Mānuka's Superpowers

Manuka Honey Benefits and Uses

Manukora

Published at: October 12, 2022
Updated at: December 4, 2024

9 minutes

Executive Summary:

Manuka honey contains many naturally occurring nutrients that support our health in various ways.
Most notably, Manuka honey includes nutrients like MGO, Leptosperin, DHA, and fructooligosaccharides, which contribute to its superfood status.
The nutrients in Manuka honey help support the immune system, digestive health, and more.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy Manuka honey in any lifestyle, including enjoying a heaping spoonful each day.

Longevity is a common goal among health-conscious individuals. Thanks to technology and science, we’re living longer than ever before. Yet, does Manuka honey have a place here? How can it help contribute to your long-term health?

Manuka honey is packed with beneficial nutrients and has a yummy, creamy, and sweet taste. However, don’t let the sweetness trick you; Manuka honey is extremely nourishing on many levels.

Its rare nutrients, such as MGO and Leptosperin, help maintain immunity, digestion, and overall health. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the monumental health benefits of the nutrients in Manuka honey.

What Is Manuka Honey?

Manuka honey is derived from the nectar of the Manuka tree, also known as the New Zealand tea tree. It's monofloral, meaning the honey consists of nectar from one tree species, the Leptospermum scoparium (also known as the New Zealand tea tree or Manuka bush), which is just one of several reasons why Manuka honey is considered unique and rare.

Manuka honey has a long history, dating back to the indigenous Māori, the country’s first settlers who call it taonga, or treasure, as they found an astounding number of uses for it.

Adding Manuka honey throughout your day is also really simple. Have a heaping spoonful all on its own, or stir it into your warm beverages. Whenever you need a bit of sweetness, use honey instead of artificial sweetener or sugar.

Is Manuka Honey a Superfood?

"Superfood" is another way to say a specific food has the potential to offer a wealth of health benefits. Superfoods are often nutrient-dense and high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Manuka honey has naturally occurring nutrients like MGO, Leptosperin, DHA (dihydroxyacetone), and fructo-oligosaccharides—which offer wellness benefits from digestive support to antioxidant effects. The potency of these nutrients contributes to Manuka honey famously being dubbed a superfood.

Key Nutrients in Manuka Honey

Manuka honey is celebrated for its high nutrient content, containing MGO, unique antioxidants, and prebiotics.

Methylglyoxal (MGO)

MGO (methylglyoxal) is one of Manuka’s main nutrients. It offers special antibacterial properties that come straight from the nectar of the Manuka tree itself. As the bees use this nectar to produce this rich and creamy honey, the benefits of MGO carry over into the finished product.

Leptosperin

This golden elixir also contains an exclusive antioxidant called Leptosperin. Remarkably, 70% of the antioxidants in Manuka honey are not found in any other honey. These unique antioxidants can help support general wellness and maintain a healthy body. Now, that’s a lot of goodness packed into a single spoonful!

Fructo-oligosaccharides

Yet, there’s more... Panose is a unique oligosaccharide in Manuka honey that acts as a prebiotic, supporting digestive and gut health. This helps maintain a healthy microbiome balance, which is important for overall wellness.

Treating the honey with the utmost respect and care is key to preserving these beneficial properties. At Manukora, we keep our honey in its most raw state—unpasteurized, project non-GMO verified, glyphosate residue-free—with ethical beekeeping and sustainability at the forefront.

Health Benefits of Manuka Honey

Manuka honey isn’t just delicious and sweet. Its nutrition profile gives way to various health benefits, ensuring you’re looking after your body in the best way possible. So, what health benefits does this honey have to offer? Let's see:

1. A Better Way To Sweeten

Everyone is guilty of having a sweet tooth, but Manuka honey can help offset the common side effects that too much sugar consumption can cause. Since it’s low on the glycemic index and digests slower, you can expect fewer blood sugar spikes. This can mean a more stable mood and steady energy as you go about your day.

While Manuka honey may taste like one of your cheat days, it’s considered one of nature's most nourishing indulgences. You can enjoy Manuka honey straight from a spoon, drizzled over Greek yogurt, or even as a way to sweeten your favorite savory sauce.

Whether you’re stirring it into your morning tea, drizzling it over a nourishing bowl of oatmeal, or savoring a spoonful to start up your day, Manuka honey is more than just a food—it’s a daily wellness ritual. Embrace the simple, sweet, and natural power of Manuka honey, and allow it to become your daily and guilt-free indulgence.

Mother Nature’s sweetener offers benefits your typical table sugar has never even dreamed of, and while you should still consume honey in moderation, your body will appreciate the thoughtful substitution.

2. Improves General Wellness

Manuka honey has high levels of many nutrients that work to support your wellness journey — in more ways than one. When taken as a spoonful to start your day, Manuka honey can also help fuel increased and sustained energy thanks to its natural sugar content.

3. Immune Support

Many people claim the nutrients in Manuka honey support immune function. This is why honey, in general, is a common option for supporting a comfortable and healthy throat. Perhaps you’ve experienced this before; the thick consistency of honey helps to coat the throat, helping maintain optimal comfort. Meanwhile, the antibacterial properties of MGO further help support your immune system.

