What is almond honey, how to make it at home? Benefits and harms when consumed, recipes. Use in home cosmetics.
Almond Honey is a blend made from honey and almonds. The consistency of this composition is liquid, the color is light yellow. The flavor includes a bouquet of the main ingredients and leaves a pronounced nutty aftertaste after consumption. It is used in cooking, folk medicine and home cosmetology.
Features of making almond honey
When making a product with almonds, honey is combined, which includes nectar and pollen of the plant of the same name.
How to make almond honey
- The pumped out collection is cleaned of impurities and allowed to settle. If the product has already crystallized, it is necessary to return the liquid consistency again using a water bath.
- Fresh nuts (you can use fried ones, but then you will not be able to take advantage of the beneficial properties of the final product) are placed in a container and poured with honey so that it covers them completely. Then mix. Sometimes almonds are ground into powder. In this case, the consistency of the product will be uniform.
To extend the shelf life, you can prepare the almond honey as a caramel. After mixing the composition, pour it into hermetically sealed molds and put it on the refrigerator shelf. In this case, useful properties are retained for up to six months.
Composition and calorie content of almond honey
A very important property of the product is that useful substances are preserved during heat treatment.
The calorie content of almond honey is 524 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 6 g;
- Fat - 35 g;
- Carbohydrates - 46 g.
If roasted nuts are used in cooking, then the nutritional value of almond honey rises to 571-620 kcal.
Nutrients per 100 g:
- Retinol - 3 mg;
- Thiamin - 10.3 mg;
- Riboflavin - 3 mg;
- Sodium - 299 mg;
- Potassium - 622 mg
Almond honey contains mono- and disaccharides - 13, 77 per 100 g.
Fatty acids per 100 g:
- Saturated - 3, 708 g;
- Monounsaturated - 30, 656 g;
- Polyunsaturated.
The benefits and harms of almond honey are determined by organic components:
- Saturated fatty acids … They replenish energy reserves, form a fat layer that protects internal organs from external influences, stimulate the production of estrogen in women and increase libido in men. But at the same time, they can provoke the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus and obesity.
- Monounsaturated fatty acids … They stimulate the breakdown of lipids and the burning of fats taken with food, increase the permeability of cell membranes, reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke and heart attack, improve the condition of the skin and hair. Excessive accumulation in the body disrupts metabolic processes, increases the secretion of sebum, and stimulates the development of hypertension.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids … They dissolve cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels, prevent the loss of interstitial fluid, and are a building material for the myelin sheaths of the brain. An excess of this substance stimulates the onset of inflammatory processes and exacerbation of chronic diseases, gives an impetus to oncological processes, stimulates the narrowing of the vascular lumen.
Mono- and disaccharides in almond honey are 25 types of sugars, among which there are grape sugar (from 28% to 37%), fruit sugar (33-42%), sucrose disaccharide and others.
Benefits of Almond Honey
The beneficial effect on the body of a mixed composition has been confirmed by official studies conducted by nutritionists in the United States and Canada.
The benefits of almond honey
- Reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies, increases vascular tone, stimulates heart contractions and maintains blood pressure.
- Accelerates the elimination of "harmful" cholesterol from the body, does not allow the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
- It has a calming effect, reduces the overall tone of the body, helps to get rid of increased anxiety, and improves falling asleep.
- Increases immunity, helps prepare for the epidemic season.
- Quickly eliminates vitamin deficiency, replenishes the supply of nutrients in the body.
- Improves the condition of the skin and hair.
- Prolongs the life cycle of hepatocytes, stabilizes the intoxication functions of the liver, reduces the likelihood of malignancy.
To increase immunity, get rid of nervousness and restore the reserve of nutrients, it is enough to eat 3 tablespoons of almond honey a day. The first is absorbed in the morning, on an empty stomach, before breakfast. The remaining amount is eaten with tea. The last appointment should occur no later than 3 hours before bedtime.
The beneficial properties of almond honey allow it to be used as a cosmetic product. External use of the product has a beneficial effect on the skin. Prevents age-related changes and accelerates peripheral blood supply, increasing the rate of metabolic processes. The skin becomes smooth, fine wrinkles are smoothed out.
Contraindications and harm of almond honey
Not everyone can afford to improve their health with the help of almond honey. The ingredients of the product are in themselves serious allergens, their joint use doubles the risk of developing negative reactions of the body.
A sore throat that does not go away for a long time is the main sign of the development of an allergic reaction. Other manifestations: redness and itching of the skin (more often irritation occurs on the cheeks and chin), swelling of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx, respiratory cramps, intestinal disorders. In isolated cases, angioedema was diagnosed.
The harm from almond honey can occur with regular overeating - weight increases rapidly, with chronic hemorrhoids and gastrointestinal diseases, especially at the stage of exacerbation, if one of the symptoms is diarrhea. A high amount of sugar has a detrimental effect on the microflora of the small intestine, inhibits the activity of lactobacilli - the condition worsens.
You can not use the product with chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, biliary dyskinesia and hepatitis, so as not to increase the load on the liver. Nuts stimulate bile secretion, therefore, in case of gallstone disease, their number should be reduced to 1 tbsp. l. per day.
