Do you know sunflower honey? That’s why use it against cholesterol

The sunflower honey is a sweet natural looking crystallized Goody and the solid consistency. It has a herbaceous and pleasantly refreshing taste, similar to that of dark sugar. The finest crystallization sunflower honey varieties are characterized by the typical fruity fragrance of ripe apricot with an anise starry aftertaste.

Sunflower honey: the benefits

The sunflower honey has very distinct characteristics, strong tones, but sweet. Its color recalls that of an intense golden yellow flower ( Helianthus annuus, a plant of the Composite family). Its scent is delicate and recalls the intense notes of straw and pollen and the delicate ones of wax.

In general, honey is an excellent substitute for sucrose, the sugar we commonly use. It is rich in fructose and glucose, responsible for its rapid crystallization. And has a higher specific sweetening power than this sugar. This means that less is needed to sweeten drinks and sweets. This implies a lower caloric intake.

One of the most well-known healing properties of sunflower honey is its ability to re-mineralize. It is a real natural supplement of mineral salts, especially calcium and magnesium, useful to prevent the weakening of bone structures, particularly in people who present risk factors for osteoporosis, such as menopausal women and the elderly.

Sunflower honey and cholesterol

Less popular than sunflower oil, whose introduction into the diet has been recommended for years for the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids, sunflower honey has recently received important awards.

Despite being, like all sweeteners, responsible for significant caloric intake, sunflower honey helps to control LDL cholesterol levels thanks to the presence of phytosterols. The acronym LDL serves to indicate the “bad” cholesterol, so defined because it is associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Clinical studies have shown that honey is beneficial to patients with high concentrations of cholesterol in the blood is taken as a replacement for the normal daily sucrose ration.

Taken alone, instead of sugar, or in combination with specifically formulated supplements, and in the habit of a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, it can contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Sunflower honey in the kitchen, an aid for cardiovascular diseases

It can be consumed alone, with teaspoons, used to sweeten beverages or used in confectionery in the preparation of desserts, in particular cakes and dry biscuits. The sunflower honey can be used to prepare a tasty protein breakfast. Pour a small quantity into a non-stick frying pan where the eggs are cooked, replacing the oil. You will get a sophisticated fat-free dressing.

Heart UK, a British non-profit association active in raising awareness of cardiovascular disease. Suggests a healthy and tasty snack based on this natural food. Season a slice of peach with a teaspoon of sunflower honey. And sprinkle with a few seeds of the same flower. You will have a healthy and light snack, excellent support even for slimming diets.

The production of sunflower honey in our territory is concentrated in central Italy, particularly in Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, and Marche. After a period of sharp decline, corresponding to the decade of the 90s. Today it is on the rise, also based on the confirmation of the benefits of this sweetener on health. However, sunflower honey is considered a niche product. Also due to the delicate mechanisms that regulate its production. Which cannot be standardized and subject to fluctuations that depend on natural factors?