CLOVER HONEY, NUTRITION AND BENEFITS
Clover honey is popular due to its sweet, slightly floral taste.
Unlike other common sweeteners like table sugar, it is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can benefit your health.
In this article, I will review the uses, nutrition, and health benefits of clover honey.
Origin and uses
Clover honey is a thick, sweet syrup made by bees that collect nectar from clover plants. It has mild flavour and light in colour, which makes it a popular choice among honey enthusiasts.
Clover plants are extremely common, weather-resistant, and a preferable nectar source for honey bees, that is why clover honey is widely available.
Clover honey possesses a more complex flavour than the regular table sugar, and many people use it to sweeten tea, coffee, and desserts.
Also, due to the growing interest in healthier alternatives to sugar, food manufacturers are offering more foods and beverages sweetened with honey.
Clover honey is most commonly utilised in cold and cough medications and home remedies due to its unique health-enhancing properties, including its antibacterial qualities and soothing effect on a sore throat.
Clover Honey Nutrition
Clover honey is rich in sugar but also provides some nutrients.
One tablespoon (21 grams) of clover honey contains:
Calories: 60 calories
Protein: grams 0
Fat: 0 grams
Carbohydrates: 17 grams
This honey mainly contains carbohydrates in natural sugar form. However, it also contains different vitamins and minerals in small amounts, such as magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc.
Additionally, it is rich in antioxidant compounds that can benefit your health.
Potential benefits of clover honey
Clover honey offers several potential health benefits. The health benefits of clover honey include the ability to reduce chronic diseases, protect the immune system, control blood pressure, and regulate diabetes.
Antiviral and Antibacterial Potential
Clover and other types of honey contain many antiviral and antibacterial properties.
In a study that compared the antibacterial capacity of 16 different types of honey, the clover variety had the strongest antibacterial action against harmful Staphylococcus aureus cells, equivalent to a 2.2 mg dose of the antibiotic kanamycin.
Furthermore, it is an effective antibacterial dressing for wounds, such as burns and scratches, as bacteria cannot develop resistance to honey.
In a 3-month study in which clover honey was used as a bandage for 30 different diabetic foot wounds, 43% of the wounds healed completely and another 43% were significantly reduced in size and bacteria count.
Clover honey can also be a powerful antiviral.
Remember that fresh, raw honey has stronger antibacterial properties than those that have been pasteurized or stored for a long period.
Rich in antioxidants
Clover honey contains antioxidants, which are compounds that prevent or reduce the risk of the cell damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. This can reduce your risk of disease.
In a study in rats, clover honey extract reversed liver damage caused by free radicals, probably due to the extract’s antioxidant capacity.
Clover honey contains anti-inflammatory flavonol and phenolic acid antioxidants in high amounts. Flavanols improve heart and lung health, while phenolic acids play a great role in strengthening the central nervous system.
Prevents oxidative stress
Studies have found that this honey has a number of powerful polyphenolic antioxidants, which can help reduce chronic diseases in the body by preventing oxidative stress and the negative effects of free radicals.
Improves the immune system
The antibacterial quality of clover honey is partially derived from the hydrogen peroxide found in most varieties of honey, which helps the immune system fight foreign agents and potential infections throughout the body.
Protects heart health
The remarkable levels of potassium and other minerals and antioxidants can help lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and coronary heart disease.
Manage Diabetes
Although this honey has a similar amount of sugar to regular honey, it is still a better option than regular sugar, which has a more significant impact on blood sugar levels.
Improves bone strength
With a wide variety of minerals, clover honey can help the body prevent loss of bone mineral density and slow down the symptoms of osteoporosis as we age.
Fewer Disadvantages than Table Sugar
Although honey is primarily sugar, it has several unique benefits that make it a better choice than table sugar or other sweeteners, such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Some studies suggest that honey is good for heart health and weight control than table sugar.
