A natural remedy for the most disparate problems, already used by ancient civilizations - such as the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Greeks, the Romans - for its numerous healing properties and its versatility in cooking . We are talking about honey , the sweet and precious product of bees, obtained from the nectar of flowers, with a highly energetic action and rich in beneficial substances for our health.

Honey is in fact a true concentrate of well - being : it contains vitamins, enzymes and minerals (among which iron and calcium stand out) and simple sugars (in particular fructose), which make it an effective food supplement . It also has a remarkable sweetening power , so it is often suggested as an alternative to sugar, due to the lower caloric intake, due to the presence of fructose .

But the most interesting aspect of the nectar of the Gods is linked to its antibacterial and disinfectant capacity .
 Daniele Scala, beekeeper and owner of daDA Miele explains it well, small (in terms of size) but large (in terms of quality, care of the crops) Piedmontese production reality that we had the good fortune to know through a few days of in-depth study on the topic directly. on the field. givesDA Miele is the demonstration of how from a great passion products of excellence can be born, because everything is taken care of in the smallest details, from the choice of bees to the production process, with the essential objective of the quality and organoleptic conservation of the product (as well as property).

Daniele Scala clarifies : "The therapeutic virtues attributed to honey over time, handed down by popular medicine or reported by more or less specialized texts, are very numerous. However, even if some of these actions have been occasionally verified, there is no proper clinical experimentation in able to support each specific statement, because honey is a product that is never identical to itself, never stable ".

Antibacterial and disinfectant

he holder of givesDA Honey continues "On the other hand, an antibacterial activity has been verified both in honey as it is and in diluted solutions . Action due to concentration sugary and at acid pH. An enzyme present in honey in dilution conditions produces hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide), which gives antimicrobial activity to the water and honey solutions ". And here is briefly explained its many applications.

For skin wounds and burns

Among the applications of honey, not least the external one in case of wounds, burns, ulcers. The Unaapi - National Union of Italian Beekeeping Associations also highlights on the Association's website: "The antibacterial activity of honey also derives from factors dependent on the floral origin and the territory" and specifies: "Honey supplies glucose to keratinocytes, most common skin cells, which must migrate to the surface of a wound to reform skin tissue. The antioxidants contained in honey also help to neutralize free radicals, molecules that have a destructive effect on components of the wounded tissue, and also to inhibit their formation ".

The importance of fructose

Daniele Scala also underlines the importance of fructose: "Most of the recognized benefits can be traced back to a generic trophic action and to the emollient , mildly laxative , hepato-protecting and detoxifying effect of fructose. The percentage of fructose varies from honey to honey. ".

As an emollient for respiratory ailments

Among the most common uses, the one that concerns the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases , such as cough, bronchitis, cold and sinusitis. In this case, honeys with a particular expectorant and balsamic action can be used, such as that of eucalyptus, alpine herbs, fir. Linden honey is also indicated .

As an energizer

The millefiori , which is good for everyone, is perfect for fighting loss of appetite, fatigue, physical fatigue, because it is complete and definitely energizing. It is produced in fact from different types of flowers and for this reason it has numerous beneficial properties.

Attention to the quality of the product

A very important factor in the choice is always the quality, the first guarantee of beneficial effects on our health. First of all, we must make sure that it is a natural honey, which can be recognized by the smell that must be strong and pungent and by the flavor, rich in nuances and not just sweet. It is necessary to inquire about the type of processing, which makes the difference .

Avoid high temperatures, in processing and consumption

givesDA Miele, for example, follows a particular process, essential to obtain a creamy consistency and not to damage the beneficial effects of the product. Daniele Scala warns : "Honey is often subjected to high temperatures because it is easier to work more fluid masses and market a more liquid product. With a negative aspect: its properties are compromised in this way. The heating of honey leads to an increase the speed of the biochemical reactions that accompany its aging; the destruction of enzymes and the oxidation of fructose, responsible for its many virtues, is accelerated. We at daDA Miele, for example, use a processing technique where honey naturally crystallizes in the buckets where it is preserved (it is left for about 8 hours in a hot chamber at 25/26 degrees, worked with a honey cutter and homogenized for another 8 hours with a special mixer). In this way its characteristics and properties are maintained ".

Two tricks to exploit its properties

[rebelmouse-image 25508444 alt = "157205" original_size = "1500x1000" expand = 1] In addition to the type of processing, to protect the characteristics of the product, attention must also be paid to the consumption phase.
Daniele Scala emphasizes : "Cooking or using honey in boiling water alters its properties. When preparing a herbal tea it is good to let the water cool before sweetening."

Another interesting trick, in this case from a gastronomic point of view, concerns the particular ability of honey to absorb and release water to the surrounding environment. This is why, Daniele suggests, combined with fresh fruit it is able to create a delicious sauce on the bottom and instead we must avoid serving it together with cheeses , but serving it separately, creating this wonderful union immediately before eating.