In case your social feeds are all of the sudden jam-packed with suggestions about manuka honey, welcome to the excitement. Lengthy a favourite in pure meals and wellness circles, this New Zealand export has now risen to the standing of “pricey, but worth it” for a lot of health-conscious people. It’s additionally a favourite product for Instagrammers and TikTokers who tout its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. They’re utilizing it for wound therapeutic, cough reduction, ulcer therapeutic, digestion and oral well being, and so they’re urging you to attempt it, too.
Honey that heals? Sounds nice, what’s the catch? Nicely, all this consideration doesn’t come with out a value. An 8.8-ounce bottle of high-grade manuka honey prices about $75 from Costco, whereas three 24-ounce bottles of Costco’s Natural Uncooked Honey in these little squeezy bears solely prices about $15 whole. However all you are able to do with that bear honey is pour it in your tea, whereas with manuka, you may make a face masks, apply it to wounds, slather it on pimples and even use it in a throat-saving tonic.
If you wish to throw down much more Benjamins for manuka, you actually can. There’s a product known as Puriti Grand Cru Premier Reserve manuka honey that prices $1,179 for 8.8 ounces, and one other from The True Honey Firm that’s $2,100 for 8.1 ounces, making that Costco stuff appear to be an absolute steal.
Intrigued by the hype however daunted by the value, a rising variety of Individuals are diving into the scientific analysis surrounding manuka honey, and a few of them are satisfied sufficient to begin stocking up for the upcoming winter season.
How is manuka honey totally different?
Based on registered dietitian (RD) Barbara Ruhs, a advisor to a manuka honey commerce group in Auckland, New Zealand, it’s a product that’s solely potential by the interplay between bee colonies and a sure sort of native tree. “Unlike any other honey, manuka is produced from the nectar of the unique leptospermum scoparium tree, also known as a tea tree, which thrives in New Zealand,” she defined.
“What makes it different from ‘regular’ honey is the pollen’s origin,” mentioned Dana Ellis Hunnes, a UCLA Health senior scientific dietitian and assistant professor at UCLA Fielding College of Public Health. “It’s unique because of its specific antibacterial and antiviral properties that come from a reactive organic compound, found in the human body and in this honey, called methylglyoxal (MGO).” The upper the focus of MGO, the stronger the antibacterial impact.
Hunnes supplied up some current analysis findings for individuals who wish to dig deeper: “This study indicates that manuka honey can help with gastrointestinal distress caused by H. pylori, which causes gastric ulcers, and staph aureus, which can cause foodborne illness. This review offers credibility for several health properties and claims. This study seems to indicate it may have some anti-cancer properties. Whether or not all of this pans out in humans at the amounts that someone might normally consume in a day is not yet fully understood or known, though.”
“Research on the potential health benefits of medical-grade manuka honey is ongoing, and increasing attention is being focused on its antibacterial and wound-healing properties,” mentioned dermatologist Dr. Tara Akunna. “Some studies have shown promising results, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects and mechanisms of action.”
It’s gaining in recognition within the U.S.
Ruhs says that the honey gained in recognition within the U.S. throughout the COVID-19 epidemic. “Demand for its antibacterial and immune-supportive properties really drove demand,” she mentioned.
And there are good the reason why, Hunnes mentioned. “A lot of people are looking to cure their ailments naturally and with less medication. So if a natural product like this can provide relief from sore throats, coughs, cuts or burns, at a fraction of the cost of pharmaceuticals, people may be gravitating towards that.”
Dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian famous, “Everyone is leaning towards safe, natural and clean skin care, and manuka honey offers a great option that fulfills that entire wish list. It’s low risk, with years of evidence to support its use.”
It’s getting used as an ingredient in skincare, too.
This multiuse product may also be utilized on to your pores and skin, since its antibacterial properties might be useful in treating zits, eczema, dermatitis, wounds and burns. If you wish to apply it to your pores and skin, first check a small spot earlier than making use of to bigger areas. Then apply it and let it sit for 5 to fifteen minutes, ensuring to take away it earlier than bedtime.
It’s getting used for quite a lot of direct-to-skin purposes. Beauty chemist Ginger King mentioned, “It’s worth consideration for acne-prone skin care, thanks to its potency in anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects.” She additionally famous that the honey’s soothing qualities make it a preferred ingredient for facial masks and different skincare merchandise.
