What Is Manuka Honey and Why Is It Popular?
Health consciousness is a central topic in all places globally, and especially in Australia. The health products industry in Australia is constantly expanding to include more products regularly. The average health consciousness among Aussies saw a 0.4% rise in the past year. While the number may seem small, it includes a sizable portion of the Australian population.
Several health products, from protein powder to raw honey, are popular in Australia. But the latest one is Manuka Honey. This popularity led to a rise in manuka honey suppliers in Australia. Manuka honey is different from regular or raw honey in numerous ways, but its usage is similar.
What Is So Special About Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey comes from the flowers of a plant in New Zealand by the same name. Bees feeding on these flowers make the manuka honey, which is darker and much thicker than regular or raw honey. Manuka honey is unique because it is high in methylglyoxal or MGO.
MGO is a natural component that has several health benefits and antibacterial properties. Another unique aspect of manuka honey is its bacterial tolerance, which means bacteria cannot evolve tolerance to manuka honey. Manuka honey’s antibacterial properties make it an excellent salve for wounds, and it is thick enough to slather.
How to Buy Manuka Honey
Manuka honey bottles and packaging state their UMF value or “Unique Manuka Factor.” This rating or value denotes the amount of MGO in the honey. Manuka honey is not raw and does undergo some processing, so there are varying MGO values for every batch.
People should opt for the bottle with the highest UMF rating as it indicates a high concentration of MGO, which offers innumerable health benefits. UMF ratings between 10 to 15 have the minimum required MGO level for people to take advantage of the honey’s properties. Ratings with 16 or above have high levels of MGO, making it a superfood.
Why Should People Buy Manuka Honey?
Honey, in general, is a superfood loaded with nutrients for skin, hair, weight loss and vital organs. Manuka honey takes that a step further by also offering medicinal properties. These benefits have scientific backing as several studies confirm that manuka honey provides the following two benefits:
1. Anti Germ Action
Manuka honey provides antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties, making it an apt remedy for colds and coughs. Several people in Australia use Manuka honey to soothe sore throats, sinus infections and colds with noticeable results. The anti-germ action also makes it ideal for wounds, cuts, scrapes, etc.
This honey comes in a much thicker consistency than regular honey and is hard to spread, making it ideal for topical application. While people consume manuka honey for its benefits, it is also popular for its medicinal skin healing properties.
2. Natural Humectant
A humectant attracts water and maintains water levels, hence applying manuka honey on the skin as a moisturiser is also a popular option. This honey helps clear dead skin cells, reviving the skin and allowing it to become softer. Several cosmetic products have manuka honey as their prime ingredient for its moisturising properties.
More studies are underway to research other possible benefits of manuka honey. But the anti-germ and moisturising properties alone make it a worthy addition to any diet or skincare routine. Australian spend more than 13 billion dollars on health products and superfoods annually and are constantly trying to include healthier alternatives in their lives. Manuka honey is the latest to join this list and is sourced from Australia, and hence Aussies can get them at more affordable prices than the rest of the world. Additionally, there are several manuka honey suppliers in Australia, making it widely available.
Author Bio: Alison Lurie is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.
