Apart
being used as a natural sweetener, honey has long been advocated
for its health-enhancing properties because it can be a natural
remedy for:
Reducing
cough and throat irritation
Alleviating
sore throats
Reducing
gastrointestinal disorders like peptic ulcer, acid reflux, indigestion,
heartburn, nausea and vomiting, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea
and gastroenteritis
Regulating
blood sugar levels
Curing
burns and wounds
Acting
as an antibacterial, antifungal and antiinflammatory agent
Getting
rid of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
One
particular type of honey which is gaining more and more popularity
is manuka honey which is produced from the manuka bush or New
Zealand tea tree(Leptospermum scoparium) by introduced European
honey bees which forage on it. There are two types of manuka honey
ie the raw manuka honey and the ordinary manuka honey. The raw
version is in its natural state whereas the ordinary version has
been processed.
When
purchasing manuka honey, always check whether there is UMF or
MGO on the product label. UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor
which is a quality trademark and is an indication for natural
undenatured manuka honey, hence you can rest assured of the quality
and purity of the honey. The number on the right of UMF is how
potent the manuka honey is in terms of its antibacterial and healing
power, the higher that number, the more potent it becomes. A UMF
of 5+ or 10+ can be used for daily health maintenance but if you
want more antibacterial properties from the manuka honey, choose
one with at least a UMF of 15. A manuka honey with an UMF of 20
and above is definitely one with high antibacterial properties
and even more beneficial for health.
As for MGO, it stands for Methylglyoxal and is an antibacterial
component. While UMF is the industry standard for determining
the strength of the antibacterial properties of the manuka honey,
MGO is exclusively used by Manuka Health New Zealand Ltd but both
indicate the power of the antibiotic qualities and antibacterial
benefits of the manuka honey. The higher the MGO number, the more
potent the manuka honey is. If you see either UMF or MGO, you
can trust the quality of the product. As a general guideline,
check out the conversion guide of UMF vs MGO below:
UMF 5+ = A minimum UMF rating of 5 and a minimum MGO rating of
83 (Premium Grade)
UMF 10+ = A minimum UMF rating of 10 and a minimum MGO rating
of 261 (Super Premium Grade)
UMF 15+ = A minimum UMF rating of 15 and a minimum MGO rating
of 514 (Super Premium Grade)
UMF 18+ = A minimum UMF rating of 18 and a minimum MGO rating
of 692 (Ultra Premium Grade)
UMF 20+ = A minimum UMF rating of 20 and a minimum MGO rating
of 829 (Ultra Premium Grade)
Manuka
honey can be enjoyed on toast, oatmeal, yogurt, high protein pancakes,
protein shakes, smoothies, straight off the spoon, favorite tea
but can also be applied as an ointment on wounds and burns.
If
you're looking for some of the best manuka honey to buy, check
out the list below.
Raw
Certified NPA 20+ Highest Grade Manuka Honey MGO 820+ Medicinal
Strength - BPA Free Jar - Cold Extraction - Independently Verified
250g
Steens®
Manuka Honey UMF Certified 24+ (MGO 1122+) | 100% Raw Unpasteurized
Honey From New Zealand | Contains Natural Healing Properties for
Sore Throats & Immunity | Traceability Code on Each Label
Steens
Manuka Honey UMF Certified 20+ (MGO 829+) | 100% Raw Unpasteurized
Honey From New Zealand | Contains Natural Healing Properties for
Sore Throats & Immunity | Traceability Code on Each Label
Steens
Manuka Honey UMF 15+ (MGO 514+) | 100% Raw Unpasteurized Honey
From New Zealand | Contains Natural Healing Properties for Sore
Throats & Immunity | Traceability Code on Each Label
Comvita
Manuka Honey UMF 20+ (Ultra Premium) New Zealand Honey, 250g (8.8oz)
Manukora
Manuka Honey UMF 20+, 500g (1.1 lbs)
Kiva
Certified UMF 20+ - Raw Manuka Honey (8.8 oz)
Manukora
Manuka Honey UMF 15+, 500g (1.1 lbs)
Wild
Cape UMF 15+ East Cape Manuka Honey, 500g (1.1 lb)
Certified
UMF18+ (MGO 692) Manuka Honey 280gm glass jar (9.87oz) from the
ecofriendly brand Tahi
Happy
Valley UMF 15+ Manuka Honey, 250g (8.8oz)
Happy
Valley UMF 18+ Manuka Honey, 500g (17.6oz)
Manuka
Health - MGO 550+ Manuka Honey, 100% Pure New Zealand Honey, 8.8
oz (250 g)
Manuka
Health - MGO 400+ Manuka Honey, 100% Pure New Zealand Honey, 1.1
lbs (500 g)
Melora
UMF 15+ Manuka Honey, 500g (17.6oz)
Y.S.
Eco Bee Farms, Raw Manuka Honey, Active 15+, 12 oz (340 g)
Bella
New Zealand Manuka Honey Certified UMF 20+ | 8.8oz | 250g | Raw
Ultra Premium 100% New Zealand Manuka Honey | Supports Immunity
Naturally
Bees
& Trees 100% Raw New Zealand Manuka Honey (medium activity),
380gm
