Clover honey is popular because of 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.
Table of contents
This article reviews the uses, nutrition, and health benefits of clover honey.
Origin and uses
Le clover honey is a thick, sweet syrup made by bees that collect nectar from clover plants. It has a mild taste and light color, making it a popular choice among lovers of honey.
Clover plants are very common, weather-resistant, and a favorite nectar source for bees, which is why clover honey is widely available (, ).
Clover honey has a more complex flavor than table sugar, and many people use it to sweeten tea, desserts, and desserts.
Additionally, due to a growing interest in honey, food manufacturers are offering more foods and drinks sweetened with honey ().
Clover honey is also commonly used in cold and cough medicines and home remedies due to its unique health-promoting properties, including its antibacterial qualities and its soothing effect on sore throats ().
In this section:
Clover honey is a popular and widely available type of honey. It is used as a sweetener and a natural remedy for coughs and colds.
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Clover honey nutrition
Clover honey is high in sugar but also provides some nutrients.
One tablespoon (21 grams) of clover honey contains ():
- Calories: 60 calories
- Protein: 0 gram
- Large: 0 gram
- Crabs: 17 grams
This type of honey contains mainly carbohydrates in the form of natural sugars. However, it also offers small amounts of different vitamins and minerals, including potassium, iron and zinc ().
Additionally, it is rich in antioxidant compounds that may benefit your health ().
In this section:
Clover honey consists mainly of natural sugars, but also contains different vitamins and minerals. It also contains antioxidants that are beneficial for health.
Read also: Is honey good or bad for you?
Read also: Does honey relieve symptoms of...
Read also: Can garlic and honey help you lose..
Potential Benefits of Clover Honey
Clover honey offers several potentials.
Antiviral and antibacterial potential
Clover and other types of honey have antiviral and antibacterial effects.
In a study comparing the antibacterial ability of 16 different types of honey, the clover variety had the strongest antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus cells – equivalent to a 2,2 mg dose of the antibiotic kanamycin ().
Additionally, it is an effective antibacterial dressing for wounds, such as burns and scrapes, because bacteria cannot develop resistance to honey ().
In a 3-month study in which clover honey was used as a dressing for 30 different diabetic foot wounds, 43% of the wounds healed completely and 43% were significantly reduced in size and bacterial counts ().
Clover honey may also be a powerful antiviral.
A test-tube study found that applying a 5% solution of clover honey to skin cells infected with the chickenpox virus significantly decreased the survival rate of the virus ().
Keep in mind that fresh, raw honey may have stronger antibacterial properties than varieties that have been pasteurized or ().
Rich in antioxidants
Clover honey is a compound that may prevent or reduce cellular damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. This can reduce your risk of diseases (, , , ).
In a rat study, clover honey extract reversed liver damage caused by free radicals, likely due to the extract's antioxidant capacity ().
Clover honey is particularly rich in anti-inflammatory flavanols and phenolic acid antioxidants. Flavanols can improve heart and lung health, while phenolic acids strengthen your central nervous system (, , ).
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 indicate that honey may be better 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 daily, people in the honey group had lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as lower levels. higher HDL (good) cholesterol ().
Additionally, a study of 80 children observed that a single dose of honey caused a lower blood sugar response than an equal dose of table sugar, including in participants with type 1 diabetes ().
However, although honey is healthier than table sugar, it is still considered a commodity and should be limited.
Diets high in added sugars, regardless of their type, are associated with obesity and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers (, , ).
For optimal health, your daily calories should come from added sugars ().
In this section:
Some studies indicate that clover honey is antiviral and antibacterial. It is also rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Yet even though it may be healthier than table sugar, it is still an added sugar and should be consumed in moderation.
Comparison with other types of honey
The nutrient content, flavor and color of honey depend on the type of nectar it is made from, as well as the processing and storage time.
Besides clover honey, other light-colored and mild-tasting types include alfalfa, orange blossom, and wildflower honey. These varieties have similar antioxidant content ().
However, buckwheat and buckwheat, which are often used medicinally, have a much darker color and richer flavor, which could be the result of their higher mineral and antioxidant content (, , ).
Manuka honey, made from a plant native to New Zealand, is also prized for its powerful medicinal potential (, ).
Although it contains more antioxidants than clover honey, a test-tube study found that 5% solutions of manuka honey and clover honey, respectively, were equally effective in stopping the spread of the clover virus. chickenpox ().
However, if you are using honey for medicinal purposes, you can choose a darker variety, such as buckwheat or manuka.
Raw honey
Unpasteurized and unfiltered of any kind is a healthy choice for many people because it is richer in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than pasteurized varieties (, 34, ).
It also contains , which may provide benefits, such as boosting your immune system, decreasing inflammation, and protecting your liver from free radical damage ().
Raw honey, including from clover plants, can be purchased online and in stores. Additionally, locally harvested raw honey is available at many farmers' markets.
Note that you should not eat raw honey if your immune system is compromised. Additionally, honey products should not be given to children under one year of age due to the risk of serious illness (, ).
In this section:
Clover honey is one of several types of honey that is light in color and mild in taste. Darker varieties, like buckwheat and manuka, are higher in antioxidants. Raw honey – including raw clover honey – may be more beneficial than processed honey.
The bottom line
Clover is a popular, light-colored, mild-tasting variety of honey that provides various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
It can offer powerful antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Although it is slightly healthier than table sugar, it should be used in moderation.
