Honey has been used for more than 2500 years because of the great taste as well as the health benefits it provides. Manuka Honey is particularly healthy and is considered a superfood.
Manuka Honey is derived from the nectar that the bees which feed of Manuka bushes in New Zealand. The native Maori people from New Zealand have used this type of honey because of the numerous health benefits such as treating ulcers, colds, flu, fever and skin diseases. Manuka honey has strong antioxidant, fungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and digestive properties.
When he first tried the drink made from the Manuka leaves, Captain James Cook, who discovered New Zealand, wrote:
“Manuka leaves are used by many of us as tea, which has a very pleasant bitter flavor and aroma, but loses both when the leaves are dry. ”
Manuka honey is much healthier than regular honey and that is why it is more expensive.
A report published in Telegraph said:
“According to doctors, Manuka honey’s high sugar content creates a waterless environment in which the bacteria that are infecting a wound are unable to survive. Also, thanks to the presence of an enzyme called glucose oxidase, it is acidic, which apparently adds to its unique antibacterial properties.”
Also, several studies have been published that suggest the high amounts of novel proteins in this type of honey that boost the immunity and it releases anti-inflammatory cytokines when applied to a wound.
Manuka honey sometimes works even better than conventional drugs in the treatment of:
- Gastritis
- Diarrhea
- Colds and flu
- Ulcers
- Throat and eye diseases
- Heartburn
- Gastrointestinal tract protection
Consuming Manuka honey promotes new blood capillary growth and also stimulates skin cell regeneration.
One way to be certain that you are buying the real medical Manuka Honey is to look for a label that says “UMF”. This abbreviation stands for “unique manuka factor” and is the concentration of antioxidant phenols that prevent bacteria growth.