Honey's use as a folk medicine dates back to ancient Rome, and it continues to offer medicinal benefits today. Manuka honey, made from the tea tree bush -- a plant native to New Zealand -- offers antibacterial benefits when applied to wounds and has the ability to kill even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to Spokane Falls Community College. Incorporating manuka honey into your diet might offer a range of potential health benefits, although more research is needed to learn how well it works.
Manuka honey comes loaded with antioxidants, which benefits your health. Antioxidants provide protection against tissue damage -- they neutralize free radicals, a type of highly reactive chemical, so they can't oxidize and destroy your DNA and cell membranes. One study, published in the "Global Journal of Health Science" in 2012, compared the antioxidant content of three types of honey and found that manuka honey was highest in antioxidants. An additional study, from the November 2013 issue of "Clinics," found that manuka honey helped fight oxidative damage -- the type of damage associated with free radicals -- in rats. It's not yet known, however, if manuka honey has the same effect in humans.
Eating manuka honey might also lower the amount of inflammation in your body. One animal study, published in "Innate Immunity" in 2012, found that manuka honey helps prevent fluid buildup after an injury -- a process that otherwise irritates surrounding tissue -- and helps lower the influx of pro-inflammatory cells into damaged tissue. An additional study, from the November 2012 issue of "Phytotherapy Research," found that combining manuka honey with isothiocyanates -- a type of nutrient found in cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, kale and cabbage -- helped reduce inflammation associated with H. pylori, the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers. However, the role of manuka honey in ulcer treatment needs further investigation.
Incorporating manuka honey into your diet might also offer other health benefits. One study, from the September 2012 issue of the "International Wound Journal," found that eating manuka honey might help treat foot ulcers associated with diabetes. The manuka helped clear infection from existing food ulcers and also sped their healing. Manuka's antibacterial effects might also make it effective for fighting tooth decay. One study, published in "Contemporary Clinical Dentistry" in 2010, found that mouthwash made with manuka honey helped fight dental plaque.
Serving Tips and Suggestions
Use manuka honey as a flavoring for healthful, veggie-based dishes. Try combining manuka honey, olive oil and minced garlic, and use the mixture as a dressing for roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts. Combine manuka with flaxseed oil and fresh chopped basil to make a dressing suitable for leafy green salads. Alternatively, add a spoonful of manuka honey to hot or cold tea to add sweetness, as well as boost its nutritional value.
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Honey
- Global Journal of Health Science: Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Three Varieties of Honey from Different Botanical and Geographical Origins
- Clinics: Manuka Honey Protects Middle-Aged Rats from Oxidative Damage
- Phytotheraphy Research: Using Food to Reduce H. Pylori-Associated Inflammation
- Innate Immunity: Indigenous New Zealand Honeys Exhibit Multiple Anti-Inflammatory Activities
- International Wound Journal: Manuka Honey-Impregnated Dressings in the Treatment of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers
- Contemporary Clinical Dentistry: Effect of Manuka Honey, Chlorhexidine Gluconate and Xylitol on the Clinical Levels of Dental Plaque
- Rice University: Antioxidants and Free Radicals
- Spokane Falls Community College: Honey Flavored Health