Executive Summary:

• Raw Manuka honey contains MGO, naturally occurring prebiotics, glucose, and fructose to support healthy energy levels.

• Combining raw honey with lifestyle changes like getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced and healthy diet can support sustained energy.

• You can consume Manuka honey straight from the spoon, drizzled over toast, mixed into coffee or tea, and many other ways.

You may have heard that honey can help boost your energy, but how does that work? Well, our bodies need carbohydrates to operate efficiently, and you can get a good amount of carbohydrates from honey.  

Many people consume caffeine to stay awake, but caffeine can cause withdrawals and fatigue when consumed in excess. You can receive short bursts of energy from processed sugars, but those bursts are usually followed by the inevitable sugar crash. 

Honey is a little different. Raw honey is naturally rich in certain compounds that can naturally support those feelings of energy that help get you through your morning productively and in a good mood. 

Days are long, and constantly feeling low in energy can make them feel even longer. If you’re looking for an energy option that offers benefits beyond a little pep in your step, read on to learn more about raw Manuka honey.

What Are the Components of Raw Manuka Honey? 

Before we discuss the abilities of raw Manuka honey, let’s talk about the different components that ultimately make up this healthy indulgence.

MGO (Methylglyoxal)

Depending on the variety, Manuka honey is potent in MGO, an organic and naturally occurring compound that only comes from the nectar of the Manuka tree. The antibacterial properties of MGO can help promote overall wellbeing, which is why we test all of our Manuka honey to make sure it has a high concentration of MGO.

Alongside MGO, authentic Manuka honey contains leptosperin, DHA, and other markers used by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to identify authentic Manuka. These compounds can also help support immune function and overall wellness.

Antioxidants

Leptosperin is the key antioxidant in Manuka honey. This highly active phytochemical in Manuka honey makes up a majority of Manuka’s concentrated polyphenol levels and significantly contributes to its antioxidant properties. Leptosperin is unique to Manuka honey, adding to its distinctive and rare nature. 

Prebiotics

Another crucial component in Manuka honey is its prebiotic content; specifically, oligosaccharides — a natural carbohydrate that works to feed the gut’s microbiome. 

Your gut microbiome can affect your entire body, even your brain. If your gut health isn’t up to par, it can result in low energy levels, mood swings, and other issues that you may not immediately think to link to your gut health. 

Manuka honey with an MGO rating of 850+ is home to natural prebiotics that help support healthy microbiotal balance in the gut.

Glucose 

In order to stay energized, carbohydrates are a necessary part of a balanced diet — these are converted into glucose during digestion. Glucose is the body’s main energy source, and travels throughout the bloodstream to serve as fuel for virtually every biological process in your body. 

Because honey naturally has high levels of glucose, it can support steady feelings of energy, especially between meals or for bolstering breakfast when you need those carbs to kickstart your day. 

Fructose

Fructose is another naturally occurring sugar that our bodies use for energy. While fructose is commonly found in fruits, it’s also a prominent component of raw honey. 

However, natural fructose and the high fructose corn syrup found in a majority of processed foods and sugar drinks aren’t the same. 

While neither is more or less healthy, high fructose corn syrup is easy to produce, and is often overloaded into snacks, sodas, and even condiments. Where there’s high fructose corn syrup, there’s also usually way, way too much added sugar. 

Natural fructose can be found in foods like honey, sugar beets, sugar cane, and vegetables, which make for healthier alternatives to processed snack foods and energy drinks that can have you meet your daily max recommended amount of added sugar in just a couple of servings. 

How Can I Eat Manuka Honey? 

While our Manuka honey tastes great straight from the spoon, we understand if you’d like to get more creative with your liquid gold. 

Manuka honey has a distinct flavor that’s more robust, rich, and creamy than regular honey, making it extremely versatile. You can add Manuka to many dishes and beverages to enhance their flavor while adding in a few wellness benefits, too!  

Supercharge Your Breakfast

The natural components and properties of honey make for a great way to start your morning. You can supercharge your breakfast in more ways than one by adding a heaping teaspoon of raw honey to any meal or drink.

Breakfast is the first meal of the day, so ensuring you’re getting all your necessary fat, carbs, proteins, vitamins, and minerals is key. Combining the natural benefits of raw honey with other healthy foods can support your energy levels all day. 

Drizzled Over Yogurt 

Plain Greek yogurt is home to many necessary probiotics, making it a great match for your raw Manuka honey. Combined, the natural fats and energizing carbohydrates make for a breakfast that will give you a nourishing start to your day. 

On Peanut Butter Toast 

Healthy fats and carbs are a necessary part of any diet. To make sure you’re getting everything you need, try natural peanut butter spread over a slice of whole-grain toast, with Manuka honey drizzled on top. It’s delicious, quick, and can help give that boost of much-needed morning energy.

Stirred Into Tea or Coffee

Whether you’re a tea or coffee person, Manuka honey pairs great with either. If you have a sweet tooth, there’s no need to add creamers full of processed sugars and additives. Instead, opt for a natural alternative — your unbelievably creamy and rich Manuka honey. 

Use as a Sugar Alternative 

Processed sugar isn’t the best for your health, but it can be hard to cut out altogether. Luckily, raw Manuka honey can be a nutritious alternative to refined sugar. 

Ice Cream Topping 

Instead of that highly processed caramel or chocolate syrup (which is probably heavily high fructose corn syrup anyway — sorry), try a spoonful of raw honey drizzled over your ice cream. Thanks to Manuka honey's thick consistency and rich taste, it’s often compared to a sweet caramel sauce (but with so much extra goodness and complexity!). 

Straight From the Spoon

Instead of choosing a sugary premade dessert, consider a spoonful of Manuka honey. It’s better for your gut, and won’t leave you feeling sluggish. It’s nature’s healthy indulgence. 

The Bottom Line

Because of its natural carbohydrate content, raw honey is a favorite when it comes to natural energy sources. Raw Manuka honey can also provide additional support to help give your body the fuel it needs to have a good day. 

Want to try some for yourself? Explore our different Manuka options here, and see why Manukora Manuka is known as Honey With Superpowers™. 

Sources:

Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview | PMC

The sweet danger of sugar | Harvard Health