Nazarian mentioned, “This is a safe and gentle ingredient that works well with most skin types and can be incorporated into a daily skin care regimen.” She pointed first to the honey’s effectiveness in wound therapeutic. “It’s been scientifically recognized as a natural antimicrobial ingredient and effective source of accelerated wound healing when used topically,” she mentioned.
“I’ve seen deep ulcers and wounds that often take months to heal otherwise rapidly respond to topical manuka. Its ability to target bacteria, including staphylococcus, is also useful in keeping the wounds clean and decreasing risk of infection,” she mentioned. However she famous that the honey can also be efficient with persistent circumstances. “It also calms inflammatory skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.”
Martin Ruegner through Getty Photographs
You probably have delicate, infected, dry or irritated pores and skin, it’s possible you’ll wish to give manuka honey a attempt. “It improves the skin’s barrier of hydration and also stimulates repair pathways that are vital for healthy skin,” Nazarian mentioned. She famous that the honey pairs very nicely with different humectants, particularly hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that attracts hydration into the pores and skin. “Using hyaluronic acid to pull in water, and then manuka honey as an emollient to seal in the hydration, is a safe and quick way to boost water content in your skin,” she mentioned.
It’s also possible to ingest it.
Manuka honey is exported from New Zealand to 60 totally different international locations, every of which appears to have a favourite use for it. “For example, in China, people often take a teaspoon each day for gut health,” Ruhs mentioned. “In Germany, if people feel a cold coming on, they take one teaspoon three times a day to ward off illness. It’s really a ‘functional food’ or daily health supplement, especially during cold and flu season.” The standard inner dosage, Ruhs mentioned, is one to 3 teaspoons, swallowed every day.
One factor to notice is that the style could take some getting used to. “It does have a different flavor than other honey,” Hunnes mentioned. “It’s been described almost as slightly menthol-y or with somewhat of a pine tree scent. “
The honey should be eaten at cool or room temperatures, never hot. “It’s composed of bioactive components, so it’s important not to heat or cook it, as that could negatively affect the viability of its beneficial nutrients,” Ruhs mentioned. Provided that proviso, you’ll wish to keep away from utilizing it in any baked items or different sizzling dishes. “It’s not recommended as a sweetener in cooked recipes,” she mentioned.
Ruhs urged consuming it straight from the spoon, in a heat tea or as a variety on sandwiches, toast or crackers. “You can stir it into yogurt and cereal, blend it into a smoothie or top fruit salad with a drizzle,” she mentioned. “It’s a great ingredient in just about any no-cook dish, snack or sauce.”
Nonetheless, use warning.
From a dermatological perspective, there are a number of cautions. “Given its larger spectrum of antimicrobial activity, I would avoid using it with any live culture topicals or topical probiotics,” Nazarian mentioned.
In terms of oral consumption, you do must be cautious. “It’s always recommended to consult with a health care professional before using it for medicinal purposes,” Akunna mentioned. “For example, some people may be allergic to honey and should avoid its consumption. And honey of any kind should never be given to infants who are younger than 1 year old, due to the potential risk of botulism.”
After which there’s the sugar concern. “The biggest or most major concern with manuka honey would be that it is still a very concentrated sugar, which is concerning especially for individuals who have diabetes or insulin resistance,” Hunnes mentioned. She urged paying shut consideration to portion management. “This is one of those instances where just because a little bit of something is good, a lot isn’t better.”
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Maintain this in thoughts earlier than stocking up.
Consultants supplied some recommendation on stocking up. “For wound care, keeping medical-grade manuka honey products on hand can be helpful when minor cuts or burns occur,” mentioned dermatologist Dr. Aleta Simmons, an adjunct professor at Meharry Medical School. “Food-grade manuka honey can be used in the kitchen, often as a replacement for processed sugars as sweeteners.”
“I recommend people know what they are using and research how a product is made or processed,” Simmons mentioned. “Question the amount of honey a product actually has in it. Is it the first ingredient or towards the bottom of the list? Quality matters when you want to experience the benefits of manuka honey, whether you’re using it for your favorite tea or to heal the scrape on your finger.”
Lastly, as you’re studying labels, make sure to search for a trademark often known as UMF™, which signifies that the product has been examined and licensed by the Distinctive Mānuka Issue Honey Affiliation (UMFHA) for efficiency, authenticity, shelf life and freshness. Search for a Distinctive Manuka Issue (UMF) of 15 or extra or methylglyoxal (MGO) of not less than 250.
