Manuka Honey and Immune Defenses, a Natural Ally
By Naturale Bio
Honey, and in particular honey from Manuka , represents a natural ally to support our immune defenses. In fact, it has attracted the attention of the international scientific community for its biological properties, particularly antimicrobial and antioxidant ones.
Many studies highlight its effectiveness as a natural antimicrobial and antibacterial thanks to the presence of an active ingredient that differentiates it from any other honey in the world, the Methylglyoxal (MGO).
This honey is obtained from the flowers of the Manuka tree. ( Leptospermum scoparium ) of the Myrtaceae family, which grows as a shrub or small tree throughout New Zealand and eastern Australia and has been widely used in traditional medicine for many years.
Let's take a closer look at what makes Manuka honey so special and how it can help our immune system.
How does the immune system work?
The immune system is a set of highly specialized organs and cells, with the task of defending the body from external pathogenic agents that can cause infections.
Our immune defenses are naturally able to intervene in the event of an “attack”, with the necessary countermeasures to defend the body. Therefore, an efficient immune system is perfectly capable of protecting us from external aggressions.
Natural defenses, however, can be weakened, this happens due to various factors such as: stress, colds, seasonal changes or temperature changes, lack of sleep, fatigue or due to aging.
When our immune defenses are lowered, we are more fragile and vulnerable to pathogens and can get sick more likely and frequently.
What to do to strengthen the immune defenses?
To make our body strong and able to face any kind of attack, the best solution is to conduct a healthy lifestyle . Here are some little tips:
- Eat healthy and balanced.
- Do some light physical activity.
- Avoid sources of stress, smoking and alcohol use.
- Sleep well and enough.
Finally, to support the immune defenses it is also possible to resort to natural remedies which help the natural defenses to counteract the action of pathogens.
For natural remedies These are supplements or foods, rich in nutrients, that support our immune system. One of the most used and well-known is certainly the honey , and in particular that of Manuka .
In fact, taking Manuka honey represents a healthy and natural choice to increase our immune defenses, prevent or " cure " minor seasonal ailments.
Why use Manuka Honey to boost immunity?
Much of the research is focusing on alternative approaches to treating bacterial infections. Honey, for example, has been used for more than 2,000 years as a “ medicine ,” primarily for healing wounds.
Honey contains compounds that have antimicrobial properties and would be able to inhibit bacterial growth, which has been demonstrated using many microorganisms, including S. aureus , S. pyogenes , P. aeruginosa and E. coli.
The beneficial role of Manuka honey is attributed to its antibacterial properties thanks to its high osmolarity, acidity (low pH), and content of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and non-peroxide components, i.e. the presence of phytochemical components such as methylglyoxal (MGO).
In addition to its antibacterial activity, manuka honey is also known for its antioxidant capacity , which acts to modulate the production of free radicals, thus protecting cellular components from their harmful action. In fact, Manuka honey contains a high quantity of phenolic compounds which are able to reduce free radicals, providing a significant antioxidant capacity.
Manuka Honey Grades
There are different grades of Manuka honey, which is classified based on to the amount of Methylglyoxal present inside. In order to establish the exact quantity of this component and therefore guarantee the authenticity of the product, a chemical analysis is necessary which must be carried out in laboratories accredited by the Ministry for Primary Industries ( MPI) of New Zealand.
The Natural Manuka HoneyMore It has 5 gradations: from the most powerful, MGO 800+ or 500+ which have a higher concentration of Methylglyoxal and are therefore more useful in case of minor ailments or disorders, up to MGO 100+ ideal for daily consumption for preventive purposes or for external use.
Choosing the right concentration of methylglyoxal it is fundamental, the rule is that the deeper the honey has to go, the higher the concentration must be.
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