By now, we all know that sugar in all its refined form is toxic to the human body. If you’re health conscious like I am, you can use natural honey as a viable substitute. With the raging popularity of raw honey benefits, be mindful that not all are created equally.
Since this product is loosely regulated by the Food and drug Administration (FDA), the place where to find the best honey to buy plays a crucial role. In this article, I will examine raw Manuka honey benefits, known potential side effects, and reviews of some of the best brands of Manuka honey.
What is Manuka Honey?
Natural Manuka honey is sourced and produced in New Zealand by wild bees residing in the Manuka bush region of the country. A small amount is also produced in the Australian wild country region.
Manuka honey is famous worldwide because it is a delicious tasting natural dark colored honey, with many antioxidant properties. Anti-bacterial healing powers is one of the benefits of Manuka honey.
The most popular Manuka honey are the ones sourced from the valleys and hills of New Zealand wilderness.
7 of the Best Manuka Honey to Buy
1 – Wedderspoon Raw Manuka Honey
The Manuka honey from Wedderspoon is antibiotic free, unpasteurized, and not genetically modified in any way.
In a nutshell, it means this brand of Manuka honey does not engage in the practice of industrial blending with other honey, which is prevalent within the industry.
Each batch of Wedderspoon Manuka honey can be traced back to the beekeeper where it was sourced from. The unique Manuka factor for this brand is 16+, which is a good potency rating.
2 – Manuka Health MGO 400+ Manuka Honey
This brand is using the name of the product itself. This Manuka honey brand has a high concentration of methylglyoxal properties and has one of the highest potency ratings within the industry (20+).
Manuka Health MGO 400+ Manuka Honey will assist in relieving the symptoms of sore throats, acid reflux, and colds.
You can also use it as a face mask to clear up adult acne with just one application.
Healing Power of Natural Honey
From ancient times, honey has been successfully used to treat multiple conditions. In the late 19th century, researchers discovered that raw honey has some useful anti-bacterial properties.
Honey offers some needed protection from damage that can be caused by bacteria. Manuka honey has the power to stimulate the production of special cells that can help in repairing body tissues damaged by infection.
Other Manuka raw organic honey benefits include the ability to reduce inflammation and pain once it is applied.
You should know that the health benefit of raw honey is based on where it is sourced from, and production methods. You can read this article to see the different types of money.
3 – Healing Honey – Active Manuka
This brand of Manuka honey is organic and raw, with a potency rating of 15+. This is highly beloved by customers that have tried it, and will aid in soothing the symptoms of sore throats, tummy aches, acid reflux, etc.
Just a teaspoonful will help improve the power of your immune system to withstand and fight infections.
In Australia, this product is classified as Therapeutic Good, which is the equivalent of drug registration and approval by the FDA in America.
Manuka Honey Components
One of the major components of natural honey is hydrogen peroxide. This is what allows it to have antibiotic healing powers. Manuka honey is among a small group of natural honey with antibacterial properties.
One of the most powerful antibacterial components is called methylglyoxal (MG), which can be found in large quantities in raw Manuka honey.
In Manuka honey, the MG component is derived when another compound called dihydroxyacetone is converted. This compound is found in high concentrated amounts within the nectar of the Manuka flowers.
The high concentration of MG in Manuka honey is what gives it the antibacterial powers. Worldwide natural honey producers came together and established a rating scale for the potency of Manuka honey.
The common name for the rating is Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). The higher the rating number, the more potent the Manuka honey is thought to be. 10 UMF is the minimum acceptable rating for all Manuka honey sold worldwide.
4 – Raw Manuka Honey YS Eco Bee Farms
This raw Manuka honey from YS Eco Bee Farms is unpasteurized and unfiltered. It has a potency rating of about UMF 15+
If you’ve been looking for exotic raw honey in its rarest form, this is the ideal one to buy. It will help with any digestive problems and should be kept out of the reach of small children.
How is Manuka Honey Used?
One of the medical uses for Manuka honey is to put it on top of a wound. Mostly, it can be used to treat minor burns and wounds.
Since the rise of the popularity for this product, it is now been touted as helpful in relieving or curing the following conditions:
Able to reduce high cholesterol
Can assist in reducing systemic inflammation
Help to relieve gastrointestinal problems
Can be used in preventing and treating cancer
Aid in the treatment of diabetes
Can help relieve the symptoms of ear, eye, and sinus infections
These wild claims are partially substantiated, but more conclusive tests are needed for it to be definite.
Be mindful, that the honey that can be used to treat wounds must be medical-grade honey. This means it has been sterilized and made ready to be used as a dressing first aid. So your jar of Manuka honey should not be used as part of your first aid kit, as it might do more harm than good.
There is no doubt that Manuka honey has some healing powers, as millions of current users worldwide cannot be all wrong.
5 – Manuka Doctor Bio Active Honey
If you’re looking for Manuka honey brand with high potency (20+), this is it. Manuka Doctor Bio Active Honey uses only sourced Manuka honey from New Zealand and it is certified.
It has antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which has been independently tested and verified.
Be mindful, that the company also makes other lower and higher potency brands of Manuka honey. This particular one has a rating of 20+, but you can also buy one with rating of 24+, 15+ or 10+.
Possible Manuka Honey Side Effects
Can you be allergic to honey? The correct answer is a partial yes! Despite all the healing power claims attributed to this product, raw honey dangers still exist. After many years of test and studies, here are some of the possible side effects:
Botulism
Manuka honey in its raw form can carry botulism, a deadly toxin that can cause havoc in the nervous system. Botulism in the nervous system can cause paralysis.
It can enter the body through applying the raw honey to open wounds or through the digestive tract. So it might be better to buy Manuka honey that has been sterilized to prevent exposure to botulism.
Skin Irritation
Since Manuka honey has high acidity, it can cause stinging or burning when applied to open wounds.
May Cause Digestive Tract Issues
Manuka honey contains natural fructose sugar. If you have fructose intolerance, you might experience digestive problems after consuming Manuka honey.
6 – Comvita Manuka Honey UMF
Comvita Manuka Honey has a potency rating of UMF 15+, and directly imported from New Zealand.
Based on the many reviews, the taste for this brand of Manuka honey is pretty good.
Amazingly, over 97% of current users of the product like it and would gladly recommend it to friends and family members. This Manuka honey brand is powerful enough to ease stomach pains.
7 – New Zealand Manuka Raw Honey Active UMF15+
All Happy Valley Manuka honey is independently tested and verified for its potency rating, which is 15+.
This Manuka honey brand has all the healing and anti-bacterial properties associated with the raw form of Manuka honey.
Just a few teaspoonful will assist in reducing symptoms from digestion problems, skin ailments etc.
This raw Manuka honey from Happy Valley will help make your immunity stronger while giving you an energy boost at the same time.
Manuka honey where to buy
If you’re asking – where can I buy Manuka honey, several of the links provided in this review article will take you to the best website with one of the lowest prices for Manuka honey.
Paula F. Kennedy
{ 0 comments… add one }