Inflammation's Role in the Body and How Manuka Honey Can Help

Executive Summary

• Inflammation's Natural Role: Inflammation is part of your body's defense system, but keeping it balanced is crucial for everyday comfort and wellness.

• "Honey With Superpowers™": Mānuka honey from New Zealand stands out with its unique compound, methylglyoxal (MGO), plus antioxidants and prebiotics that help support a normal inflammatory response.

• Different MGO Grades: Whether you choose MGO 600+, 850+, or 1000+, each grade offers varying levels of these beneficial compounds, allowing you to tailor your daily support.

• Easy Ways to Enjoy: A spoonful of Mānuka honey can be drizzled on oatmeal, stirred into cooled beverages, or spread onto toast—making it simple to include in a balanced lifestyle.

• Holistic Wellness: While Mānuka honey aids in maintaining healthy inflammation levels, combining it with proper nutrition, regular exercise, and good rest rounds out a comprehensive approach to feeling your best.

Inflammation is a normal part of your body's immune response, acting as a built-in defense mechanism when you face minor injuries or everyday challenges.

However, it's essential to maintain a healthy balance—too much or prolonged inflammation can become a hurdle to feeling your best. 

That's where Manuka honey, often referred to as "Honey With Superpowers™," fits into your daily routine.

By offering beneficial compounds like MGO (methylglyoxal) and unique antioxidants, Manuka honey helps support your body's natural processes and aids in maintaining a balanced inflammatory response. 

In essence, it complements a healthy lifestyle and contributes to everyday wellness, giving you one more reason to enjoy its rich, creamy taste.

What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is your body's built-in alarm system, designed to protect and heal. When you get a small cut or encounter everyday challenges, your immune system triggers a short-term (acute) inflammatory response to address the issue. Once the job is done, inflammation typically subsides. 

However, if these signals stay activated for too long, it can lead to chronic (long-term) inflammation, which may disrupt how comfortable you feel on a day-to-day basis.

• Although inflammation serves an essential purpose, maintaining a healthy balance is key.

• Short-term inflammation helps your body respond quickly to minor mishaps, working to heal and protect.

• Ongoing, excessive inflammation may affect your overall wellness over time.

• Focusing on balanced nutrition, regular movement, and mindful stress management supports your immune system in keeping inflammation in check.

• Allowing these protective processes to work correctly can help you feel your best every day.

The Importance of a Balanced Inflammatory Response

A well-supported, balanced inflammatory response can make a big difference in how you feel each day.

When inflammation remains at healthy levels, it helps maintain normal immune function, encourages a comfortable sense of well-being, and supports a thriving digestive system.

By avoiding extremes—neither too high nor too low—you're giving your body the best chance to operate smoothly.

A variety of healthy habits, including a balanced diet, proper hydration, regular exercise, and quality rest, can boost this balance.

In the same way, incorporating nutrient-rich foods like Manuka honey into your routine provides an extra layer of support for everyday wellness, helping you stay energized and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

Manuka Honey 101

Manuka honey is often referred to as "Honey With Superpowers™" because it's produced by bees that gather nectar from the flowers of the Manuka tea tree in New Zealand.

Unlike regular honey, Manuka contains a unique compound called methylglyoxal (MGO), along with unique antioxidants and prebiotics that support everyday wellness.

At Manukora, we take this remarkable honey to the next level through traditional beekeeping methods in remote New Zealand regions. These practices allow us to keep the honey raw, which preserves its rich, creamy texture and flavor.

Each jar of Manuka honey is fully traceable to its source, offering peace of mind that it's free from glyphosate, antibiotics, and GMOs. By maintaining strict standards from hive to jar, we can deliver a level of quality that sets us apart from other brands. 

Whether you enjoy it by the spoonful or blend it into your favorite drinks, Manukora's Manuka honey provides a delicious way to support your daily wellness—just as nature intended.

How Manuka Honey Can Support a Healthy Inflammatory Balance

One reason Manuka honey stands out is its unique antioxidants and polyphenols, which help support the body's natural defenses.

By offering an added layer of protection against oxidative stress, these compounds play a role in maintaining a healthy inflammatory response.

Think of it as giving your body gentle assistance to help manage normal inflammation levels so you can continue feeling your best day after day.