You should not introduce sweetness into the diet of children under 3 years old, women during pregnancy and lactation. The composition of fresh almonds, albeit in small quantities, contains hydrocyanic acid. Honey acts as a preservative, the toxin is not destroyed during storage. In young children, the digestive flora is at the stage of formation and dysbiosis can occur, and in women, when carrying a child, it is impossible to predict organic reactions.
Almond Honey Food and Drink Recipes
Dishes with this product are popular with those with a sweet tooth. It is introduced not only into desserts, but also into drinks.
Delicious Almond Honey Recipes:
- Salty dessert … Whole nut kernels are dried for 1 minute in the oven at 180 ° C, spreading out in one layer. Allow to cool, mix with lemon zest and finely chopped rosemary, sprinkle with red pepper and sea salt, add almond honey. Then they are laid out in molds and allowed to stand on the shelf of the refrigerator for 2-4 hours. Frozen sweet-salty squares are an original addition to beer.
- Honey cake … Almond honey, 250 g, melted in a water bath to a very liquid consistency, add 10 g of dry fast yeast, 100 g of potato starch, pour in 3 tbsp. l. brandy or rum, drive in 5 egg yolks, 60 g of soft butter. Achieve a uniform consistency and add flour. It needs so much so that the structure of the batch resembles thick fat sour cream. Beat the whites separately with a mixer, adding a little sugar - you need to get soft peaks. If you want more nuts, add whole roasted almonds. Set the oven regulator to 180 ° C and, while it is heating, carefully, one spoon at a time, mix the proteins into the dough. Grease the mold with butter, sprinkle with flour - if this is not done, it will be difficult to get the cake. Place the future baked goods in a preheated oven, bake until the toothpick, which is used to check readiness, becomes dry. The finished cake can be sprinkled with icing sugar or covered with liquid chocolate. You can enhance the flavor of the cake by adding lemon zest to the dough.
- Cream honey … Almond honey is removed for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator so that it begins to crystallize, and then put in a warm place so that it melts by itself. Then it is poured into a mixer or food processor, turned on for 1-2 hours and kneaded. You can combine the preparation of almond honey with the creation of a creamy texture. All useful properties of the product are preserved.
Almond honey drinks:
- Cocktail Honey whisper … The shaker is filled in the following order: 50 ml of silver tequila, 30 ml of fresh lime juice, 1 drop of orange bitter (citrus juice and aromatic herbs in the drink). Pour ice cubes, shake and pour into a tall glass. Pour 100 ml of soda into the same shaker, add 1, 5 tbsp. l. almond honey and 1 egg white. Beat until foamy. Put a few ice cubes in a glass of tequila, spread the foam on top with a spoon and decorate the edges with almond honey. Before serving, cut fresh dill and a pinch of sea salt are spread on the surface.
- Milkshake … Bananas (2 pcs.) Cut into slices, leaving a few pieces for decoration. Break 70 g of dark chocolate (7 slices) and place in a blender bowl with bananas, rub the rest of the squares on a fine grater. Pour in 0.5 liters of milk, 50 g of almond honey, beat until bubbles appear. Poured into glasses, garnished with banana slices and sprinkled with chocolate chips.
Note! For dieters, it is recommended to add a pinch of cinnamon to the milkshake. This spice stimulates weight loss.
Interesting facts about almond honey
In Abkhazia on the market you can find a product of liquid consistency, without viscosity and foreign inclusions, with a nutty aftertaste, which is offered as "almond honey". However, it is prepared artificially with the addition of nut milk. It does not crystallize, therefore, it is not real honey.
A tart aftertaste, the necessary viscosity and a slight smell of almonds can have a May harvest if the bee hives were in an almond garden. But it contains 3/4 of the pollen of other plants.
Almond honey (1-2 tbsp. L.) Is introduced into home cosmetics:
- To increase skin tone, mix it with milk - you should get a liquid gruel.
- For acne add 3 crushed aspirin tablets.
- For increased pigmentation, combine with 1 tbsp. l. turmeric, crushed into powder, and with 0.5 tsp. lemon juice.
- To tighten dry skin, add 1 tbsp. l. cocoa powder and pour in the same amount of almond (non-essential) oil.
- To cleanse aging skin, 1 tbsp is administered. l. grated green apple and fat cottage cheese. You can replace the apple with grapes, kiwi, orange, red currant. Choose sour fruits and berries. The effectiveness of the product depends on the fruit acid content.
- Against mimic wrinkles for oily skin, mix with egg white and 1 tsp. vegetable oil.
- With increased dryness, the protein is replaced with yolk.
Masks are applied in a course, 2 times a week for 2 months. The composition is applied with fingers along the massage lines on the face and décolleté area, washed off first with warm water and then with cold water. Be sure to use a cream - all products dry out the skin.
What is almond honey - watch the video:
Almond honey helps not to get sick during the season of epidemics, prevents the development of tachycardia and angina pectoris, restores beauty and youth. When making a product, you need to calculate so that you can use it within 2 months. Then it is possible to take advantage of the useful properties in full.
