In this article, we compare manuka honey vs raw honey to examine its benefits. Manuka honey has become increasingly popular recently, and it can be typically seen on the shelves of organic food stores. It is believed to fight infections, reduce inflammation, reduce cholesterol levels, and may even reduce your chances of developing cancer.
Now, you might be wondering – if honey pure raw honey is already healthy in itself (as it already provides similar benefits), what makes manuka honey even more special? And is it worth getting over regular honey?
Manuka Honey vs Raw Honey: What Are The Benefits?
Unlike ordinary raw honey, Manuka honey is produced by bees collecting nectar from the manuka plant, which is native to New Zealand.
It is produced exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, where its producers have created a scale to rate the potency of manuka honey, called the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).
The term UMF was first coined in the 1990’s, when the non-peroxide antibacterial properties of Manuka was not yet understood.[4]
Producers are required to reach a minimum score of 10 for their honey to be considered therapeutic and to be marketed as “UMF Manuka Honey” or “Active Manuka Honey”.[1]
Although honey in general is being used for medicinal purposes for centuries, researchers believe that monofloral honey such as Manuka have a higher potency as a natural remedy.[2]
All honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is responsible for its strong antibacterial properties.[3] This made honey an age-old remedy for wounds, infections, and minor flus.
But what makes Manuka honey unique is that it contains a significant amount of methylglyoxal, a potent antibacterial compound that only exists in small quantities among other types of honey. In addition, Manuka honey contains higher amounts of leptisperin and DHA as compared to other honey variants.[4]
The DHA found in Manuka honey comes from the nectars of the flowers itself and it is believed to be the precursor of methylglyoxal. Interestingly, this DHA converts to methylglyoxal slowly over time – and thus, manuka honey with higher starting levels of DHA have a higher potential levels of methylglyoxal over time.[4]
7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Manuka Honey
Because of its impressive properties, Manuka honey has sparked a lot of research interest over the years. Several studies have confirmed many of its suspected health benefits.[5]
- Supports Wound Healing
Aside from being excellent at disinfecting wounds, manuka honey can also help speed up the healing process. Even the US Food and Drug Administration approved manuka honey as an option for wound treatment!
Apart from bacterial growth inhibition, the glyoxal and methylglyoxal that is abundant in manuka honey were found to be capable of enhancing wound healing and tissue regeneration thanks to their immunomodulatory properties.[6] In addition, manuka honey was also found to decrease the pain caused by burn injuries.
Manuka honey was also found to be capable of healing diabetic ulcers, a type of open sore or wound that occurs in poorly controlled diabetes. In a two-week study, manuka honey dressing was applied among 40 patients with non-healing wounds. The results were impressive: 88% of the wounds decreased in size, and the acidity of manuka honey helped create a more sterile environment.[7]
- Good For Oral Health
Studies have found that the antibacterial properties of Manuka honey inhibits the growth of two harmful strains of oral bacteria, namely P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans.[8]
This suggests that manuka honey is capable of preventing gingivitis and tooth decay, which are both caused by bacteria. Despite being made up of approximately 70% sugar (40% fructose, 30% glucose), manuka honey does not cause tooth decay unlike regular table sugar – which makes honey (in general) a tooth-friendly sweetener.
The oral benefits of honey was also tested by comparing the plaque buildup of those who sucked on honey chew versus sugar-free gum. The participants that had honey chew had significantly reduced plaque and gingival bleeding compared to those who had sugar free gum.[9]
- Sore Throat Relief
If you’re looking for an organic alternative to sore throat lozenges, manuka honey may just be as effective. Because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, manuka honey may help reduce inflammation and fight bacteria that causes sore throat.
Consuming manuka honey was found to reduce the number of streptococcus mutans, a bacteria that is usually responsible for sore throats.[10]
To use manuka honey for sore throat relief, you can simply eat a spoonful of it, or blend it with a warm cup of water.
- May Help Prevent Gastric Ulcers
Gastric ulcers are extremely uncomfortable sores that occur on the surface of the stomach or intestinal lining. It may be caused by long term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen and naproxen sodium), excessive alcohol consumption, or H. pylori – a bacteria that can be possibly fought by the antibacterial properties of manuka honey.
In a study published in 1994, a test tube study found that a 20% manuka honey solution was the most effective against h. pylori samples, whereas a 40% solution of regular honey elicited no response.[11]
However, another study had contradicting results. In a two-week study, 12 individuals were asked to take a tablespoon of manuka honey and there was no observed decrease in h. pylori bacteria.[12] This warrants further research to completely determine whether manuka honey is truly effective in inhibiting h. pylori growth.
In the case of alcohol-induced gastric ulcers, manuka was found to be an effective treatment based on a study published in 2015.[13]
- Relieves Digestive Problems
If you’re having trouble with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), manuka honey is capable of soothing its symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and irregular bowel movements. This comes from manuka honey’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.[5]
In addition, manuka honey is also known to kill off strains of clostridium difficile, a bacteria that causes severe diarrhea and inflation of the bowel.[14]
- Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary condition that can cause severe damage to the lungs, digestive systems, and other adjacent organs. It is potentially life-threatening, as it causes an overproduction of mucus that can clog airways and ducts.
