Sunflower honey refers to those products that always "speak for themselves." Unlike common varieties, this variety manages to surprise everyone. First of all, it is a bright and unforgettable aroma, as well as a high ability to favorably influence the general condition of the body. However, most of us, having seen honey from a sunflower in the store, do not always make a choice in his favor, since to this day only experienced connoisseurs eat them often. That is why, in this article, we decided to introduce the domestic reader to this product as close as possible, and also to determine its main differences from other varieties.
How to recognize sunflower honey
Sunflower-based bee honey is a rather rare product on our table, but every year it becomes more and more popular with slow steps. However, with the purchase of many of us can not distinguish it from other varieties. Therefore, in order not to be mistaken, it is necessary to know the main features of the product. 
Did you know? The history of honey has more than one century; they were engaged in collecting it back in the Stone Age, that is, about 15 thousand years ago. This is evidenced by the cave paintings found in the Aran Cave, which is located in the suburbs of Valencia.
- Origin: The honey plant is a sunflower, the traditional regions of collection are: Ukraine, Russia, Spain, Italy, France, the USA, Bulgaria.
- Colour: light amber, bright yellow or golden, sometimes with a greenish tint.
- Aroma: weak, little pronounced, decreases during crystallization. It often resembles fresh hay, ripe apricots, unripe tomatoes, or even deep-fried potatoes.
- Taste: very pleasant, slightly tart.
- Collection period: depending on the region, from July until the end of August.
- Crystallization time: short, the product is in a liquid state for up to 20 days (about 7 on average), and sometimes crystallizes directly in the comb.
Read also about the cultivation and varieties of sunflower.
Calorie and chemical composition
Like other varieties, honey from sunflower is rich in a whole complex of various chemical elements that are especially useful for our body. According to various estimates, their number is over 300, but in order not to waste time in vain, we list the most important compounds. 
So, in the composition of this product was found:
- vitamins: ascorbic acid, all B vitamins, vitamin E, K;
- micro and macronutrients: potassium, iodine, cuprum, mangan, sodium, magnesium, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, cobalt and aluminum;
- enzymes - enzymes: invertase, catalase, phosphatase and diastasis;
- amino acids: linoleic, stearic, palmitic, oleic, arachidic, linocerinic;
- betaine;
- solanthic acid;
- β-carotene.
Did you know? Honey is able to instantly remove alcohol toxins from the body, so to improve your well-being after alcohol poisoning you should eat only a few spoons of this sweetness.
100 g of product contains:
- 0 g fat;
- 1 g of proteins;
- 79 g of carbohydrates;
- 19 g of water;
- 1 g of minerals and vitamins;
- 320 kcal.
What is useful sunflower honey
It is no secret that such a product as honey is quite useful both for general human health and for the normalization of the activity of individual organs and systems. Sunflower, however, its variety has a special beneficial effect on various metabolic processes and their intensity. Let's delve into this question more thoroughly.
Find out what are useful and who are not recommended sunflower seeds.
The product has a powerful positive effect on:
- Immunity: daily use of it helps to strengthen the overall defenses of the body (especially against viral diseases), and also improves tone, invigorates, increases endurance and improves overall well-being.
- Cardiovascular system: normal pressure and heart activity, vascular walls strengthen. In addition, with prolonged use, there is an improvement in the blood composition, an increase in the level of hemoglobin and the normalization of the heart muscle. In the end, it helps prevent heart attacks and strokes.
- Gastrointestinal tract and liver: high-quality honey contributes to the intensification of the robots of the stomach and intestines. As a result, appetite and metabolism are improved, colic in the intestines is eliminated and the liver is normalized. The final result improves the overall course of the digestive process and its effectiveness, improves the filtration capacity of the liver. Also, the substance has an enveloping property, so its daily use has a beneficial effect on the state of the mucous membranes.
- Kidneys and urinogenital system: thanks to the daily use of sunflower honey, it is possible to completely restore the healthy functioning of the excretory system. The successful combination of many useful substances helps to restore tissues and cells of organs in a short period of time. In addition, all sorts of aqueous solutions of the product help reduce kidney spasms, eliminate pain and gently remove salt stones from the organ in urolithiasis.
- Nervous system: there is a general calming effect on the body, improves mood. As a result, in just a few days it is possible to overcome general emotional depression, as well as depressive states.
- Skin: due to the huge amount of minerals and vitamins in its composition, this product has a beneficial effect on the skin as a wound-healing and anti-inflammatory agent. And its inclusion in a variety of masks and scrubs makes it possible to clean the skin, get rid of acne and give youth and freshness appearance.
Use in traditional medicine: recipes
It is not surprising that such a complex of all kinds of nutrients, which is in the composition of sunflower honey, and its beneficial effect on the body, was noticed by man in antiquity. That is why from this product for many centuries prepared a lot of various medicines from many ailments. In modern times, such drugs do not lose their relevance, as they are one of the few ways to safely support health in difficult times. Next, we consider the most effective ones.
Important! The maximum daily rate of sunflower honey is no more than 100-150 g, its excess threatens with serious disorders of the body.
With anemia
With a general deterioration of the cardiovascular system, as well as a decrease in hemoglobin and other blood components, this beekeeping product should be used in its pure form. To achieve a positive effect, it must be eaten daily (about 100 g), and the duration of the course should be at least one month. Each portion should be drunk plentifully with sour milk or kefir. For one course of treatment, you must consume at least 3 kg of honey. 
In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Honey water consisting of 2 teaspoons of the substance and 300 ml of water is especially effective for eliminating various gastrointestinal ailments. Water can be replaced by apple juice. Use this liquid 30 minutes before meals, 2-3 times a day for a month. The maximum amount of such a drug per day should not exceed more than 100 ml.
