Executive Summary:
- Turmeric is well-studied for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties provided by its active compound curcumin.
- Honey, especially Manuka honey, contains many beneficial nutrients that can support your immune system, digestive health, energy levels, and more.
- Turmeric and honey make a powerful and tasty combination that can be enjoyed in many delicious ways, such as in tea, as part of your morning smoothie, or mixed together to make a unique salad dressing.
Turmeric & Honey: A Powerful Duo for Health & Wellness
Turmeric is known for its vibrant, bright yellow color and distinct bitter and peppery flavor. However, it also has a rich history of medicinal uses in Ayurveda, Siddha, and Chinese medicines. This is largely thanks to the active compound in turmeric called curcumin.
While turmeric is a classic addition to curries and mustards, there’s much to be gained by combining turmeric and honey. In particular, the beneficial nutrients of Manuka honey alongside turmeric offer an almost unbeatable duo—especially for overall wellness support. So, let’s dig into these so-called “superfoods” further. How can turmeric and honey benefit you and your life?
The Healing Properties of Turmeric
In India, turmeric has been used as a spice and medicinal herb for centuries. Within the Indian Ayurveda medicine system, turmeric was traditionally used to support eye health, maintain digestion, and promote skin health.
Yet, it wasn’t until recently that researchers highlighted why this particular spice is associated with so many incredible benefits. So, let’s take a closer look at how turmeric may support your body and your health.
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Turmeric, particularly its active component curcumin, has been well-researched for its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s thought that curcumin may act on certain immune regulatory pathways, giving way to these potential effects.
In turn, this may support regular body function, such as maintaining good digestion, good energy levels, and more.
Antioxidant Properties
At the same time, however, curcumin has also been shown to increase antioxidant capacity in the body. This, too, may support its anti-inflammatory effects. Yet, what does this mean exactly?
Well, during natural metabolic processes, the body produces compounds called free radicals. In high amounts, these free radicals can cause damage to the body’s cells and systems. Luckily, antioxidants prevent these entities from doing too much harm. In this way, curcumin found in turmeric may help maintain the function of the body’s systems, supporting your overall health and wellness.
May Support the Production of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) helps regulate synapses, where communication between nerve cells occurs, in the brain. This is essential for proper cognitive functioning, including good memory function and learning.
Interestingly, studies suggest that curcumin has the power to support BDNF levels, which may, in turn, promote cognitive function.
The Wellness Benefits of Honey
The nutrients found in honey, on the other hand, have also been linked to various beneficial health effects. In particular, specific nutrients are linked to antibacterial effects, which we take a more detailed look at below.
The Antibacterial Properties of Honey
The antibacterial effects found in the contents of honey are primarily due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide. This compound is made when the bees add an enzyme called glucose oxidase to the nectar. As such, this enzymatic activity, combined with honey's low pH and low moisture content, creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria.
However, this isn’t the end-all, be-all of honey’s antibacterial story. Manuka honey, in particular, gains significant antibacterial qualities from its high methylglyoxal (MGO) levels. MGO is a compound only found in the nectar of the Manuka tea tree, which the bees collect to produce this one-of-a-kind honey.
Thus, it’s not just about choosing any kind of honey; in fact, Manuka honey is sought-after worldwide for its vast collection of beneficial nutrients. So, in the next section, we take a closer look at the nutrients honey contains and how they support your overall wellness.
Other Beneficial Nutrients in Honey
Honey, especially Manuka honey, is a rich source of antioxidants, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. But, on top of this, as previously mentioned, Manuka honey contains MGO. In fact, the darker your Manuka honey, the more MGO it likely contains.
Additionally, Manuka honey is also made up of:
Lastly, honey contains several vitamins and minerals in small quantities. These include vitamin C, calcium, iron, and more, which can further support your body and health in various ways.
Combining Turmeric and Honey
Considering the above, combining turmeric and honey can support your health in various ways. This synergistic combo complements one another, supporting each other’s beneficial nutrients to support you!
However, it’s not all about wellness support; the natural sweetness of honey can temper the slightly bitter and earthy taste of turmeric, making it more appealing. So, how can you enjoy this duo together?
Practical Ways to Incorporate Turmeric and Honey into Your Diet
Enjoy turmeric and honey together in various ways. Try these easy-to-follow recipes to gain the powers of this undeniably super duo:
- Make a turmeric and honey tea, but make sure only to add the honey once the water has cooled off of a boil (This will help better retain the beneficial nutrients of honey, which can be depleted when heated).
- Add turmeric and honey to your morning smoothie. Turmeric can add a bit of zest, while honey will add a hint of sweetness.
- Mix a teaspoon of turmeric and a teaspoon of honey into a warm cup of milk.
- Combine olive oil, vinegar, a teaspoon of turmeric, and a bit of honey together for a delightfully delicious salad dressing.
- Create a unique spread for sourdough, pancakes, and more by mixing honey and turmeric together.
Manukora’s Commitment to Wellness
At Manukora, we are dedicated to harnessing the purity and potent beneficial nutrients of premium Manuka honey products. With us, every jar is guaranteed not only to be directly from the pristine landscape of New Zealand but also to contain the beneficial components from the Manuka tea tree flower.
Our team is committed to ensuring sustainability and authenticity every step of the way. Each jar is carefully harvested by our trusted beekeepers using The Art of Ethical Beekeeping. This means we strive to disturb the bees as little as possible.
After harvesting (and very little processing; we let the bees finish their tedious and delicate work!), each jar undergoes third-party testing. This ensures you get authentic MGO-containing honey every time. In fact, you can uncover the exact levels of compounds and even meet the beekeeper who tended to your batch of honey by scanning the QR code found on each jar.
At Manukora, we know that sustainability is an important piece of the health and wellness of our society as a whole. Without the bees, we’d see most of our crops vanish and a life-threatening decline in our food sources. Thus, we strive to do our part and look after our buzzing friends who give us this delicious golden liquid.
Explore This Powerful Duo Today!
Turmeric and honey can be part of a balanced and healthy diet. In fact, we encourage it; after all, our health and wellness are truly priceless. Thus, looking after ourselves with all-natural dietary options is one of the best things we can do.
So, why not mix your Manuka honey with turmeric today? Try this spicy new option for an innovative wellness twist on your regular daily dose of this yummy golden liquid.
Sources:
Curcuma Longa - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Antioxidant Potential of Curcumin—A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials - PMC
BDNF and synaptic plasticity, cognitive function, and dysfunction