Manuka can help combat cystic fibrosis by inhibiting the growth of bacteria which causes upper respiratory infections. These are the strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia spp. – and research has proven that manuka honey is capable of fighting these two strains in conjunction with antibiotics.[15]
- Fights Acne
Manuka honey has also become a mildly popular skincare ingredient, thanks to its antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
These two attributes mean that manuka honey can inhibit bacterial growth in clogged pores and decrease inflammation associated with acne. Unfortunately, comprehensive studies on its application to the skin is so far limited.
Nonetheless, it is recognized as a potential skin treatment for its potent anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory abilities.[16]
Precautions
Although manuka honey is generally safe for consumption, one should keep in mind that it is made of approximately 70% sugar, just like regular honey. This means that manuka honey is not recommended for the regular consumption of people who have type 2 diabetes, as it can cause spikes in blood sugar levels.
People who are allergic to bees and honey are naturally advised to avoid topical and oral consumption of manuka honey, as it can cause a potentially dangerous allergic reaction.
All types of honey are also not advisable for the consumption of infants under the age of 1, as it may cause infant botulism, a foodborne disease that can be fatal.
Conclusion
When we compare manuka honey vs raw honey, we find that manuka honey is definitely better than raw honey – it has stronger anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory compounds that are proven to fight against a wide range of ailments.
This makes manuka honey worth adding to your pantry, as it can serve as an alternative treatment for milder conditions, such as sore throat, wounds, and acne.
But due to the limited production of manuka honey, it can be quite expensive, or nearly impossible to obtain depending where you’re from. This makes manuka honey inaccessible for some people – in this case, raw honey will do, albeit not as potent as manuka.
References
[1] WebMD. (2020, September 18). Manuka Honey. Retrieved on October 28, 2020 from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/manuka-honey-medicinal-uses#1
[2] Alvarez-Suarez, J. M., Gasparrini, M., Forbes-Hernández, T. Y., Mazzoni, L., & Giampieri, F. (2014). The composition and biological activity of honey: a focus on Manuka honey. Foods, 3(3), 420-432. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods3030420
[3] Brudzynski, K., Abubaker, K., & Castle, A. (2011). Re-examining the role of hydrogen peroxide in bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of honey. Frontiers in microbiology, 2, 213. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2011.00213
[4] Grainger, M. (2015) DHA, MG, and manuka honey activity. Retrieved on October 28, 2020 from https://www.analytica.co.nz/Portals/0/Docs/Articles/DHA_MG_and_manuka_honey_activity_for_Analytica_website.pdf
[5] Berkheiser, K. (2018, March 29) 7 Health Benefits of Manuka Honey, Based on Science. Retrieved on October 28, 2020 from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/manuka-honey-uses-benefits#1
[6] Niaz, K., Maqbool, F., Bahadar, H., & Abdollahi, M. (2017). Health Benefits of Manuka Honey as an Essential Constituent for Tissue Regeneration. Current drug metabolism, 18(10), 881–892. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389200218666170911152240
[7] Ndayisaba, G., Bazira, L., Habonimana, E., & Muteganya, D. (1993). Evolution clinique et bactériologique des plaies traitées par le miel. Analyse d’une série de 40 cas [Clinical and bacteriological outcome of wounds treated with honey. An analysis of a series of 40 cases]. Revue de chirurgie orthopedique et reparatrice de l’appareil moteur, 79(2), 111–113.
[8] Schmidlin, P. R., English, H., Duncan, W., Belibasakis, G. N., & Thurnheer, T. (2014). Antibacterial potential of Manuka honey against three oral bacteria in vitro. Swiss dental journal, 124(9), 922–924.
[9] English, H. K., Pack, A. R., & Molan, P. C. (2004). The effects of manuka honey on plaque and gingivitis: a pilot study. Journal of the International Academy of Periodontology, 6(2), 63–67.
[10] Sela, M., Maroz, D., & Gedalia, I. (2000). Streptococcus mutans in saliva of normal subjects and neck and head irradiated cancer subjects after consumption of honey. Journal of oral rehabilitation, 27(3), 269–270. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2842.2000.00504.x
[11] al Somal, N., Coley, K. E., Molan, P. C., & Hancock, B. M. (1994). Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 87(1), 9–12.
[12] McGovern, D. P., Abbas, S. Z., Vivian, G., & Dalton, H. R. (1999). Manuka honey against Helicobacter pylori. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 92(8), 439. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107689909200832
[13] Almasaudi, S. B., El-Shitany, N. A., Abbas, A. T., Abdel-dayem, U. A., Ali, S. S., Al Jaouni, S. K., & Harakeh, S. (2016). Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Antiulcer Potential of Manuka Honey against Gastric Ulcer in Rats. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2016, 3643824. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3643824
[14] Hammond, E. N., & Donkor, E. S. (2013). Antibacterial effect of Manuka honey on Clostridium difficile. BMC research notes, 6, 188. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-6-188
[15] Jenkins, R., Wootton, M., Howe, R., & Cooper, R. (2015). A demonstration of the susceptibility of clinical isolates obtained from cystic fibrosis patients to manuka honey. Archives of microbiology, 197(4), 597–601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-015-1091-6
[16] Burlando, B., & Cornara, L. (2013). Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 12(4), 306-313. doi:10.1111/jocd.12058
