Distinguish between real and fake manuka honey & bull; hello healthy

Have you heard of Manuka honey? Honey whose price can be tens of times that of ordinary honey is known as honey which is quite "powerful". Come on, find out more about this Manuka honey.

Where does Manuka honey come from?

Manuka honey first came from New Zealand. Derived from bees that pollinate Manuka's bushes, Manuka honey has unique benefits among other types of honey.

The nutrients in Manuka honey

What makes Manuka honey different from other types of honey is the nutrition contained in Manuka honey. In ordinary honey there are many great nutrients and can increase the immune system, including:

Amino Acids
Vitamins B (B6, B1, B3, B2, and B5)
Calcium
Copper
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Phosphor
Potassium
Sodium
Zinc

Well, in Manuka honey, these ingredients can be 4 times more than ordinary honeys. This is what is called Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).

What is Unique Manuka Factor (UMF)?

In 1981, researchers at the New Zealand University of Waikato found that Manuka honey contains a higher concentration of enzymes than regular honey. These enzymes naturally produce hydrogen peroxides which can be useful as antibacterials. In some New Zealand honey, there is usually a lot of hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, and dihydroxyacetone. The three ingredients mentioned can be used as a treatment for certain diseases.

So, from the three ingredients above, this so-called UMF emerged, which is the global standard for determining and measuring the antibacterial strength in Manuka honey. UMF serves to ensure that the honey sold has ingredients that can be used as treatment. This UMF was not found in all the nectar of the Manuka flower. Or in other words, Manuka usually only contains antibacterial hydrogen peroxida which is also present in other honeys.

What distinguishes UMF Manuka from ordinary Manuka is that this variety of UMF Manuka has hydrogen peroxide naturally, and there is an antibacterial composition of UMF that can increase the effectiveness of Manuka honey. The contents in UMF Manuka are very stable, and in contrast to hydrogen peroxide in most honey, hydrogen peroxide in Manuka UMF is not easily damaged by heat, light, and enzymes in your body.

How do you know whether UMF Manuka honey is real or fake?

Rating the minimum for Manuka honey is UMF5. However, UMF Manuka honey is not considered beneficial unless it contains UMF10 + antibacterial activity. UMF Manuka which contains antibacterial activity between UMF10 and UMF15 is considered as honey that has high benefits. If the UMF Manuka contains above UMF16, then the honey is considered to have superior benefits.

The original Manuka UMF has 4 characteristics as follows:

Has a UMF label on the packaging
This honey comes from a company in New Zealand that is licensed by UMF and labeled in New Zealand
There is the UMF company name and license number on the label
There is rating UMF on the packaging. Size Rating UMF between 5-16+.

According to the UMF association, the UMF rating is usually assessed on the antibacterial activity of honey compared to a disinfectant (phenol). The Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) is the association testing these honeys.

If the UMF rating reaches 20+, the antibacterial power in the honey is equivalent to 20% concentrated phenol liquid. The ideal UMF rating varies depending on your needs. Research in the laboratory has suggested that Manuka honey which has a UMF rating of UMF 12-UMF15 is effective against a wide variety of highly resistant bacteria.

The following is an explanation of the UMF rating:

0-4 → not for therapy
4-9 → has the same content or use as regular honey
10-14 → can help as a cure for certain diseases and balance the bacteria in the body
15+ → contains superior phenol which can be used as a therapy for certain diseases. However, you shouldn't consume more than 1 tablespoon at a time.

How to consume Manuka honey

To get maximum benefit, it is recommended that you consume 1-2 tablespoons of Manuka honey every day. It's easiest you can eat it right away, but if you think it's too sweet, you can mix Manuka honey into herbal tea, yogurt, or spread it on whole wheat bread.

If you want to boost your immune system or heal a sore throat, you can add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. The researchers found that the antibacterial activity in cinnamon and Manuka honey is very strong, which can help you recover from illness very quickly.