With an amber color and a bitter taste, chestnut honey is a real delicacy! In fact, it is perfect for sweetening morning yogurt in small quantities and thus giving a boost, but also as a snack, when we spread a thin layer of it on a slice of toast. However, chestnut honey is not only an exceptional product in terms of flavor, it is also a small concentrate of health. Obtained from chestnut flowers, this honey indeed has valuable properties for the health of the immune system, brain and stomach. But let's understand better on the basis of the most recent scientific research.
Chestnut honey and nutrients
Chestnut honey provides vitamins, such as vitamin C and group B, and mineral salts. Since chestnut honey is a dark honey, as such this type of honey is characterized by a high content of mineral salts, such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. Not only that, dark honeys, and therefore also chestnut honey, are appreciated for an important contribution in antioxidants, which, in the case of chestnut honey, are flavonoids that counteract free radicals, aging processes and inflammations. (Ghorab et al, Foods, 2021).
Chestnut honey and immune system
Chestnut honey, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, is characterized by an important content in vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants. These substances give honey anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral properties capable of supporting the immune system (Ylmaz et al, Complement Med Res, 2021). The color of honey, darker than other varieties, indicates the high content of antioxidant and antibacterial substances such as flavonoids (Albaridi et al, Int J Microbiol, 2019). Flavonoids have been shown to be useful in combating diseases of the upper respiratory tract and therefore chestnut honey can prove useful in case of sore throat, cold and cough (Sommerville et al, Adv Nutr, 2016).
Chestnut honey and obesity
Chestnut honey, taken in small quantities and regularly, is able to counteract some effects of obesity, such as insulin resistance and fasting hyperglycemia. Not only that, studies have observed that chestnut honey is also able to inhibit lipogenesis, which is the process of converting carbohydrates into fats, and to prevent, or reverse if present, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and dyslipidemia. (Terzo et al, Nutrients, 2022).
Chestnut honey and brain
Obesity is associated with a condition of chronic inflammation that, in turn and in the long term, opens the way to an increased risk of neurodegeneration. Well, regular and moderate consumption of chestnut honey has been shown to help prevent this consequence, helping to extinguish inflammation and increasing neuronal survival. Not only that, chestnut honey helps improve memory, it is believed thanks to its high antioxidant content (Terzo et al, Nutrients, 2022).
Chestnut honey against ulcers
Thanks to its healing, antibacterial and soothing properties, chestnut honey has been shown to reduce the risk of gastric ulcers and gastritis (Margaoan et al, Antioxidants, 2021).
