Among the many varieties of bee products, acacia honey is considered one of the healthiest nectars given by hardworking insects. In addition to its wonderful taste and aroma, acacia honey is used in cooking, has health benefits and serves as an ingredient in cosmetics.
Description of acacia honey
Acacia trees grow in the middle lane, subtropical regions and on the Black Sea coast of our country. In a short flowering period (1.5 – 2 weeks), in dry weather, the bees have time to harvest a useful crop.
The difficulty of prey also lies in the fact that insects have not grown stronger after hibernation, so their working capacity is weak. The quantity and property of the pumped product depends on this. One hive “gives” only 7 – 10 kilograms of acacia honey.
Interesting fact!
The honey plant is called “robinia pseudo-katsevaya”. The biological name of the plant did not take root in Russia, therefore it is called White Acacia, and the tree-like kargan shrub is a source of useful yellow “honey from acacia”.
What does acacia honey look like?
Once harvested, acacia honey has the density of water. Its color depends on the type of melliferous plant, and can be translucent (white acacia), or lemon-yellow in color with a greenish tint, if obtained from a collection in the Karaganda region.
The beneficial properties of the acacia variety are characterized by long-term crystallization. Throughout the year (depending on impurities), honey retains transparency due to a reduced content of sucrose, and an increased content of fructose, which is responsible for the process of thickening the liquid. The higher its content, the slower crystallization occurs, which means that the useful properties remain longer.
Therefore, its cost is higher compared to other honey varieties. The acacia beekeeping product, after “sugaring”, takes on a white or light yellow color and a fine-grained structure, but even in this state it continues to retain active biological properties.
Composition and calorie content
According to its composition, acacia honey consists of 40% fructose and 35% glucose (a monosaccharide, an important source of nutrition for the human central nervous system). The product contains vitamins of groups A, B, C and D. The nectar is saturated with minerals, including iodine, iron, copper, manganese and chromium. In addition, the composition of the bee product includes oxalic, folic, malic and tartaric acids, maltose.
Protein components of honey (from 0.5 to 1.5%), – microscopic insoluble suspensions (colloidal type), when transfused, can cause foaming.
There are no fat in 100 grams of the treat, but it contains about 80% carbohydrates and 3% protein. The calorie content of honey is about 440 kcal.
Acacia honey flavor
The pleasant aroma and delicate taste of acacia nectar have a unique blend in terms of taste. The amino acid complex of ingredients gives the honey taste unique “notes”, it is not too sweet and has a slight bitterness.
N.B!
The treat can be used as a sweetener for drinks, for example, added to tea or coffee. But it is not a substitute for sugar, although it takes longer to be absorbed in the body due to the properties of fructose. Glucose and sucrose are the main source of calories for a sweet product, so you should not use it in large quantities if you want to lose excess weight.
Acacia honey useful properties
The composition of nectar, which belongs to monofloral representatives (collected from one type of plant), includes a large set of valuable substances and vitamins, therefore, the acacia product is useful for human health.
The antibacterial activity of a substance that contains compounds that produce and contribute to the gradual release of hydrogen peroxide (active acid destroys the cell walls of bacteria), one of the main healing qualities of nectar.
Important!
As a result of medical research, it was found that acacia honey is effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are resistant to antibiotic therapy.
The beneficial properties of nectar restore microflora and heal the intestinal mucosa.
Honey strengthens the cardiovascular system and nervous system, fights insomnia and improves sleep quality.
Acacia honey is good for colds. The property of nectar is to have antipyretic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. With angina, it is an effective antiseptic. It reduces sore throat and heals small wounds.
Acacia varieties have a low glycemic index (from the English glycemic (glycaemic) index or GI), an indicator that determines the change in blood sugar levels, and ranges from 40 to 45 units. In minimal doses, nectar (1 teaspoon on an empty stomach, and the second during the day) can be consumed by people with mild to moderate diabetes.
In the absence of allergic reactions to the components, “bee medicine” is recommended for young children, weakened people and pregnant women, due to its immunomodulatory and general strengthening properties.
The use of acacia honey
In folk medicine, all the constituent products of the vital activity of bees are in demand, but honey is especially useful for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory organs.
Honey for colds
The collection of acacia contains many amino acids that help get rid of acute respiratory infections and viral infections. Due to the minimum content of pollen in its composition, with an inflammation of the throat, the laryngeal mucosa is not irritated.
