Who doesn’t love honey? It’s a natural sweetener that goes great in tea, oatmeal, or simply on toast. A unique sweetener, it also comes in natural flavors, like lavender and orange, based on the flowers the bees feed on. Sugar doesn’t do that! It doesn’t work wonders on your skin, either. One member of the Kardashian clan touts that having Manuka honey as part of her skin care routine enhances her already-flawless complexion (she adds it to her avocado pudding, too!). Her favorite? Manuka Doctor‘s natural line of skin care and wellness products.
Manuka honey is a unique honey that comes from Australia and New Zealand’s North Island. Known for a tangy flavor, Manuka honey is produced by commercial bee farmers, who move their hives around the island to areas dense in Manuka, or tea tree plants, in order to promote the bees’ feeding specifically on these plants when they are in bloom. The Manuka nectar gives the honey its tangy flavor.
Manuka honey nutrition facts
One tablespoon of raw Manuka honey contains 60 calories, 18 g carbohydrates, and 16 g sugar. Most raw, unfiltered honey contains amino acids, B vitamins, iron, potassium, zinc, and other important vitamins and minerals.
Professional beekeeper Kelly Allin, of Best Bees Company says, “It’s important that any type of honey used in health and beauty routines is raw. When honey is processed, or pasteurized, it is exposed to extreme heat to kill off any potential bacteria. When honey is exposed to such extreme conditions, it also loses its beneficial nutrients, including vitamin B, vitamin C and live enzymes.”
In addition to being a sweetener, Manuka honey can be used topically. Allin provides these five great ways to use Manuka honey to improve your beauty routine and wellbeing:
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Manuka honey facial mask
With clean hands, spread Manuka honey evenly over the face. Let the mask sit for up to 20 minutes. Manuka honey’s properties may help reduce redness, oxygenate pores to draw out bacteria, repair cellular damage and hydrate your skin. For even better results, gently steam your face before applying the mask and rinse with cold water after removing the mask. The honey’s properties gently cleanse the skin without stripping it of natural, beneficial oils.
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Spot treatment
Rub Manuka honey over any blemishes and leave overnight. Rinse with cold water in the morning.
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Wound/burn treatment
Manuka honey can be applied to minor wounds and burns. It is thought to contain properties that may expedite the healing process and soothe pain.
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Hydrate dry hair
Mix 1 tablespoon of Manuka honey with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. Gently exfoliate the mixture into the scalp and then cleanse your hair normally. This gentle scrub will remove dead skin and excess hair product from the scalp and provide plenty of moisture to help prevent flakes and itchiness.
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Immunity
Manuka honey may help to fight off a cold you feel coming on. Mix it in some hot tea to help soothe cold symptoms as they’re starting. Even if it doesn’t boost your immunity, it will add flavor!
However you enjoy it, remember that these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try Manuka honey for yourself, both as a food and a beauty item. How sweet it is when one jar can do so much!