Impressive Health Benefits Of Manuka Honey
Manuka honey comes from the manuka plant, officially known as Leptospermum scoparium. The plant is a bush native to New Zealand and Australia. Manuka honey is manufactured exclusively in New Zealand, and the manuka plant only blooms for a few weeks each year. Methylglyoxal is a compound that occurs naturally in manuka honey, and it is believed to have healing and medicinal properties. The compound forms from the plant nectar and increases as the honey ripens. Manuka honey is sold in varying grades of potency according to how much methylglyoxal is in the product. These grades are known as UMF (unique Manuka factor) ratings and range from zero to sixteen, where sixteen is considered a superior quality. Research into the health benefits of manuka honey is ongoing, and anecdotal evidence from patients suggests the honey aids health in the ways discussed below.