In the “piggy bank” of traditional medicine, there is a huge number of useful recipes for colds with the addition of acacia nectar. I take it separately, add it to teas or milk, mix it with other ingredients. For example, tea with honey and raspberries is a powerful antipyretic agent. It also increases sweating by flushing the infection out of the body with fluid.
Recipe “Honey and Milk”
Milk and honey are beneficial in fighting colds for removing phlegm, relieving sore throat, and relieving breathing.
- Heat 200 ml of milk to 69 – 70 ° С without boiling. Boiling water destroys nutrients;
- add one to two teaspoons of honey to the drink;
- stir the composition thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
The drink is recommended to be taken before going to bed for 30 – 40 minutes, lying in bed, as it has a relaxing and hypnotic effect.
“Honey, Milk and Garlic”
During the period of the acute form of the ODS disease with a high temperature, garlic is added to the recipe. The benefits of the root crop are in the high content of phytoncides (biologically active substances that destroy or suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria). In combination with nectar and dairy product, it enhances the antimicrobial effect.
- 5 – 7 cloves of medium-sized garlic are pounded in a mortar until gruel is formed;
- a tablespoon of honey is mixed with chopped garlic;
- milk (100 – 150 ml.), heated to a temperature of 40 – 60 degrees;
- all components are thoroughly mixed.
This composition is recommended for use 4 – 5 times a day after meals. If the drink is very bitter, or the patient has concomitant problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is washed down with a small amount of warm milk.
As part of the drug, garlic can be replaced with squeezed juice from half a lemon. Vitamin C contained in lemon has an antioxidant and restorative effect on the body.
Lowers blood sugar
The minimum content of sucrose against the background of a large amount of fructose endows the acacia product with the ability to lower the “harmful” sugar in the blood plasma. By its composition, sweet food in moderate doses is an ideal food for people with diabetes.
Another form of a problem with blood sugar problems is a sharp drop in blood sugar, which leads to a serious illness – hypoglycemia. To maintain the vital balance for normal blood formation, it is recommended to take it strictly under the supervision of a physician.
From pressure
Hypertension is, first of all, a disease of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. According to neuropathologists, taking a small amount of sweetness under the tongue irritates the taste buds, which excite the parts of the central nervous system responsible for pleasure. Then, already from the nerve centers, “instructions” are sent to the internal organs and muscles to relax. As a result, the person calms down and his blood pressure (blood pressure) decreases.
Nectar cannot be the only treatment for cerebral hypertension. In folk healers there are recipes that, on the basis of an acacia bee product in combination with drug therapy, reduce intracranial pressure.
“Honey and Dried Fruits”
Dried fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals. A mixture with nectar enhances their benefits to the body.
- Grind dried apples, dried apricots, prunes and walnuts in a mixer to a powdery state;
- Add the juice of one lemon;
- Mix the composition with 3 tablespoons of honey.
After the mixture has been infused for a day in a dark, cool place, it can be taken 3-4 times a day between meals.
From depression and stress
Depressive states and stresses caused by the accelerated pace of life, minimal physical exertion, hereditary factors cause apathy and loss of interest in life in a person. Seasonal factors (autumn – winter period) aggravate unpleasant symptoms.
At the initial stages of the disease, you can do without medication. This sweet acacia flower treat, which is made up of “fast” sugars, can help treat ailments and reduce anxiety.
They cheer up and soothe honey-based tinctures and herbal teas. For example, a drink brewed with ginseng or Chinese lemongrass quickly restores energy.
A charge of vivacity and a stable emotional state will be provided by simple water, half a teaspoon of natural royal jelly and a teaspoon of nectar, drunk 15 – 20 minutes before meals. The composition is drunk within a month, but the positive effect will be noticeable after 3 – 5 days of taking it.
To improve vision
The eyes are very sensitive organs. Honey therapy benefits from improving the health of the visual receptors thanks to the complex of vitamins, trace elements and amino acids, among which folic and pantothenic ones improve visual acuity.
The instillation relieves dryness and irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, has an anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effect. Acacia honey in the form of diluted drops prevents the development of glaucoma, leading to loss of vision.
Applications based on a bee product for problems in ophthalmology such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, dry mucous membranes as a result of working at a computer (prolonged stress).
Important!
For eye therapy, it is necessary to adhere to the strict indications of a specialist, and make high demands on the quality of the “medication”.
First, honey must be fresh.
Secondly, do not contain candied inclusions,
Thirdly, the ophthalmologist should decide on what liquid to prepare the drops.
The recipe for “honey water” will help prevent inflammation, normalize eye pressure, eliminate dryness and burning sensation in the eyes.
