Since ancient times, many peoples have used honey in their diets and as a therapeutic agent. Appreciated it primarily for its unique taste and aroma. This delicacy gave energy, nourished and significantly increased the body's resistance to diseases. Surprisingly, the honey-cinnamon drink contributed to weight loss. Antibacterial properties were discovered a little later, which only increased the use of honey. He became the basis of many tinctures, desserts, an indispensable component in cosmetology and medicine. These nectars deserve considerable attention due to their taste and useful properties, and especially beaten, mead, and other honey drinks. Recipes for their preparation exist in many interpretations, some of them are passed down from generation to generation.
The chemical composition of honey
Honey is not only a valuable food product, but also an unusually useful therapeutic agent. The uniqueness of the composition of this biologically active delicacy sets it apart from many other natural products. About 77% of honey is carbohydrates (glucose, fructose). It is due to the fact that the human body easily assimilates them, you can get a large amount of energy. Also, glucose is necessary for the quality of the nervous system and good mental activity. Fructose is important to ensure the normal functioning of the heart and heart muscle. In addition, honey includes water, a huge amount (about 27) of macro- and microelements: magnesium, iodine, manganese, iron, silver, calcium, etc. Their content is not very high (about 0.5%), but and our body does not need these substances in huge quantities. There are also enzymes that accelerate the metabolism: catalase, invertase, and also the diastasis produced by the glands of bees. It is rich in honey and vitamins (groups B, C, PP), folic, malic, oxalic and other acids. All these substances are necessary to maintain the body in good shape and ensure its vital functions and processes.
Types of honey
There are many varieties of honey , they all differ in their composition and properties. First of all, they distinguish flower (collected from nectar of plants) and mortar (bees in the absence of nectar use juice that is secreted from leaves and stems). There are also monofler and polyfler varieties, that is, collected from one plant species or several, respectively. Polyfler types of honey are considered more valuable, since their healing properties are more pronounced. One of the best varieties of honey are linden, acacia, buckwheat, and maple. Wild meadow honey is a good remedy in the fight against pain and inflammation. Hemostatic properties are inherent in the field species. Padova is considered second-rate, but it has a lot of minerals and is the best source of potassium.
The healing properties of honey products
How much honey exists, as much is known about its healing properties. This product has been the subject of many books and treatises in ancient Egypt, China, India, and Rome. It was used not only as a valuable food product, but also for external use. Ointments based on honey treated wounds, ulcers, various skin diseases. Well-known practices were inhalations. They were prescribed for bronchitis, asthma, diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract. However, then this method of treatment somewhat lost its popularity due to the frequent cases of allergies. When taking honey, the body's resistance to diseases increases, since it is an immunostimulant. With anemia, diseases of the endocrine system, regular use of this product is recommended for two months. Honey is also known for its antimicrobial and anti-infectious properties. However, it is important to remember about its high calorie content - about 335 Kcal per 100 g. Although the benefits of honey are much greater than regular sugar, overweight people with diabetes should use it with caution.
Rules for storing honey
Honey is a product whose shelf life is quite long. This is due to the presence in the composition of substances that have an antimicrobial effect. This delicacy may not deteriorate for more than one year, but over time, the number of useful elements will decrease. Such a phenomenon as the sugar content of honey does not reduce its healing properties, it is a natural process that occurs due to the presence of a large amount of glucose. It testifies to the maturity and value of the product, you can eat without restrictions.
The effect of ultraviolet rays is detrimental to honey, it loses its healing properties, so as a place to store it is better to choose where the sun's rays do not reach. High humidity is also not desirable, as this product has the ability to absorb it. It is important to consider that honey perfectly absorbs odors. That is why it must be stored in a tightly closed vessel, preferably a glass (although it is possible to store honey in wooden barrels of linden, poplar, alder). Dishes made of iron and aluminum are not categorically suitable - poisonous substances may be released upon contact.
How to recognize a fake
Because of its popularity, honey often becomes a product that can be falsified. Unscrupulous manufacturers add a lot of unnecessary components to the composition: flour, starch, chalk. Therefore, it is best to buy this product from trusted beekeepers who value their customers and reputation. The lack of a crystallization process should also alert. You can find out if starch is in the composition by adding a few drops of iodine. Blue color will indicate the presence of impurities. You can also conduct a small experiment. Dissolve a spoonful of honey in a glass of water. If a precipitate occurs, it means that foreign substances are present in the product.
Honey drinks
In ancient times, in Russia, honey was one of the most popular products. He was present in almost every house, not only as an independent dish, but also as the basis for various tinctures. They were prepared with or without alcohol. Each family had their own honey drinks and recipes for their preparation. When cooking, various spices, ginger root, lemon were added, which further enhanced the beneficial properties. A hot honey drink was simply indispensable in the cold season. Often used honey, which has been infused for at least 10 years.