In addition to these antioxidants, Manuka honey contains a special antibacterial compound called MGO (methylglyoxal):

• MGO (methylglyoxal): This compound supports the immune system and helps maintain the body's natural processes in balance.

• Manukora's Higher MGO Grades: 

• MGO 600+: Provides elevated concentrations of these beneficial compounds for everyday support.

• MGO 850+: Delivers more substantial levels of MGO and antioxidants for those looking for an extra boost.

• MGO 1000+: Offers the highest concentration of MGO for a more robust wellness option.

• Whether you're new to Manuka honey or already use it regularly, opting for a higher MGO grade can give you access to even more of these naturally occurring benefits.

Beyond its antioxidants and MGO content, Manuka honey also contains nutrients that help support a standard, high-functioning immune system.

By reinforcing the body's everyday defenses, this unique honey ultimately plays a positive role in keeping inflammatory responses from tipping out of balance. 

With its rich, creamy taste and versatile uses—from drizzling over your morning oats to enjoying it straight off the spoon—manuka honey is a convenient way to give your wellness routine a little extra boost.

Researchers recognize that Manuka honey contains methylglyoxal (MGO)—a compound not commonly found in other varieties of honey. Higher MGO levels often correlate with more potent antibacterial properties and enhanced immune support, making Manuka a uniquely valuable addition to a balanced wellness routine.

Choosing the Right MGO Grade

Choosing the correct MGO grade depends on how you plan to incorporate Manuka honey into your everyday wellness routine.

If you're seeking a gentle yet noticeable level of support, MGO 600+ offers beneficial compounds for normal digestion and day-to-day immune function. 

Meanwhile, MGO 850+ provides a more robust concentration for those looking to boost their wellness, especially when it comes to supporting a healthy inflammatory balance. 

Finally, MGO 1000+ stands at the top of the potency scale, delivering the maximum level of MGO and antioxidants for anyone who wants the ultimate option in their daily routine.

To simplify things for newcomers, Manukora now features three Superhoney Starter Kits—one for each grade—so you can experience the unique taste and potential benefits firsthand.

Each kit reflects Manukora's commitment to quality and its updated focus on three main MGO levels, ensuring you find the perfect match for your wellness goals.

How to Incorporate Manuka Honey Into Your Routine

Consistency is key when adding Manuka honey to your lifestyle, and many people find that enjoying 1–3 heaped teaspoons each day can be beneficial.

Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle

Manuka honey is best used as part of a holistic, balanced lifestyle. While its unique compounds can support normal immune function and a healthy inflammatory response, they are not a standalone solution. 

Combine your daily spoonful of Manuka honey with nourishing meals that include whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Stay active by fitting in regular exercise—anything from brisk walks to yoga—to keep your body moving and resilient. 

Proper rest, hydration, and stress management are equally important and help round out your routine. By blending these elements with a consistent approach to Manuka honey, you're giving your body the steady, well-rounded support it needs to feel its best day after day.

Conclusion

A balanced inflammatory response is key to feeling your best each day, and Manuka honey can help support that goal. 

With its unique blend of antioxidants, MGO (methylglyoxal), and prebiotics, this "Honey With Superpowers™" complements a healthy diet and lifestyle, helping maintain everyday wellness. 

Ready to experience it for yourself? Take the next step toward a naturally sweet way to support your body's balance and well-being with Manukora.

References:

1. Main, E. N., Huang, J. C., & Bowlin, G. L. (2024). Methyl Syringate: A Primary Driving Factor in Manuka Honey's Ability to Ameliorate Neutrophil Intracellular ROS Activity and NETosis. Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark Edition, 29(7), 255.

2. Kaźmierczak-Barańska, J., & Karwowski, B. T. (2024). The Antioxidant Potential of Commercial Manuka Honey from New Zealand—Biochemical and Cellular Studies. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 46(7), 6366–6376.

3. Leong, A. G., Herst, P. M., & Harper, J. L. (2012). Indigenous New Zealand honeys exhibit multiple anti-inflammatory activities. Innate Immunity, 18(3), 459–466.

4. Green, K.J. et al. (2022). Correlation of the antibacterial activity of commercial Manuka and Leptospermum honeys from Australia and New Zealand with methylglyoxal content and other physicochemical characteristics. PLOS ONE, 17(7): e0272376.