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Ellie haines
November 10, 2021
Want to kickstart your day with some energy and focus? Add New Zealand UMF Mānuka honey to your daily routine. It’s delicious, healthy, and proven to help support your immune system, digestion, antioxidant levels, and so much more! You can add it to tea or coffee in the morning, or even eat a spoonful straight from the jar. No matter how you enjoy it, you’ll find yourself feeling happier and healthier within just a few weeks of adding this high-quality UMF Mānuka honey into your daily routine! Here's why;
UMF stands for Unique Mānuka Factor, which is a grading scales that honey producers have to rating the potency of Mānuka honey. The UMF rating reflects the concentration of 3 signature compounds found in genuine Manuka honey, MGO, DHA and leptosperin.
Dr. Peter Molan, lead researcher into the properties of Mānuka honey, made a recommendation to categorise Mānuka honey by it’s UMF – or Unique Mānuka Factor. This was because it was found that not all Mānuka honey expressed the same efficacy when it came to breaking down harmful bacteria and microbes.
This all comes down to the different chemical markers found in Mānuka honey and the varying levels of:
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)
A naturally occurring compound, found only in the Mānuka flower. Once collected by bees and deposited in the hive, it begins to convert to Methylglyoxal.
Methylglyoxal (MG)
A compound which exhibits antimicrobial properties which are different to those caused by natural hydrogen peroxide found in other honeys.
Hydromethylfurfuraldehyde
This is an indicator that honey has been heated during storage. Sometimes honey producers will heat their honey to speed up the conversion of DHA to MG (it also results in an inferior, dark or ‘burnt’ looking product*.
*All Manuka South® honey is raw honey (which means it hasn’t been heated above 40 degrees celsius).
It’s anti-bacterial
Mānuka honey has antibacterial properties thanks to the Methylglyoxal (MG) and hydrogen peroxide it contains.
Mānuka honey has been proven time and time again to be a powerful weapon against illness-causing bacteria. Not only does it kill bugs, but it provides moisture and nourishment…double bonus! This is why honey has been used as a treatment for wounds and illness for centuries.
It’s a Humectant
Mānuka honey is a humectant which means it attracts much-needed moisture to the skin. If you have very chapped lips, hands or heels you can combine Mānuka honey with nourishing oils (avocado or jojoba are great choices) to create a potent, homemade remedy.
It’s an Anti-Inflammatory
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties which have been harnessed by humans for centuries.
When you apply Mānuka honey to inflamed skin, it can reduce the redness, swelling and pain while remaining very gentle. The moisturizing and antibacterial properties work with the anti-inflammatory properties to cleanse, protect and soothe irritated or wounded skin. If you’re experiencing an outbreak of irritated skin, try rubbing a dab of Mānuka honey into the affected area to see if it helps.
It can Support Healthy Teeth and Gums
It seems a little weird to think of something so sweet as being healthy for your teeth. But studies have shown that the antimicrobial properties of Mānuka honey can fight against oral conditions such as gingivitis.
Mānuka honey can even help to reduce the amount of plaque build-up on the teeth, which helps to reduce tooth decay. Keeping the gums and teeth healthy can actually help you to enjoy a healthy heart, as strange as it may sound at first!
It Supports Healthy Digestion
Mānuka honey has special enzymes which enter the gut and help to break down and digest food efficiently. What’s more, honey is a pre-biotic which means it provides food for those healthy, helpful bacteria we have living in our gut.
Because Mānuka honey contains methylglyoxal (a powerful anti-microbial) it can help to kill harmful bugs in the gut and prevent gastro illnesses.
It can give you an Energy Boost
When the 3 o’clock slump rolls around and you feel like taking a nap at your desk, take a little spoonful of Mānuka honey instead. Mānuka honey can provide you with a hit of energy to keep you alert and ready to tackle the day.
Honey contains healthy carbohydrates, natural sugars and a raft of nutrients to support energy levels. It’s known that some athletes choose honey to fuel their workouts or training sessions.
It can help Soothe Cuts and Scrapes
The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties of Mānuka honey penetrate the wound and help to accelerate healing. It has been proven that Mānuka honey actually encourages cells to start the healing process quickly and effectively, while providing gentleness and very little possible side effects.
By killing bugs and preventing them from spreading, honey stops wounds from becoming infected. It’s also known that the moisturizing properties of Mānuka honey helps wounds to heal more quickly and without scarring.
It can Help Support Immunity
There’s a reason why people suck on lemon and honey lozenges during colds and flus.
One reason is that the antibacterial properties of Mānuka honey kills bugs in the throat and in the gut, accelerating the recovery process.
It’s also been proven to be pretty powerful at fighting sinus infections, music to the ears of anyone who suffers from regular sinus issues. This is because Mānuka honey is fantastic at killing the specific bacteria which causes sinus infections.