Traditional drink of Ancient Russia
One of the most popular recipes for making honey infusion was this: honey was mixed with berry juice, then it all went to a warm place for fermentation. From time to time, the drink should be mixed. You could add hops for a bigger effect. The exposure time was quite long - about 15 years. After all, the longer the drink is infused, the more useful and tastier it will turn out. Later they began to use moonshine and vodka to make tinctures, and the time required for preparation was reduced to a few days. This, of course, affected the taste, but huge demand required replenishment. Classic honey was a festive drink, it was not consumed every day.
Beaten
Another popular honey-based drink is Sbiten. It was served at many festivals, fairs, in the cold state mainly in the summer, but a hot drink was consumed in the winter for warming. There are many options for its preparation, among them both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. The main ingredients are honey, water, spices and spices. They also cooked sbiten with the addition of herbs such as chamomile, mint, and thyme. Thanks to this, you can adjust the desired effect of the drink. Yeast and hops were added to the alcohol version. In general, due to its composition, sbiten was used for colds, to improve blood circulation and digestion. Well, and, of course, just as a preventative.
Mead at home
The well-known classic honey alcoholic drink - mead. Although many believe that this is ordinary vodka with the addition of the main beekeeping product, but this is far from the case. In a classic recipe, honey is mixed with water for about 1 to 10. Then it is brought to a boil and boiled for about 10 minutes. Do not forget to remove the foam. Yeast is added to the chilled mixture. All this is cleaned for a month. After this time, yeast is added again, and the drink is sent to ferment for 30 days. Then it is bottled. It must be consumed within six months. To reduce the fermentation time,
hop cones can be added
. You can also cook a more useful option, in which boiling is absent. First you need to dissolve honey in cold boiled water. To activate fermentation, approximately 50 grams of raisins are added. The mixture is sent to a warm place for several days, then filtered, bottled in a container. Such an infusion should roam for 4 months, and only after that it can be consumed.
Honey Wine
Experienced winemakers have long appreciated the taste of honey wine. For its preparation, flower honey is used, as it is more fragrant. To make the drink not too sweet, add apple juice. Combinations of honey with gooseberries, raspberries, cherries are very tasty. Different recipes differ in the ratio of water to the main component. The most healthy wines are cold-made. Water is diluted with fruit juice, then honey is added and stirred until it is completely dissolved. To improve this process, water can be slightly heated. Honey-fruit wines stand for at least six months, and only then can they be consumed. The longer the drink rests, the higher its strength. An insignificant drawback of such wines is their opacity, therefore they need clarification.
Honey Slimming Drink
Since honey accelerates metabolic processes in the body, it is also used to give the figure a slim fit. Many nutritionists agree that this high-calorie ingredient helps reduce fat cells. In a duet with lemon, its positive effect only intensifies. A lemon honey drink is best consumed on an empty stomach in the morning and before bedtime. It is prepared simply: juice from half a citrus and a couple of spoons of honey is added to a glass of water. Such a honey drink for weight loss contributes to the activation of metabolic processes and the removal of toxins.
You can also arrange fasting days based on these products. Vegetables, fruits, several receptions of such lemonade will help to get rid of 2 kg per day. Ginger-honey drink has similar properties. Grate about 1 cm of ginger root, pour hot water on it and let it brew. Then strain, add honey (1.5 teaspoons) and lemon juice. This tool will not only give energy, but also reduce appetite.
Tandem "Cinnamon and Honey"
Honey-cinnamon slimming drink is also easy to prepare. 0.5 teaspoon of cinnamon should be filled with a glass of boiling water (you can use green tea). This mixture will be insisted for about half an hour. Then 1 teaspoon of honey is added. It is recommended to do these manipulations in the evening, so there will be a ready-made infusion for taking before bedtime and in the morning.
Cinnamon is an excellent way to regulate sugar levels and also helps lower cholesterol. A honey-cinnamon slimming drink is truly capable of working wonders. You can drink it for quite a long time, for several months. As additional flavoring elements, you can use ginger and lemon. Strong immunity and protection against colds are simply guaranteed when taking such a remedy. Thus, the honey-cinnamon drink reviews collects only positive ones.
Contraindications
People prone to allergic reactions should use beekeeping products quite carefully. It is worth remembering that honey is one of the strongest allergens. The reason for this is that it contains a small amount of pollen from plants. A reaction may occur to a particular type of honey. A lot of negative symptoms occur when using a falsified product of low quality. People with diabetes should consult a doctor and eat this delicacy in small doses. Small children are recommended to introduce this product gradually, starting with a microdose. Also, honey should not be used for certain liver diseases. Honey drinks have the same contraindications as a pure product.