May honey: what it should be, useful properties and contraindications

With the advent of spring, flora and fauna wake up, and bees are among them. As soon as the first honey plants bloom, hungry, hardworking insects begin to actively collect nectar and pollen, which by the beginning of summer turn into tasty and he althy May honey, especially valuable. What an early bee product looks like and how it is useful, we will look into the details further.

What May honey should be like

The term for collecting spring nectar directly depends on the weather and climatic features of the region where the bees are kept. If in the southern latitudes the active flowering of honey plants begins in mid-April, then in areas with a temperate and northern climate this period falls on the middle or end of May.

Spring product of beekeeping consists of nectar and pollen of many plants, therefore it is considered polyfloral. At this time, fruit trees and shrubs, bird cherry, primroses, acacia, forest berry plants, fragrant herbs, as well as deciduous trees, from which insects collect pollen, bloom.

The crystallization of such a product directly depends on the honey plants, which are most often found in the nectar collection region, and the storage conditions for the delicacy pumped out of the hives. If honey contains a large amount of glucose, the product candied longer. In liquid form, such a delicacy can remain for up to 7-9 months. If fructose predominates, the nectar crystallization process is fast, taking about 2 months.

In order to accurately determine the quality of a healing product, you need to familiarize yourself with the external description of the May sweet:

• consistency of spring nectar is plastic, but rather liquid;
• The aroma and smell of fresh honey is very weak, with floral, fruity and menthol notes, intensifies after crystallization;
• tastes like a sweet spring delicacy, with a pleasant aftertaste of fruits and herbs;
• The color of May bee honey differs depending on the plant varieties prevailing in the area, it is transparent, yellow, amber or golden.

Important! If there are deciduous or coniferous trees in the place where the nectar is collected, the delicacy may acquire a greenish tint, which appears if their pollen gets into the honey.

Composition and calorie content of the product

Spring bee product is valued for its unique composition, which includes more than 300 compounds and various elements:

• carbohydrates are presented as fructose, glucose, sucrose and other he althy sugars;
• the composition of macro- and microelements is comparable to the periodic table, includes all the mineral compounds necessary for the life of the human body;
• full line of vitamin B, ascorbic and nicotinic acids, vitamins K and E;
• essential oils, organic and amino acids;
• aromatic and biologically active substances;
• water, tannins.

The calorie content of the delicacy varies depending on its condition. Fresh, liquid nectar contains up to 310 energy units, and candied honey - up to 330 kcal per 100 g of product.

Important! In a liquid state, May sweetness is used in the preparation of a dietary diet and during the period of getting rid of excess weight.

Useful properties

The healing qualities of the spring bee product have been known since ancient times. To this day, May nectar is used to prevent and treat many diseases.

Main healing properties of bee gift:

• has a tonic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action;
• promotes the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system, reduces the risk of thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes;
• has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive system and the genitourinary system;
• removes harmful and toxic accumulations from the body;
• takes part in metabolic processes;
• improves blood counts;
• has a regenerative property;
• has a beneficial effect on the hormonal background of the female and male organisms;
• helps improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails, is used to make anti-aging and nourishing cosmetics.

Important! May natural honey helps with colds and viral infections of the body, promotes rapid recovery and recovery from illness.

Application Features

Beloved by many people, a healing delicacy has found its application in traditional and folk medicine, cosmetology and cooking.

Due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in folk medicine, bee gift is used in the following cases:

• to eliminate headaches;
• during the period of colds and viral diseases, to lower the temperature and alleviate the patient's condition;
• as a sedative for severe disorders of the nervous system, helps to get rid of depression and insomnia;
• in the complex treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system;
• for chronic respiratory diseases.

Also, the delicacy has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, and in case of loss of appetite, it helps to improve it. In cosmetology, bee products are used to make nourishing and rejuvenating masks, balms and scrubs.

May nectar is actively used in cooking, for preparing various meat, fish, vegetable dishes and sauces. The delicacy is also added to pastries, desserts, fruit salads and drinks.

Advice! If spring nectar is added to milk porridge or cottage cheese, then the dish becomes not only tastier, but also much he althier.

Contraindications and harm

In some cases, the bee gift has some restrictions and contraindications in use. With great care, the product is introduced into the diet during exacerbation of chronic ailments of the digestive system, urolithiasis and high blood sugar.

The use of spring nectar is not recommended for people prone to allergic reactions to pollen, children under 3 years old, pregnant and lactating women.

Important! Before using a bee product, it is necessary to take into account the individual intolerance of individual components of the natural gift.

How to distinguish from a fake

You can distinguish a natural delicacy from a counterfeit by the following features:

1. Natural spring nectar should be clear, light yellow, golden or amber in color, free of sediment, flakes and other impurities uncharacteristic of honey.
2. May honey has a faint floral odor and an aroma that intensifies when candied. The fake sweet has no specific honey smell at all.
3. The consistency of a real bee gift is viscous, viscous. Fake honey is thinner and spreads quickly.

To test the quality of May honey at home, add a teaspoon of nectar to a glass of cold water and stir thoroughly. Natural, natural honey is completely soluble in water. If sediment has formed on the bottom or flakes are floating, then the product is fake.

Advice! The presence of starch or flour in the nectar is determined by a drop of ordinary iodine. If the treat turns blue, then it contains excess impurities.

Storage rules

Keep a valuable natural gift in glass, porcelain or ceramic opaque containers. So that the nectar does not begin to sugar ahead of time, it is placed in a cool, dark, well-ventilated room.

Under the right conditions, the shelf life of May bee honey is very long, without loss of healing and nutritional properties.

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