Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on should we consume sweet treats this time of year? And if so, how is best for our health? She talks about honey, maple syrup, and other good for you sweeteners and the dangers of stevia and xylitol.
Tag: Honey
The use of manuka honey medicinally is becoming far more than just an “alternative” treatment.
A type of honey native to the country of New Zealand, it’s produced by bees that pollinate the Manuka bush. And, although the conventional medical community had dismissed its value for some time, there’s now an increasing interest in its therapeutic uses by the general public, integrative healthcare providers, and researchers.
One of the big things driving the renewed interested in manuka honey is the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens – which has resulted in more interested in the development of novel antibacterial agents. There’s also a growing number of studies that support not only the antimicrobial and antibacterial benefits of this honey but additional health benefits, as well.
Studies show it’s a smart move to eat manuka honey
Several studies have shown and highlighted the antibacterial and antimicrobial effects of Manuka honey. One study investigated the use of this honey on four types of bacteria found in chronic wounds – Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. In fact, the manuka honey was found to help inhibit the growth of these types of bacteria.
A different study, published in the Journal of Wound Care, specifically looked at the bacteriological changes that occurred in sloughy venous leg ulcers that were treated with manuka honey – compared to the use of hydrogel. In four weeks of treatment, 70% of the wounds treated with manuka honey – as opposed to only 17% of those treated with hydrogel – had MRSA eradicated.
The results show the incredible potential this honey has at preventing infection by harnessing its antimicrobial properties. Other studies have not only shown that the honey enhances wound healing, but it also helps decrease pain in burn patients and amplifies tissue regeneration as well.
Additional health benefits of this healing honey
Manuka honey offers many other health benefits beyond treating and healing wounds, and most of them are a result of the honey’s antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Additional health benefits include:
Promotes healthy teeth and gums: Most Americans have some type of gum disease, and minimizing oral bacteria is the best way to keep teeth and gums healthy. Studies show that manuka honey’s antibacterial activity attacks the oral bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum inflammation.
Sore throat relief: Many find that manuka honey offers relief from a sore throat, and its antibacterial and antiviral properties can help reduce inflammation and kill the bacteria causing throat pain. It also provides a soothing effect by coating the inner lining of your throat.
Improved digestion: Digestive problems like IBS, which is associated with symptoms like irregular bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, may be effectively treated with manuka honey. It helps reduce inflammation of the digestive system and may offer significant relief.
Gastric ulcer prevention: Stomach ulcers are very common, and these sores on the stomach’s lining can cause bloating, pain, and nausea. The most common type of bacteria responsible for ulcers is H. pylori, and research shows that manuka honey may work as an antibacterial agent against this type of bacteria, helping to prevent ulcers.
No doubt, manuka honey has unique antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties that offer a variety of health benefits. Make sure to look for manuka honey with a high UMF number to reap the best results.
Be sure to pick up your Manuka Honey available in four different UMF strengths at Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Is Your Honey Real?
In natural healing circles, honey long has been used for its multiple benefits. Its flavonoids and antioxidants have been shown to be cancer and heart disease preventive; it helps reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems; it’s antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal; it works as a cough suppressant; it heals wounds, it contains probiotics, it is a component of many skin crèmes, and it’s an anti-allergenic agent and one of many natural allergy remedies, based on the theory that because honey contains tiny traces of pollen, repeated exposure should help build up immunity to those pollens. But if you’ve been taking your daily dose of honey without receiving any of these benefits, the reason may not be that honey is useless. It may be that your honey isn’t actually honey.
That’s right. And the first clue is that an overwhelming proportion of the so-called honey sold in the US contains absolutely no pollen. The Food Safety News group conducted tests a few years back and found that more than 75 percent of the honey on retail store shelves was pollen free. In fact, 100 percent of the honey sold in drugstore chains like Walgreens and Rite-Aid contains no pollen, nor does any of the honey distributed in individual packets in restaurants. Supermarkets like Shop-Rite and Safeway didn’t fare much better in the study, nor did big box stores like Costco. In these stores, 76 percent of the honey on the shelves had no pollen, and while going organic increased the odds of getting the real thing, 30 percent of the organic honey tested had no pollen, either.
So what does this clue mean? Have bees found a way to produce honey without using pollen, then? Absolutely not. The reality has nothing to do with the bess and everything to do with greed. A lot of the honey sold in the US comes from Asia where it’s processed to remove the pollen and then cut with high-fructose corn syrup, sugar water, and artificial sweeteners to maximize profit. In fact, some so-called honey contains no trace of anything coming from bees, but rather, it’s a concocted blend of flavorings and sweeteners packaged and sold with a “honey” label. Even worse, the Food Safety News study found that much of the honey sold in the US contains dangerous contaminants such as traces of illegal antibiotics intended for animals and heavy metals.
So how can you be sure you’re getting real honey? Again, getting organic guarantees nothing. Your best bet is to buy from local producers who sell at locally owned stores. Local honey is better for you, anyway, as it contains an exact match to the local pollens that might be causing you allergy problems.
Be sure to pick up your jar of locally produced, non-heat treated, “real” honey on your next visit to Whitaker’s.
Health Benefits of Honey
Health Benefits of Honey…
Contains Nutrients
Rich in Antioxidants
Can help lower cholesterol and triglycerides
Can help lower blood pressure
Beneficial to Heart Health
Promotes Burn and Wound Healing
Can Help Reduce Coughing
Healthier Alternative to Sugar
Is Antibacterial
Can help maintain a healthy weight
Counters Pollen Allergies
Natural Sleep Aid
You also want to make sure your honey is raw. Honey found in most large box stores is commercial honey which is heavily processing, may be chemically refined, and excessively heated (pasteurized) which destroys natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals.
To experience all the health benefits of honey, make sure you are buying local raw honey just like we carry at Whitaker’s Farm Market!
