The health benefits of honey - like all foods - depend on the quality of the honey. But in this case, the situation is even more extreme,
because the pollen that collects on the bees' legs, as they move from plant to plant, is only as healthful as the environment it is harvested from.
In addition, the processing of honey (high temperature treatments to keep it perennially in its liquid form) removes many of the phytonutrients found
in raw honey as it exists in the hive. Raw (unpasteurized) honey, for example, contains small amounts of the same resins found in propolis, a complex
mixture of resins that bees use to seal the hive for its antibacterial properties.
Many of the low cost commercial varieties of honeys found on shelves are "blends" of honeys from different countries. The way the beekeepers
look after the beehives, sometimes even feeding them sucrose substances to boost the production, also has a decisive impact on the quality.
Il Valentino honey range are single origin, from dedicated beekeepers in unspoiled landscapes and have been heated
at minimum temperature to preserve all the nutritional qualities.
Honey's health benefits are still under study and would deserve an entire dissertation. Honey typical nutrient content includes
Glucose, Fructose, Maltose; Vitamins B1, B2, C ,PP, B6, K, Natural; Enzimes: Invertasi, Amilase, Oxidase; Minerals
Calcium, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium and Copper.
- Honey contains 6 species of lactobacilli and 4 species of bifidobacteria which deliver protective and beneficial benefits to the digestive system.
- Honey is well known for its anti bacterial, anti viral and anti fungal action. Honey is known to be an effective cough suppressant while at the same time boosting immune system defence. Research conducted in several hospitals in found honey effective in decreasing the incidence of acute febrile infections in 64% of patients
- Honey reduces Cholesterol levels : in researches carried out by while sugar and artificial honey had either negative or very small beneficial effects, natural honey reduced total cholesterol 7%, triglycerides 2%, C-reactive protein 7%, homocysteine 6% and blood sugar 6%, and increased HDL (good) cholesterol 2%.
- Honey promotes better blood sugar control. Proper fueling of the liver is central to optimal glucose metabolism during sleep and exercise. Honey is the ideal liver fuel because it contains a nearly 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Fructose "unlocks" the enzyme from the liver cell's nucleus that is necessary for the incorporation of glucose into glycogen (the form in which sugar is stored in the liver and muscle cells.
- The wound healing properties are well known and still under study. Honey has been used topically as an antiseptic therapeutic agent for the treatment of ulcers, burns and wounds for centuries. Because honey is composed mainly of glucose and fructose, two sugars that strongly attract water, honey absorbs water in the wound, drying it out so that the growth of bacteria and fungi is inhibited (these microorganisms thrive in a moist environment). Secondly, raw honey contains an enzyme called glucose oxidase that, when combined with water, produces hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic
- Allergies : allergy to pollens are caused by "anaemophyl pollens" never by the pollens harvested by bees as they add to it their enzymatic
secretion that obliterates the allergenic charge. In fact, regularly consuming honey and pollen may help pollen allergic people to defuse their allergic
reaction.
Pollen, as we all know, is the gold dust produced by flowers to allow the "pollination" to happen. When bees harvest the flowers in blossom, some pollen remains stuck onto their little hairy paws. In order to obtain the pollen, the beekeepers place little grids at the entrance of the beehives, with a drawer underneath: when entering the beehive, the bees are forced to walk over the grid, dropping the pollen in the underneath drawer.
Pollen presents itself as a colourful mix of yellow and orange little balls, and, really, it is a fantastic and delicious nutrient for us. Suffice to say that pollen contains in between 35% to 45% of proteins and is widely used in Italy and France as energetic, tonifing and detoxifier.
Recommended :
- for vegetarians
- for stress and fatigue
- for athletes under training
- for pregnancy and periods of increased physical demand
- depressed moods and lack of energy
