Manuka honey: what is it, useful properties and contraindications of the New Zealand product

Exotic varieties of bee nectar are increasingly common on the shelves of markets and shops. Honey from distant New Zealand - manuka - is characterized by unique healing properties, as it contains rare substances, vitamins, essential and mineral compounds. What are the useful properties and possible contraindications of an unusual bee product, we will understand further.

What is Manuka honey

Manuka honey nectar is produced exclusively in New Zealand, and its quality is strictly controlled by the state.A distant country is considered the most environmentally friendly region on our entire planet. To this day in New Zealand there are many corners where human civilization has not yet been noted. Therefore, the nectar collected by bees from manuka honey bushes does not contain foreign and harmful impurities.

Manuka is a low shrub with a long flowering period that starts in early spring and lasts for 4-5 weeks.

Beekeepers carefully monitor that insects collect nectar and pollen exclusively from the tea tree, so manuka honey is considered monofloral and contains more than 50% of bee products from one honey plant.

Most varieties of natural gift have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which are successfully used in medicine and cosmetology. Natural New Zealand nectar contains the highest concentration of medicinal compounds and substances, and one of them is methylglyoxal.The main healing component of the delicacy, getting into the affected cell, dehydrates it, harmful microorganisms are deprived of nutrition and die, and the affected organ is fully restored.

Important! Useful and nutritional properties of the bee product may vary depending on the area where the nectar is collected, weather and climatic conditions and the intensity of the flowering of the tea tree.

Composition and calorie content

Due to its high carbohydrate content, New Zealand nectar is considered a high-calorie treat - it contains up to 350 energy units per 100 g of fresh product.

Tea tree honey also contains:

• useful sugars in the form of glucose, fructose, sucrose, as well as dextrin substances, completely absorbed by the human body;
• organic acids, including essential ones, necessary for the proper and precise functioning of the body;
• mineral compounds that are directly involved in all metabolic processes of the human body;
• vitamin composition, represented by a full line of vitamin B, ascorbic and nicotinic acids, as well as vitamins A, E, K;
• moisture, ash, aromatic and biologically active constituents.

In total, the composition of the medicinal bee product includes more than 300 different compounds, useful and nutritious substances.

Interesting! In the Maori language, which are considered the indigenous people of a distant exotic country, the word "manuka" is translated as "vigority" or "good mood", and carries an extremely positive meaning.

How is it used?

Healing properties of delicacies are used in traditional and folk medicine, cooking and cosmetology.

For medical purposes, sweetness is used as a prophylactic and tonic, as well as for the treatment of diseases of the internal organs, musculoskeletal, nervous system and skin.

Thanks to its powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, the natural gift of the tea tree has found its application in cosmetology. Based on bee nectar, rejuvenating and nourishing face masks, balms for nourishing hair and nails are made.

Important! Due to the high cost of a valuable delicacy, it is rarely used in cooking, replacing nectar with more affordable varieties of honey.

Benefits and contraindications

As a general tonic, it is enough to eat 1 teaspoon of healing sweets in the morning, 20-30 minutes before meals.For the treatment of skin diseases, tea tree nectar is applied in a thin layer to the affected or damaged areas of the skin. In chronic exacerbations of diseases of the digestive system, a teaspoon of manuka honey is placed under the tongue and absorbed until completely dissolved.

A valuable bee product is also used to treat the following abnormalities in the body:

• colds and viral diseases;
• arthritis and arthrosis;
• peptic ulcers and gastritis;
• disorders in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• cardiovascular abnormalities;
• nervous system disorders, depression, insomnia, loss of appetite;
• inflammatory processes of the oral mucosa, inflammation of the gums;
• skin diseases, bedsores, various wounds, including those caused by surgery.

It is not recommended to use exotic nectar for children under 3 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, people prone to allergic reactions and intolerance to one of the product components. With special care, manuka honey is introduced into the diet with high blood sugar and exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive system.

Important! Tea tree honey contains essential substances that have antifungal and antimicrobial effects.

How to distinguish from a fake

The production of this valuable bee gift is controlled by the government of New Zealand and the association of beekeepers, which issues certificates and permits for the extraction of rare and sought-after nectar throughout the world.

When buying honey from manuka, it is enough to make sure that there are documents for the beekeeping product, which indicate the place of collection of honey and the amount of methylglyoxal in the delicacy.

Storage rules

Store tea tree nectar in a glass, ceramic or porcelain opaque dish in a dark, well-ventilated, cool room.

The temperature for storing bee honey is allowed from -5 to +20 degrees with low humidity.

Recommended