Manuka Honey / manuka

Hey there! If you've made it here, that means you probably already know a bit about Manuka honey, and now you want to learn how to use it to upgrade your baked goods & desserts. 

If you are new here, Manuka honey contains concentrated Methylglyoxal, aka MGO, at levels not found in other honey. MGO gives Manuka honey a wide range of benefits, from fighting inflammation to improving oral health. You can read more about it here: - https://www.shoppri.com/blogs/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-manuka-honey

You may ask, why should I go to the trouble of using honey instead of sugar? Honey has a lower GI rating than sugar, meaning it gives a slower energy release vs. the sharp spike you get with regular sugar. It also contains more fructose than glucose, so it takes less honey to achieve the same sweetness level you'd get from regular sugar. 

1. The general rule is 1/2 to 2/3 a cup of honey to one cup of sugar. We use 1/2, but it depends on how sweet you like it!
2. Add ¼ tsp of baking soda for each cup of sugar replaced when baking.
3. If you use more than 1 cup of honey, reduce the liquid by ¼ cup per cup. Honey tends to hold in more moisture than sugar.
4. Baked goods made with Manuka Honey will cook faster in the oven. Lower the oven temperature by about 25°F to prevent browning, so if your recipe calls for 350°F, lower it to 325°F.

Baking Conversion Guide:

• 2 Cups sugar = 1 - 1 1/4 Cup Manuka Honey
• 1 cup sugar = 1/2 - 3/4 cup Manuka Honey
• ¾ cup sugar = 6 tbsp - 2/3 cup Manuka Honey
• 1/2 cup sugar = 1/4 to 1/3 cup Manuka Honey
• 1/3 cup sugar = 2 tbsp + 2 tsp - 4 tbsp Manuka Honey
• 1/4 cup sugar = 1/8th cup - 2 tbsp + 2 tsp Manuka Honey
• 1 Tbsp sugar = 1/2 tbsp - 3/4 tbsp Manuka Honey
• 1 tsp sugar = 1/2 tsp - 3/4 tsp Manuka Honey

Happy and healthy baking!

Manuka Honey can be used as an alternative to traditional sweeteners, but it is so much more powerful than that! People have been using Manuka Honey for thousands of years because of it’s amazing benefits. Containing a wealth of antioxidants, vital nutrients, anti-inflammatory & antiviral properties it can be used in several ways like cooking, baking, beverages and yes, home remedies. 

But why take Manuka Honey every day? Due to its range of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, studies are showing that taking Manuka Honey regularly is a great, natural way to support your immune system. Specifically, this study indicates that Manuka increases the release of Cytokines, which help white blood cells identify and eliminate damaged or infected tissues.

Over the last couple of decades many studies have been done testing Manuka Honey against a wide range of bacteria and showing it to be effective at reducing or eliminating pretty much every strain it’s put up against.  In fact, it’s even been found effective against many antibiotic resistant strains!

Especially given the current state of the world, everyone can agree that we all need to better support our immune system and the facts confirm that Manuka Honey is one of the best products to incorporate into your wellness routine. 

Even better news is you can utilize Manuka Honey, even on a budget! While you can definitely get many benefits from incorporating it into recipes, for general immune support it’s recommended that you take 2-3 teaspoons per day. From a cost perspective, if you were to take three teaspoons per day of our 20+, it comes out to about $2.85/day. That is less than a cup of coffee!! 

Additionally, we offer a fantastic rewards program so you can earn points on your purchases AND we donate part of all honey proceeds to the Save the Bees Foundation so you can feel even better about your purchase.

So what can you do if seasonal allergies are hitting you harder than ever? Due to climate change, seasonal allergies may be getting worse. Experts say climate change is causing more pollen to be released into the air, it also means sneezing, itching, runny nose and watery eyes symptoms. 