In a 6-week study of 60 people who consumed 70 grams of honey or table sugar per day, people in the honey group had lower total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as higher cholesterol levels. HDL (good).
Additionally, a study in 80 children found that a single dose of honey caused a lower blood sugar response than an equal dose of table sugar, even in participants with type 1 diabetes.
However, although honey is healthier than table sugar, it is still considered as an added sugar and its use should be limited.
Diets high in added sugars are usually associated with obesity and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
For optimal health, less than 5% of your daily calories should come from added sugars.
Comparison with other types of honey.
The nutrient content, flavour and colour of honey is highly dependent on the type of nectar it is made from, also the processing and storage time.
Along with clover honey, other types of light colour and mild flavour include alfalfa, orange blossom, and wildflower honey. These varieties are similar in antioxidant content.
However, buckwheat and manuka honey, which are often used medicinally, have a much darker colour and richer flavour, which could be the result of their higher mineral and antioxidant content.
Manuka honey is made from a New Zealand plant and is prized for its powerful medicinal potential.
However, if you are consuming honey for medicinal purposes, you should choose a darker variety, such as buckwheat or manuka.
Raw honey
Raw, unpasteurized, unfiltered honey of any kind is a healthy option for many people, as it is richer in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than pasteurized varieties.
It also contains pollen, which may offer benefits, such as boosting your immune system, lowering inflammation, and protecting your liver from free radical damage. Additionally, locally harvested raw honey is available at many farmers markets.
Remember that you should not consume raw honey if your immune system is compromised. Also, honey products should not be given to children under one year of age due to the risk of serious illness.
How to choose high-quality honey?
Several factors determine the quality of clover honey.
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The most powerful and fragrant aroma has honey, collected from late spring to late summer. Clover in different areas blooms in different periods. Because of this, the honey harvest time varies greatly. And if there is a rainy period, this process can take up to several weeks. Even the most experienced beekeeper cannot fully control the behaviour of bees. It is simply impossible to force them to pollinate only clover flowers, in any case, the taste and aroma of honey will be heard notes from different plants. If the orange or eucalyptus trees grow close to the clover, their nectar will give a wonderful exotic aroma and flavour to the clover honey.
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On a large scale, honey is subjected to food processing. This is done to clean the product of harmful bacteria and possible foreign substances, but in the pasteurization process, honey loses its delicate taste, which is different from the raw product. Due to high temperatures, some useful qualities of honey are partially lost in processing. So if the honey is too transparent runny texture then it says it has been heating treated. It is better to refrain from buying it.
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Choose the best product, packed in a glass, airtight container. Clover honey is very difficult to distinguish from fake honey. Therefore, in order not to fall in love with an unscrupulous seller, the best option would be to buy honey directly from the beekeeper.
Contraindications
Despite all the useful characteristics of clover honey, we must not forget about some contraindications to its use. Pollen, which is present in the composition of honey, has many aggressive components in its composition. In some cases, they can cause individual intolerance. It will be helpful to do a test before using honey to know for sure if there are any contraindications.
Using honey regularly, do not forget about its effects on the teeth and the risk of cavities. It will be appropriate after each use to at least rinse your mouth, and it is better to brush your teeth completely.
People who are suffering from diabetes should know the fact that honey contains a lot of fructose. Therefore, it is necessary to consult your doctor before consuming the product.
Clover honey has great nutritional value. Dieters who struggle with excess weight, preparing the menu of the day, must take into account the caloric content of honey, including it in the diet in small doses.
In addition, some substances that are part of honey have a negative effect on diseases such as varicose veins, estrogen-dependent pathologies in gynaecology, thrombophlebitis and increased blood clotting. Honey is contraindicated in pregnant women and in women who are ■■■■■■■■■■■■■.
The Bottom Line
Clover honey is light-coloured, mild-flavoured honey which is a quite popular variety that contains several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
It can offer powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Although it is a bit healthier than table sugar, it should be used in moderation.