in this post i will explain about
7 Powerful Benefits of Manuka Honey (With Studies)
For thousands of years, honey was used not only for its sweet, sweet
nectar but also for its incredible healing properties. People still
purchase honey for the same reasons today, however, most of the
commercial honey does not provide the latter. We explained the
difference between raw and commercial honey in our other article, but this article is about neither. Today, let’s talk about Manuka honey and its incredible benefits.
7 Clinically Proven Benefits of Manuka Honey
1. Natural Antibiotic & Antibacterial
Manuka honey contains two ingredients, MG and hydrogen peroxide,
which make it a powerful antibiotic and antibacterial agent. MG
(methylglyoxal) is found in most honey, but the highest concentration is
found in the nectar of the Manuka flowers. Another study also shows
that this type of honey has significant antibacterial properties. [
1] [
2]
2. Treats Burns and Wounds

There
are several studies that show that Manuka honey can be effective in
shortening the healing time of mild burns and wounds. It may be also
effective in fighting off some infections and promote overall healing.
It’s important to note that anywhere where an infection can occur,
medical grade honey (with impurities removed) is used. At home
treatments are not recommended for serious burns for wounds. [
3] [
4]
3. Improves Oral Health

Manuka
honey may enhance your oral health as well. Studies show that honey can
be effective in preventing dental caries and gingivitis. [
5] [
6]
4. Reduces Inflammation

National
Cancer Institute approved a proposal for the use of Manuka honey to
help reduce inflammation of the esophagus after chemotherapy. [
7]
5. Lower Cholesterol
Studies show that by substituting sugar to honey, women can
effectively lower their LDL cholesterol. Choose Manuka honey for added
benefits. [
8]
6. Improves Your Gastrointestinal Health
Honey has been shown to be effective in reducing gastrointestinal
pathogens and even found to be potentially effective microorganisms like
Salmonella. [
9]
7. Low Stomach Acid, Acid Reflux and SIBO
One study has shown that the bacteria related to all three of these
conditions, Clostridium difficile, was found to be susceptible to Manuka
honey. This may offer an effective way of treating conditions that are
caused by the organism and help balance your digestive system. [
10]
Manuka Honey Origins
Most commercial honey is stripped of its good properties and does not
contain any bee pollen. Its benefits are minimal and if taken in large
quantities, it may even be detrimental to your health (due to the high
fructose and glucose levels).

However, Manuka honey is a different story. First, all real Manuka
honey comes from New Zealand. It comes from bees that pollinate the
native Manuka bush. Only those specific bees in specific regions of New
Zealand can create this powerful honey. Then, this honey is tested and
verified by independent labs for its properties and exported all over
the world.
From the benefits mentioned above, you can see that Manuka honey is
one of nature’s most powerful natural medicines. Manuka honey is the
best form of honey available. Its incredible anti-microbial properties
have been credited due to the enzyme called methylglyoxal. Manuka honey
contains about 100 times more of this enzyme than conventional honey. [
11]
Manuka Honey Nutrition Facts

