Lavender honey: composition and application, useful properties and contraindications

Lavender is a well-known plant that has a beautiful blue-violet hue and a pleasant aroma. However, not everyone knows that honey is made from this culture. Gourmets appreciate it for its unique taste, rich composition and medicinal properties. At the same time, certain contraindications are also characteristic of lavender honey, which must be taken into account when using the product.

Description and differences

Lavender is a wonderful honey plant. From 1 hectare bees can collect up to 200 kilograms of honey. They collect honey nectar and pollen from mid-spring to late summer, as lavender blooms for only 40 days.

Lavender honey is obtained in two main ways:

• natural variety made from nectar collected from flowers in the fields;
• for self-made honey, take any flower composition and heat it with lavender petals - this gives the product a unique flavor.

A monofloral product that does not contain impurities of pollen from other plants is extremely rare. However, it is widely demanded among gourmets. It is also actively used in folk medicine. Honey that is mixed and heated with lavender petals has only fragrance. However, it is devoid of unique medicinal properties.

Natural lavender nectar is characterized by the following features:

• transparent dark color - it can be golden or reddish, and brightens after crystallization;
• soft and pleasant aroma - violet notes are felt in it;
• sweet, but not cloying taste - sometimes it has sour or s alty notes;
• viscous and viscous consistency after collection;
• sticky and dense structure after sugaring - small grains are felt in the mass;
• crystallization in 2-3 months.

Composition and calorie content

Lavender honey is 75% simple sugars. The amount of sucrose in the composition reaches 2%. A characteristic feature of the product is the predominance of glucose over fructose. It also contains the following ingredients:

• essential oils;
• enzymes - these include alpha- and beta-amylase, invertase, glucose oxidase;
• organic acids - the composition is dominated by malic and citric acids;
• flavonoids - these include, in particular, kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, isorhamnetin;
• B vitamins;
• carbohydrates - 80 grams of these substances are present in 100 grams of the product;
• minerals - in particular magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron, iodine;
• amino acids.

The product is considered high-calorie enough. The energy value of 100 grams of lavender honey is 320 kilocalories. There are 114 kilocalories in 1 tablespoon, and 42 in a teaspoon.

Useful properties

This variety of honey is characterized by quite a lot of useful properties. Thanks to its regular use, it is possible to achieve the following results:

• Improve cerebral circulation in people over 40.
• Increase stamina. This is especially true for people who play sports.
• Improve the condition of the nervous system. With the help of the substance, it is possible to prevent depression, cope with the consequences of stress, and neutralize the negative effects of hormonal changes.
• Improve sleep quality.
• Cope with spasms and convulsions.
• Get rid of headaches.
• Get a mild diuretic effect.
• Cleanse the body of bad cholesterol.
• Strengthen the vascular walls.
• Achieve an immunostimulatory effect. This helps to increase the body's resistance during acute respiratory viral infections.
• Cope with the symptoms of arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism. In this case, honey is used in the form of compresses.
• Deal with germs and fungus on the skin.
• Cope with the development of malignant cells. This effect is achieved due to the presence of gallic acid in the composition, which helps to suppress their reproduction.
• Speed up the healing of ulcers in the digestive organs.
• Improve Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

In folk medicine, lavender honey is often used for pathologies of the respiratory system and colds. Also, the composition is effective in diseases of the urinary tract, heart and blood vessels.

Delicate lavender scent has calming properties and evokes pleasant memories. In cosmetology, the product is used as a component of masks and lotions that help to cope with acne.

Where is lavender honey used

This bee product has a complex effect and brings great benefits to the body. At the same time, it can be applied in different areas of life.

Cosmetology

This variety is often used in cosmetology. Lavender honey can be added to honey baths, masks and scrubs. Its benefit lies in the saturation of the skin with biologically active substances. Thanks to this, it is possible to get rid of old wrinkles and avoid the formation of new ones.

Honey masks and scrubs have pronounced cleansing properties. Therefore, they can be safely used to eliminate acne, blackheads and rashes.

Traditional medicine

The product can be eaten with the flu. Thanks to this, it allows you to recover faster and avoid complications. Honey helps eliminate the symptoms of rhinitis and general weakness. Also, the substance effectively cleanses the body of s alts of heavy metals and radiation products.

In addition, lavender honey has strong diuretic properties and is an effective antipyretic. The composition promotes the healing of ulcerative defects in the digestive tract. In addition, it strengthens the immune system and relieves chronic fatigue. Thanks to the application of honey compresses to the affected joints, it is possible to get rid of arthritis, rheumatism and sciatica.

For women's he alth

Lavender honey benefits women. With moderate consumption of the product, the following results can be achieved:

• stabilize the menstrual cycle;
• normalize blood circulation;
• improve overall well-being;
• regain strength;
• reduce pain and stop inflammation.

Useful properties of honey allow you to use it as a natural medicinal and cosmetic composition.

Also, the composition is considered a unique dietary product that can be eaten in moderation every day.

For athletes

The systematic use of the substance helps to increase endurance. This characteristic is very relevant for athletes. With prolonged use, the product helps to reduce the dosage of the drugs used.

Cooking

Nectar has a soft texture and moderate sweetness. In addition, it has a delicate floral aroma. Because of this, the substance is often used in cooking. Sweet flour products are baked from it - muffins, pies, buns. Honey is also used to make marmalade, sweets, nougat, and gingerbread. You can eat soft cheeses with it.

Storage rules

Lavender honey is stored in a dark place. The optimum temperature is + 15-20 degrees. At the same time, honey does not need to be put in the refrigerator, because there it crystallizes faster. However, this will not affect its quality. The container with honey must be hermetically sealed. This will help preserve the flavor and benefits of the product.

If there is a need to melt candied honey, it is permissible to heat it up to a maximum of +40 degrees. The best option would be to use a water bath. Do not use the stove or microwave.

How to distinguish from a fake?

Unscrupulous sellers may pass off a flower product or other cheap varieties for natural lavender honey. Such a composition cannot be called a complete fake. It has excellent taste and pleasant aroma. In addition, the composition has useful properties characteristic of ordinary flower honey and lavender petals. At the same time, it contains fewer essential oils, and it should cost much less.

The main criterion that distinguishes natural lavender honey is that it does not smell like lavender! If the product has a pronounced smell of lavender, it is 100% fake!

Contraindications and harm

Allergy sufferers should use this product with great care. The main manifestations of adverse reactions include rash, swelling of the tongue, skin flushing. These symptoms usually occur 5-10 minutes after consumption.

Lavender honey is considered a very useful product. It contains many valuable components and has a pleasant taste. At the same time, the composition also has a number of contraindications, the main of which is an allergy to bee products.

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