4. Digestive Health

As more and more research comes out, we’re realizing gut health has a bigger impact beyond digestion. For instance, recent research demonstrates the undeniable connection between the brain and the gut, indicating compromised gut health can impact our bodies and our mood. Surprisingly, the gut even produces about 95% of the body’s serotonin, also called the happy hormone.

An imbalanced gut may occur when you have more “bad” gut bacteria than “good” gut bacteria. This can happen due to stress or even from what we eat.

Good gut health is key to sustainable long-term health. Luckily, Manuka honey can help maintain a good microbiome balance in the gut. Containing prebiotics, like panose, the nutrients in this honey help support the “good” bacteria in your gut.

Luckily, there are many ways you can maintain a healthy microbiome balance — the nutrients in Manuka honey being one delicious method. Along with MGO, oligosaccharides are another naturally occurring nutrient in Manuka honey. This natural prebiotic can aid in digestive support and gut health by helping to feed and nourish your good gut bacteria. This ensures everything functions as it should.

Incorporate Manuka Honey into Your Routine

Here are some practical ways to enjoy Manuka honey daily:

No	Ways to Use Manuka Honey
1	Enjoy a heaping spoonful straight from the jar.
2	Stir it into warm (not hot) herbal tea.
3	Blend it into your daily smoothie.
4	Use it as a natural sweetener in recipes, adding it after cooking to preserve its nutrients.
5	Drizzle over yogurt or oatmeal for a touch of natural sweetness.

Be careful when adding Manuka honey to any hot dish or beverage, as heat may deplete the beneficial nutrients in this golden nectar. For this reason, at Manukora, we recommend not heating the honey above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Letting your tea cool after boiling or adding honey last to your dish can ensure you don’t lose the beneficial compounds.

Are There Side Effects of Manuka Honey?

You’re aware of all the benefits Manuka honey’s nutrients offer, but are there any potential side effects to using this type of honey? Unless you have a bee-related allergy, there should be no issues with you consuming this natural superfood. On another note, babies under one year of age shouldn’t consume honey due to the risk of botulism.

Manuka honey contains natural sugars, so it's advisable to consider your overall sugar intake as part of a balanced diet.

Enjoying Manuka honey daily can be a delightful addition to your wellness routine.

Sustainable Practices: Manukora’s Commitment

Manukora creates premium Manuka honey, ethically sourced from remote, dense forests of New Zealand. Committed to The Art of Ethical Beekeeping, Manukora’s beekeepers ensure the environment and bees are taken care of. We believe when our bees are happy, our honey benefits, too.

Additionally, each Manukora product has a unique QR code that can be scanned to show you information about your honey, such as the MGO content, the beekeeper who tended to your specific batch, and more. As a health-conscious consumer, you can know exactly what you are consuming and where it has come from.

Manukora’s delicious nectar is ethically harvested and produced, and only non-GMO verified ingredients are used. Free from toxins, pesticides, and glyphosate, alongside third-party testing, Manukora is committed to producing the highest-grade, ethically produced Manuka honey straight from New Zealand.

FAQs

How does Manukora ensure the authenticity of their Manuka honey?

Manukora puts each honey product through rigorous testing and an MGO grading system. Every product is sent to third-party testing sites to confirm its high-grade MGO content and quality. Additionally, every Manukora honey product has a unique QR code that provides details about its origin, beekeeper, potency, and certification.

What differentiates Manuka honey from other types of honey?

Manuka honey is derived solely from the nectar of the Manuka tree, native to New Zealand. It's a monofloral honey, meaning it comes from one tree species only. Moreover, it possesses unique beneficial compounds, such as MGO, that are linked to various health benefits.

How much Manuka honey is recommended for daily consumption?

You can enjoy Manuka honey daily as part of your wellness routine. It's generally safe for most people unless you have a bee-related allergy. Be mindful of your overall sugar intake as part of a balanced diet.

The Bottom Line

Manuka honey contains many nutrients that provide numerous wellness benefits. Its rich and delicious flavors make it easy to integrate into any daily routine. You can indulge in a sweet treat with the peace of mind that it’s actually working with your wellness journey, not against it.

As Manuka honey gains popularity, it's natural to be curious about its unique qualities. The best way to understand its allure is by experiencing its exceptional taste and the nutrients it offers firsthand. Begin your Manuka honey journey by exploring our range, from the rich Manuka Honey MGO 600+ to the exceptional Manuka Honey MGO 1000+.

At Manukora, we prioritize our bees, which results in the highest quality Honey With Superpowers™ possible. We love that we can keep our hives happy and healthy while providing a uniquely sweet yet beneficial indulgence like no other.

Ready to try it for yourself? Our MGO 600+ Manuka honey is a great place to start. We also offer starter kits featuring our premium MGO 600+, 850+, and 1000+ grades, providing an excellent introduction to our Honey With Superpowers™. Explore the rest of what Manukora has to offer here.