considered one of the lowest calorie, along with acacia and linden honey. 100 grams of a natural product can contain about 310 kcal. While in other varieties - up to 400 kcal.
Related Articles: Calorie content of honey: let's count together!
Accordingly, it can be assumed that in one teaspoon of flower honey there are about 25 kcal. At the same time, more than 60% of the composition of the product is easily digestible fructose and glucose, and sucrose - up to 10%. In this regard, the variety is indicated even for those who are on a diet, as well as pregnant women and diabetics.
The only contraindication to the use of the product is individual intolerance or, more simply, an allergy. It's pretty easy to define. If you have previously eaten honey, you are out of the risk zone. If you are consuming bee nectar for the first time, eat a little and take a break. If within a few hours you do not show allergy symptoms, then you can safely indulge yourself with a sweet dessert.
How much flower honey can you eat per day?
- children under 12 years old - 2-3 teaspoons
- adults - 1-2 tablespoons
- pregnant women - 1 tablespoon per day
- those who suffer from diabetes - 1-2 teaspoons
- those who are on a diet - 2 teaspoons a day
You can just eat bee nectar or dilute 1-2 teaspoons in a glass of warm water. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice. It is believed that this method is effective for losing weight, cleansing the body and improving digestion.
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Honey water - a universal recipe for health
Honey with lemon: how useful is such a taste contrast?
The composition of bee nectar is represented by a variety of vitamins (A, group B, C, D, K, E, PP), micro and macro elements (phosphorus, iron, manganese, iodine, etc.), amino acids, as well as other components necessary for the body. This composition is precisely the secret of the benefits of flower honey.
Beneficial features
Any kind of honey is good for humans. But the properties of flower honey are unique in nature. Natural bee product:
- strengthens the immune system; helps fight ARI
- improves expectoration when coughing; has an anti-inflammatory effect; helps with diseases of the respiratory system
- soothes; relieves insomnia; normalizes activity nervous system; relieves headaches
- improves appetite; energizes; restores the body after surgeries, severe injuries, etc.
- improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract; helps with gastritis, ulcers, colic, pain in the liver
- acts as a diuretic
- improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system; normalizes pressure; improves lipid metabolism; helps with anemia
- improves the functioning of the thyroid gland; normalizes the activity of the endocrine system
- helps fight malignant tumors in the early stages of cancer
- promotes tissue regeneration and healing of skin lesions
You can safely get rid of your first aid kit by replacing it all with a jar of flower honey! The benefits that it brings to the body replaces numerous synthetic agents.
A natural product can retain its healing properties for years. Naturally, provided that you have purchased high-quality honey. You can store it anywhere, the only condition is not to heat it above +40 degrees.
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