Pour a teaspoon of nectar into a glass of filtered water;
boil the composition for two to three minutes;
cool the liquid to room temperature and apply to the eyes in the form of lotions. You can use sterile cotton pads for this.
The compress can be kept on the eyelids for about 20 minutes. It is recommended to repeat the procedure 2 times a day.
For the immune system
Acacia bee product is a powerful immunomodulator. It compensates for the deficiency of vitamins and microelements that strengthen the body during the “cold season”, and facilitates recovery during seasonal illness.
Benefits for the stomach
The use of folk recipes for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract give positive results in combination with medicines. Doctors – gastroenterologists note that the wound-healing property of the acacia product promotes scarring of ulcers, reduces pain in the abdominal part of the body, and enzymes and carotene help in good digestibility of food.
For the liver
The liver performs a complex and useful function of cleansing the body of toxins and toxins, especially on the post-holiday days, when the menu consists of “heavy” foods and alcohol.
Nectar restores the tissues of an organ affected by cirrhosis or fatty hepatosis. Only doctors – gastroenterologists can prescribe auxiliary therapy.
Acacia honey in home cosmetology
Recently, women have preferred to take care of themselves at home. This saves time, and organic products can be stocked up in specialized stores or a pharmacy.
Skin Benefits
In cosmetology, nectar from “Robinia pseudoakatseva” is a part of home and factory medical and cosmetic products: creams, masks, lotions. The preparations have a pronounced moisturizing effect, smooth out wrinkles and help prevent the appearance of new facial defects.
An important function of cosmetics is nutrition and antiseptic. Honey penetrates deeply into the skin pores and saturates the dermis with useful substances, and the wound-healing properties of the product relieve irritation and eliminate inflammation.
Masks for face
It is easy to make healthy face masks from simple products at home.
Among the face skin care products, according to women, masks in a combination of a honey product and ingredients that match the skin type are effective. You can choose the option you need on the Internet. On cosmetology sites, dozens of anti-aging recipes based on acacia honey are presented.
Hair masks
Regular masks made from acacia bee products accelerate hair growth, reduce hair loss and breakage. Hair that is damaged by frequent color changes and chemical perms lends itself well to restoration.
If you mix a slightly melted tablespoon of honey and add a raw egg, mix the composition thoroughly, apply on the head and cover the hairline with a plastic bag, and then rinse with warm water, as a result, the hair will look like after a visit to a beauty salon.
Body scrubs
Experiments with the production of skin peels based on acacia ingredients will gently and deeply cleanse the pores on the skin of the body. Useful properties of the scrub will be added by sea salt or coarsely ground coffee.
In order not to dry out the skin, dermatologists recommend performing this procedure no more than twice a week, and then lubricate the body with a nourishing cream.
The use of acacia honey in cooking
Acacia honey is actively used by housewives for baking pastries, cakes and pies. The wonderful aroma of nectar, useful property and its specific taste can turn flat cakes made from simple dough into a culinary masterpiece.
For women who are prone to overweight, the ingredient is a great solution to indulge in culinary delights and not gain extra pounds. There are no fats in the nectar, a small amount of protein, and the bulk is carbohydrates.
Противопоказания
Among the various varieties of honey, acacia honey is considered hypoallergenic, low in calories and easily absorbed by the body. You can list many useful this bee product, but there are a number of people to whom it is contraindicated:
- Patients suffering from severe diabetes mellitus.
- People who are prone to allergic reactions to honey or some of its ingredients.
- Infants.
With caution and in small doses, you can start feeding babies with acacia honey from the age of two years. Large amounts of honey can damage tooth enamel due to the sucrose content and harm the child instead of being beneficial.
How to distinguish real acacia honey
Nutritional value, useful property and high cost of acacia nectar pushes unscrupulous beekeepers to fake the product. They may offer expired goods or “pure” acacia honey mixed with other types.
The article has already described how a natural acacia product should look and smell, but an elementary chemical experiment will give a hundred percent guarantee of quality: its blue color will tell about thickeners or additives in nectar, if 2 – 3 drops of iodine are added to the composition.
How to store acacia honey
Competent storage of acacia honey is the key to preserving useful substances in the product. Therefore, it must be kept in a hermetically sealed glass container to avoid the appearance of water on its surface, away from direct sunlight. To preserve the liquid consistency of honey, the optimal air temperature is from +15 to + 21 ° C. If you do not observe the storage temperature is higher or lower, the beneficial properties of acacia honey will decrease.
Bon appetit!
