Episode Details

UMF™ Mānuka Honey is A Functional Food: Look for the Quality Mark

New Zealand mānuka honey is a powerful functional food. For centuries, the unique and powerful healing properties of the mānuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium) have been understood by the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand.

With more than 2,300+ natural compounds identified in New Zealand mānuka honey it has captured the attention of scientists and health professionals across the globe. Research has identified mānuka honey's Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF™), a unique group of bioactive compounds, such as methylglyoxal (MGO) and leptosperin, which in synergy contribute to its science-supported antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Today, UMF™ quality rating system is the most comprehensive, independently certified and internationally recognized quality assurance system for New Zealand mānuka honey. It's designed to validate mānuka honey potency, authenticity, purity, shelf life and freshness for honey producers, brands, customers and consumers around the world. Each mānuka honey product that carries the UMF™ trademark must pass the stringent Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) quality, grading and rating tests. UMFHA represents beekeepers, processors and marketers.

Tune into this episode with guests Dr. Megan Grainger and beekeeper James Jeffery to learn about:

● what mānuka honey is and how it is different from other types of honey

● where mānuka honey comes from and how to identify authentic mānuka honey

● how bees make mānuka honey compared to other types of honey

● why mānuka honey is considered a functional food vs a sweetener

● health research supporting the benefits of mānuka honey including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

● the role beekeepers played in recognizing the topical benefits of mānuka honey

● the UMF™ quality rating s