One of the remedies touted is using an all-natural alternative like local honey. The belief is that when you consume and ingest small amounts of local pollen it builds up immunity. There are some hopeful studies showing that this natural sweetener could help, but the scientific evidence is limited.

A 2002 study at the University of Connecticut compared three groups, with the first receiving locally-produced, unfiltered honey, the second with nationally-produced, filtered honey and the third honey-flavored corn syrup. There was no difference between the three in reducing the symptoms. 

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology wind blown pollen is what most are allergic to and bees don’t pollinate these sources, therefore the pollen from these sources doesn’t make it into the honey. 

Additionally, very very little pollen makes it into honey at all. Even if you are allergic to a plant source the bees DO pollinate, there is no way of knowing if that particular pollen is in your local honey without testing and it’s unlikely to be consistent from batch to batch.

One study suggests that it might also be about the type of honey but the bottom line is no honey can actually cure your allergies. For the best natural allergy symptom relief, give Manuka honey a shot! Manuka has a number of health benefits that other honey does not have. It is the only honey that exhibits non-peroxide activity due to the MG or Methylglyoxal component that is present. It is the compound that makes Manuka Honey unique. It contains antioxidants, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that have been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of allergies and recover faster. This is what we’re searching for!

For delicious allergy relief without all the toxic ingredients found in most OTC products & prescriptions incorporate other natural herbs into a honey infusion. Honey is hydrophilic, which means it draws water from plants. When honey is infused with fresh herbs, it creates a syrup-like infusion filled with flavor and benefits of the herbs used. 

February 20th is Love Your Dog Day 🐶 It’s a special day to all pet lovers because this holiday is dedicated to their fur babies! We all want our dogs to live the longest, healthiest life possible so one way to celebrate is by learning new ways to support your dog’s health naturally.

Manuka Honey is a superfood that is widely believed to be beneficial for both humans and dogs. Honey can be taken internally or applied topically, depending on the condition it’s being used to treat. We love our fur babies! So..Is Manuka Honey safe for dogs? Below are 5 amazing ways to use Manuka Honey that are too good not to share!

• Wounds  - Known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, Manuka Honey was used for treating wounds. It kills bacteria and promotes healing. After cleaning the wound you can apply a thin layer of Manuka Honey on a bandage before putting it on the affected area. 

• Skin - One of the common in dogs are hot spots, to prevent skin irritation you can use Manuka Honey topically as a spot treatment. The moisturizing and antibacterial properties can help reduce itchiness and promote healthy skin. Try dabbing a small amount of Manuka Honey on clean, dry skin and leave it on to dry.

• Prebiotic - Manuka Honey acts as a natural prebiotic. A healthy gut can strengthen the immune system and improve digestion. Prebiotic are essential and can help maintain the good bacteria in the gut.

• Added Immune Protection - The common health conditions for dogs are flu and kennel cough. The antibacterial and antiviral properties of Manuka Honey have been proven to work against a wide variety of harmful pathogens. It can naturally boost health and help relieve the symptoms. 

• Oral Health - Yes! Manuka Honey can help treat gum diseases including gingivitis, bleeding, receding gums and dog breath with a regular oral hygiene regime.

What is so special about Manuka Honey? This is the only honey that exhibits non-peroxide activity due to the MG component only present at high levels in Manuka Honey. This makes honey unique because of antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. It comes in a range of MGO ratings. The higher the number on the label, the higher the concentration of MGO. This will help you choose the best Manuka for your dogs. 

The amount of Manuka your dog can take will depend on their size and health. Just like us humans dogs with diabetes, obese dogs, and puppies or less than one year old should not take honey orally. Here is the recommended dosing based on the size of your pet:

20 pounds or less - ½ tsp  a day

20 - 60 pounds - 1 tsp  a day

60+ pounds - 2 tsp  a day

Go to Shoppri.com for our wide selection of Manuka Honey. 

Resources:

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/manuka-honey-for-your-dog/

https://www.thelabradorsite.com/manuka-honey-for-dogs/