Did you know? In optimal conditions, honey is able to survive for more than one year. During the excavation of Tutankhamen’s tomb by Howard Carter in 1922, several amphorae were found with this beekeeping product. To the surprise of scientists, its quality practically did not differ from fresh.
With dental diseases
With stomatitis and periodontal disease, sunflower honey makes it possible to cope with the exacerbation of these pathologies in just a few days, since it has pronounced antibacterial and healing properties. To this end, disinfectant solutions consisting of 300 ml of cold water and half a teaspoon of honey are prepared from the product. Rinse the oral cavity with a tool daily, after each tooth brushing procedure. In just 2-3 weeks, it is possible to almost completely bring the oral cavity to a healthy state. 
With hemorrhoids
When hemorrhoids honey has anti-inflammatory and healing effects. For this purpose, special enemas are used for healing purposes, which are prepared on the basis of 300 ml of warm water and 2 teaspoons of the product. After 5-7 days of daily use, this procedure can significantly ease the course of the disease.
Also from the bee product prepare special lotions, consisting of 300 ml of water and 2 teaspoons of honey. The gauze impregnated with the solution is kept on the problem zone for about 20-30 minutes. Such procedures can relieve irritation and quite effectively reduce pain.
Important! Cooking all kinds of preparations from honey at a temperature above + 40 ° C is prohibited, since high temperatures completely destroy all of its positive qualities, turning it into ordinary sugar syrup.
From cracked heels
An antiseptic ointment is prepared from a bee product as a wound healing agent. The drug consists of a mixture of 80 g of honey, 20 g of fat and 3 g of powder "Xeroform". Prepared ointment carefully lubricate the problem area, and then impose a gauze bandage on top. It is best to carry out the procedure at night, once every 2-3 days. After 2-3 weeks of using the product, the desired result is achieved, the effect of which lasts for a long time.
How to choose and distinguish real honey from a fake
Often, purchasing high-quality honey is a rather problematic task, and this issue is especially acute for inexperienced buyers, since their buying process becomes a real problem. Unfortunately, many sellers in the market offer low-quality or falsified product, so its choice should be approached with extreme caution.
We advise you to read about the differences and curative properties of different types of honey: acacia, esparcetius, clover, phacelia, chernoklenovogo, rapeseed, boiling, buckwheat, linden, chestnut, cotton, dehydrated, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycomb, mayonnaise, wild, maternal, coriander, hawthorn, honeycombs, honeycombs, mastic
Quality sunflower honey is characterized following features:
- The consistency of the liquid should be viscous, not very liquid, but not too thick. This product should drain from the spoon, forming a hill. They are not afraid of candied syrup, as this process can occur even in comb.
- Real honey smells of hay, apricot, and sometimes it can even give out fried potatoes.
- The smell is weak and not pronounced.
- The color is always bright and golden, sometimes with a greenish tint.
Did you know? In ancient times, honey was often used as a preservative. The ancient Egyptians used it as one of the main components of the balm for the mummification of the pharaohs.
You can check the authenticity of honey at home, with the help of everything several tests:
- dip a piece of bread into the liquid for 10-15 minutes, if it is softened, a fake is in front of you (in this honey, the bread hardens);
- put the substance on a piece of paper - a wet halo around the honey stain will be a sign of a diluted product in water;
- dissolve a teaspoon of honey in a glass of water, because a quality product always dissolves evenly in water;
- sprinkle the liquid with a small amount of starch, the powder will remain unchanged on the quality product, and in the case of counterfeit there will be an active chemical reaction, often with a change in the color of the components.
Artificial honey without bees can be prepared at home with the help of sugar and dandelions, pumpkin, watermelon, pine cones.
Storage conditions
Like any other product, honey has its own rules for savings, ensuring the safety of all its positive qualities for a fairly long period of time.
- The optimal temperature for storage is considered to be ranges from 0 to +20 ° С, but it is best to choose average values - within +10 ° С;
- storing the product in bright sunlight is prohibited, since ultraviolet destroys all its positive qualities, so it is best to choose a dark place;
- honey perfectly absorbs atmospheric moisture, which degrades its quality, so you should take care that it is stored in conditions of the lowest humidity;
- it is strictly forbidden to store bee products near excessively fragrant food, as they are able to accumulate environmental smells;
- dishes for storage should beat glass, with a tight-fitting lid, but you can also use enameled or porcelain containers.
Read also about the use of beekeeping products in folk medicine: propolis, milk with propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, wax, pollen, pollen, zabrus, homogenate.
Contraindications and harm
The composition of honey is quite a large number of all kinds of sugars, as well as highly active potent compounds, so its consumption has several limitations.
The main ones are:
- diabetes;
- overweight;
- weak immunity;
- age up to 1 year;
- chronic allergic diseases;
- individual intolerance to individual components of the product.
Overloading the body with such a seemingly safe product can adversely affect the general condition of the body. First of all, these are serious allergic manifestations on the body: itching, rash, redness and so on. In addition, we can not exclude the negative impact on the general course of chronic diseases, causing their exacerbation or rapid progression.Important! Sunflower honey has a huge amount of pollen, so to avoid severe allergies, apply a few drops of it on your wrist for 20-30 minutes. In the case of redness, itching or rash on the skin, the use of products based on bee product is strictly prohibited.
Sunflower honey is an extremely tasty and surprisingly useful sweetness for the body. Despite its low popularity among honey lovers, its role is indispensable for humans. That is why every year interest in it increases significantly. However, the product should be consumed with high caution, as it is a strong allergen, which in excessive quantities can have a very negative impact on the general state of health.
