What makes Manuka honey special?

If you want a natural product in your life that will keep you physically and mentally healthy, Manuka honey is second to none in this regard. The unique monofloral honey is known all over the world for its unparalleled properties.

Unlike some infused honey that contains mixed compounds to harvested honey,  pure Manuka honey is harvested from the Manuka bush (Leptospermum Scoparium) that are native to New Zealand.

Bees foraging on the white flowers of Manuka trees collect dark-brown sugary nectar to make Manuka honey. It is high in sugar with some essential protein and vitamins to support the growth of the body. It is highly demanded due to its unprecedented features.

The cultivation of the Manuka bush is limited to a few areas of the world and is also influenced by weather conditions. 

Harvesting of Manuka honey is laborious as compared to other types of honey: it is difficult to keep the bees focused on the flowers of specific plants for collecting nectar.

And also the flowering of the Manuka plant occurs for 2-3 weeks every year. Beekeepers get a limited time to harvest honey.

The three chemical markers that make Manuka honey exceptional:

• Dihydroxyacetone: is found naturally in the nectar of Manuka flowers. It is highest in fresh Manuka honey. The dihydroxyacetone level represents how old Manuka honey is.
• Methylglyoxal: is the precursor of dihydroxyacetone. MGO is often used alone to determine the authenticity of Manuka honey. Since some producers are adding it synthetically, other chemical markers like leptosperin are also used to check the authenticity of Manuka honey.
• Leptosperin: is only found in Manuka flowers. The specific TM present on Manuka honey called UMF (Unique Manuka factor) gives the indication that it contains leptosperin besides the main ingredient; methylglyoxal.

The Manuka Honey with UMF trademark indicates that it is tested and registered under the regulatory authority of the UMF Honey Association of New Zealand.

UMF trademark is used by registered beekeepers, exporters, and producers of genuine Manuka honey. It also attributes to the 100% authenticity of Manuka honey.

MGO is a key element that helps to determine the UMF level of Manuka honey. The UMF level labelled on the jar varies with the amount of MGO present in Manuka honey. Higher the level of methylglyoxal, greater the rating of UMF. Actually, MGO (methylglyoxal) measures the strength of Manuka honey.

 The miraculous effects of Manuka honey on health

The naturally occurring methylglyoxal makes Manuka honey effective for many abnormal health conditions. According to scientific researches, the hydrogen peroxide activity of the honey leads to antimicrobial effect. In normal table honey, this activity does not retain for a longer time as hydrogen peroxide breaks down, while in Manuka Honey, the hydrogen peroxide is retained to fight against microbes.

This property of MGO has made the Manuka Honey highly valued and beneficial for health. This superfood has many anti-bacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects on the body.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property of Manuka honey makes it an effective medicine to treat wounds like burns, skin injuries, and eye wounds.

Honey has been used by man to treat cough for centuries. Manuka honey contains a natural cough suppressant to soothe the sore throat. It is highly used for children to treat the short term cough.

Manuka honey is used to treat gastric ulcers as it has anti-inflammatory effects. It also provides our gut with useful bacteria  to avoid gastric problems.

According to research, Manuka honey shows antiviral effects against the influenza virus and some others.

Manuka honey is reported to be effective against clostridium and helicobacter infections that cause gastrointestinal problems. The potency of Manuka honey inhibits bacterial growth.

According to scientific research, Manuka honey is a potent cariostatic agent to stop the demineralization of teeth and prevent dental caries.