In my profession, I am always looking for new medical discoveries- particularly natural remedies. One of my go to pantry fav’s for sweetening my food to making a quick fix acne remover has always been honey. New studies are showing that honey is more beneficial than originally thought, specifically Manuka Honey.
Manuka honey comes from bee’s that feed on the manuka bush in New Zealand and in parts of Australia. Some of the curative properties that this honey offers are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. According to recent studies at the University of Sydney School of Molecular and Microbial sciences the honey worked on multidrug resistant pathogens and many other surface skin infections. Manuka honey can also be used to cure stomach ulcers that originated due to the bacteria H. Pylori. This super-honey also works to fight strep, and E. coli the bacteria’s that seems to be a common source of infection. Not only is this a natural alternative to killing bacteria but it also saves money and the nasty side effects of antibiotics such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and developing resistance.
Through my research on this topic I have found that many large pharmaceutical companies have discovered that producing antibiotic products is not cost efficient. This is due to the short shelf life of antibacterial products and everchanging products due to bacteria resistance. Manuka honey works as a cost-efficient alternative to fighting bacteria.
Nutritional Content
The viscosity of manuka honey is much thicker than other types of honey, this is due to the high nutritional content. Its unique nutritional profile consists of:
-Amino acids -Manganese
-B vitamins -Phosphorus
-Calcium -Potassium
-Copper -Sodium
-Iron -Zinc
-Magnesium
What is UMF?
What separates manuka honey from other forms of honey is the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). The UMF signifies that the nutritional content of manuka honey is up to 4 times greater than that of other honeys. The UMF grade helps assure the purity and quality of the honey you intend to purchase. It is important to know that NOT ALL manuka honey contains UMF. Those that lack UMF are still beneficial, however, they tend to be less effective and sensitive to certain storage conditions (i.e. heat, light). When picking a UMF appraised honey, you will notice that they range anywhere from 5-16 +. The number on your product distinguishes the strength of the honey.
Verifying UMF Honey:
• Be sure that the UMF trademark is labeled on the front side of the product.
• The UMF label should have the company’s name and license number.
• There should always be a UMF rating number ranging from 5-16+.
Here are a few of the many uses of manuka honey:
• Allergies
• Staph infection (MRSA)
• Acne
• GERD/ indigestion
• H. Pylori
• Colds
• Wounds/ burns
• Gingivitis
• IBS
• Prophylactic use
The use of manuka honey is becoming increasingly popular, hence, there are distributors that may be diluting or promoting false advertisement. Below I will provide a few pointers and red flags to look out for when purchasing your honey:
• Do research on the company you are purchasing from and read reviews!
• Question products that are significantly higher or lower than the average price.
• Look for a valid UMF label and license number.
• Do research on what strength of UMF you need before buying.
• BE AWARE of your allergies! Do not use on small children or without consent from your doctor if there is risk for possible drug interactions.
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Love,
Nurse Gaby