If you’re looking for a natural sweetener that also comes with a whole host of health benefits, look no further than manuka honey. Unlike other varieties of honey, manuka honey is native to New Zealand and comes from the manuka tree. It’s packed full of antimicrobial properties, making it a great addition to your diet for various reasons. Read on to learn about the top four health benefits of manuka honey, plus how to add it to your diet.
While enjoying something sweet may sound like the exact opposite of what you would want to do to support better oral health, manuka honey may help ward off harmful oral bacteria that’s linked to gum inflammation and tooth decay. It may even be beneficial for keeping bacteria like P. gingivalis at bay.
Honey is an ancient remedy for soothing a sore throat, and manuka honey may do wonders for providing you with some sore throat relief. Plus, it contains antiviral and antibacterial properties to help fight any potential bacteria that’s causing some of the pain. It’s one of those must-have natural remedies to have on hand during cold and flu season.
Some studies have found manuka honey to be beneficial at helping to prevent gastric ulcers that are caused by the H. pylori infection. While studies aren’t conclusive, it may be worth giving a try.
Again, the antibacterial health benefits of manuka honey may be exactly why it may work well to fight off acne. It may help ward off acne-causing bacteria on the skin. It’s also rich in anti-inflammatory properties, which could potentially help reduce any inflammation on the skin.
It’s easy to add this sweet and nutrient-rich honey to your diet. However, since it tends to be quite pricey, you may not want to use it as a sugar replacer in recipes. Instead, try drizzling a small amount into your morning cup of coffee or tea, enjoying a tablespoon in your smoothies, or just enjoying some straight off the spoon!
There’s really no wrong way to enjoy it, and with all of its health benefits, there’s plenty of reasons we should be enjoying manuka honey!