While
raw unfiltered honeys already contain a well-balanced and nutritious
profile, Manuka honey is said to contain 4x the nutritional content of
conventional honeys. Here’s a profile of raw unfiltered honey:
- Amino acids
- B vitamins (B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid)
- Calcium
- Copper
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Zinc
How Manuka Quality is Measured, Unique Manuka Factor
For every good product, there are products that are produced of
lesser quality. So how do you know if the Manuka honey that you choose
is the real deal? Well in 1981, researchers of the New Zealand
University revealed that Manuka honey contains higher levels of enzymes
than conventional honey. Certain strains of this new found honey were
found to be particulary rich in dihydroxyacetone, metgylgloxal and
hydrogen peroxide.
This powerful trio is what makes up to what we now know as
Unique Manuka Factor or UMF.
UMF is the globally recognized standard in identifying and measuring the strength of the Manuka honey.
The UMF, similar to some other food labels that we have in United
States, essentially guarantees that the honey sold is of medicinal
quality.
The UMF rating in comes really handy because not all Manuka honey is
created equal and contains both unique properties. Typical Manuka
contains only the hydrogen peroxide properties, which are common with
most types of honey.However, what makes the UMF honey unique is that it
contains both. Natural UMF properties as well as the conventional
properties of honey which combine to make something really powerful.
These properties also make the honey very stable. And unlike in most
honey, the hydrogen peroxide found in Manuka honey won’t be easily
destroyed by light, heat or enzymes of the body.
Manuka Honey vs Raw Honey vs Organic Honey
It’s easy to get confused at the store when there are tons of labels.
However, the only honeys that really matter are Manuka, raw and
organic. But what’s the difference between them? Is one really better
than another?
Organic – this label refers to the way the product
is made and what ingredients are used. For honey it carries specific
meanings such as how the hive is made, how the colony is kept and
acquired and more. While this sounds good, thanks to companies like
Monsanto and also farms that use fertilizers and pesticides,
finding pure uncontaminated honey is pretty tough.
Bees can fly for miles outside of the farm and the chances of having 16
square miles of fields with no-chemicals is quite slim. Thus,
regardless of the practices of the farm that sells the honey, it hardly
guarantees 100% purity of the end product. You can read about all the
requirements for organic honey here.
Raw Honey – means that the honey is sold as it
exists and was obtained through straining, settling or extraction. It
also means that it was not pasteurized and heated above 118 degrees
Fahrenheit during storage or production. Same issues occur as with
organic honey. Many tout this as the highest quality honey available and
in some cases it may be true, but it certainly doesn’t guarantee that
the honey won’t contain at least one pesticide.
Manuka Honey is honey that was specifically
harvested from bees that visit the Manuka flower (Leptospermum
scoparium). The honey is then tested by independent labs for its
qualities and given a UMF score. The higher score guarantees that
the honey is medicinal quality (depending on the score). Just like raw
and organic honey, it is certainly not exempt from possible
contamination, however its very specific process is what makes it the
highest quality honey. No other type of honey offers the same guarantee.
So for
every day honey, your best bet is
raw honey.
As for organic honey, that is still a much better choice than
commercial honey, but until USDA places some real regulations and
testing on what’s inside (contaminants) the honey, it is no better than
raw honey. Of course, there are still exceptions to when organic honey
may be your best choice. However, for getting the
most benefits out of your honey and for
medicinal quality honey, your only choice is
Manuka honey.
How to Find Genuine Manuka Honey
The UMF rating essentially rates the level of antibacterial activity
in the honey. The minimum rating is UMF5, however, it is not
considered “UMF Manuka Honey” or “Active Manuka Honey” until it’s UMF
10+. Anything that is within the range of UMF10-15 is considered
effective. UMF16+ is considered of superior quality.
Genuine UMF Manuka Honey will have these
four things:
- It will have a UMF trademark clearly labeled on the front of the container.

- It will be from a New Zealand UMF licensed company and labelled in New Zealand.
- It will have the UMF company’s name and license number on the label.
- It will have a UMF rating number of 5-16+. If it is labeled without
the UMF or without a number, then it is not the genuine item.
Here are the general uses for each of the UMF labels:
0-4 Non-therapeutic
4-9 Maintenance level with general honey health benefits
10-14 Supports natural healing and bacterial balance
15+ Superior levels of phenols that are highly therapeutic but shouldn’t exceed taking 1 tbsp at a time [
12]
Those with allergies to bee products should also avoid consuming
Manuka honey. For others, in moderation, Manuka can be one of the most
powerful foods in your home.
Recommended Manuka Honey
Thanks to all its powerful benefits, an addition of a Manuka jar or
two can be one of the best purchases you’ve made for your home. The best
thing about Manuka honey, that if stored properly (without too much
heat) it can be good for years to come! We’ve searched the web for
Manuka honey that meets all the criteria and here’s some good options
that we’ve found below.
UMF 10+

UMF 15+
Kiva Raw Manuka Honey – (8.8 oz) $42.50
Happy Valley Manuka Honey – (8.8 oz) $35.14
Wild Cape East Cape Manuka Honey – (1.1 lb) $69.99
Comvita Manuka Honey – (8.8 oz) $47.07

UMF 20+
Kiva Raw Manuka Honey – (8.8 oz) $69.99
Manukora Manuka Honey UMF (8.8 oz) $64.99
To appreciate our bees even more, also read : The Insane Communication Power of Bees
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