Which Honey Is Best for Sore Throat?

One of the most common problems with air change is a sore throat. Although it is very common and usually there is nothing to worry about, we have to accept that nobody wants the scratchy, tender, and probably painful feeling that may ruin the day. However, we know that honey is a very effective herbal remedy and plays an important role in the treatment of sore throat if you know how to use it.

So which honey is best for a sore throat? Because of raw honey’s improved nutrient profile, we suggest it instead of the pasteurized and filtered honey that you will find in most big grocery stores. Try to bring relief to your sore throat with 1 teaspoon of raw honey once or twice a day.

We suggest that you do not mix raw honey with hot or warm drinks to get the maximum efficiency from it. Rather, consume 1-2 spoon of raw honey alone, or mix it with cold water because heat causes raw honey to lose its beneficial nutrients. One of the most famous drink recipes to heal sore throat is to mix 2 spoons of raw honey with a glass of cold green tea since it acts as an antioxidant and removes bacteria or irritation in the throat.

Difference Between Raw Honey & Regular Honey

Raw honey is promoted by its vendors to have many advantages and use it over standard honey found in big shops and markets. Although not all claims have been demonstrated, there are evident differences between raw and regular honey in terms of its health advantages, color, flavor, and taste.

The primary distinction between regular and raw honey is the pasteurization and filtering of regular honey. Pasteurization is the method where honey is heated at elevated temperatures. It also prevents the honey from granulation and makes its appearance more attractive to customers. While commercial or regular honey is standard and uniform in color, raw honey looks milky and its granules can melt in hot or warm water.

Another difference is that raw honey includes vitamins A, C, D, and E as well as B-complex vitamins such as niacin and pantothenic acid, which are the core elements to have a healthy mind and body. Moreover, raw honey contains lots of useful enzymes that can improve your immune system.

However, most of the enzymes and some vitamins cannot stand high temperatures, so they lose their beneficial qualities. Therefore, we can say that regular or commercial honey does not have as many health advantages as raw honey.

Although they have some main differences, both types of honey have some benefits for your health. Since honey has some antibacterial qualities, it helps wounds to heal more easily. Also, it enables your body with energy as well as preventing sore throat. One of the most common benefits of it is that it is a more healthy substance than sugar which you can add to beverages and food.

Be cautious of allergies. Although it is not common that honey can give birth to allergic reactions, it is good to be careful against its side effects. You do not want to harm your body while taking advantage of the benefits of honey. So what should you be careful of?

If you are allergic to pollen, we suggest you be cautious of the pollen current in the honey. If you eat honey straight from the honeycomb, it may trigger your allergy and cause your body to develop reactions.

We mentioned that raw honey is not available in big groceries you are used to shopping from. So where can you obtain it if you want to cure your sore throat? Usually, raw unfiltered honey can only be bought straight from the bee farm. Therefore, we suggest you look for the closest bee farm and purchase it to benefit from a high level of useful enzymes that improve your immune system and digestion.

Also, here are 5 tips to figure out if you find the real raw honey:

It is not easy to understand that honey is natural and unadulterated as a consumer. Each honey (which we think is pure) has its own taste, smell, color, and consistency according to the region, honey type and seasonal conditions. Even standard and simple methods of analysis do not supply you with “pure honey”. Detailed analysis methods are quite expensive and cannot be done everywhere except for scientific studies.

However, one of the most interesting issues we encounter is that consumers, who are accustomed to standardized honey, especially after joining the aroma, can clearly understand the difference when they eat pure honey. Under this information, nobody can be sure that honey is pure and unadulterated without seeing how and by whom honey is produced. Therefore, when buying honey, your choice should always be to buy directly from the producer, not from the intermediaries.

The following little tips can give you some idea of whether your raw honey is natural and unadulterated.

1. Real honey has a very special, fragrant-like scent. When you cut the honey, open and close the storage container, this smell is perceived more intensely.

2. Real honey has a darker consistency than honey with glucose.

3. Real honey is not too sweet, it has a distinctive taste. Sugar added honey is sweeter than real honey.

4. When you put the honey in a spoon and keep it on fire, the real honey becomes very fluid, resistant and burns late, and the glucose honey burns quickly and becomes charred.

5. The outer appearance of real honey is in shades of walnut shell or similar gray. Glucose-added honey is lighter in white.

As a result, real honey is a food that the bee collects from nature in its purest form by its own efforts and produces its own enzymes in its stomach. However, glucose honey consists of the bee absorbing the glucose-sugar syrup placed in the beehive and turning it into honey.

If you look for more practical solutions to test if the honey you purchased is real raw honey, you can try these 5 tips at home:

1. Put a teaspoon of honey in a glass of water. If honey melts, it’s a fake. Honey is real if it falls to the bottom of the water.

2. Add a few drops of vinegar into a glass of water and then add a teaspoon of honey. If honey bubbles, there are added substances in it.

3. Dip the match into the honey and try to burn it after removing it. If a match burns, honey is natural.

4. It is real honey if it comes to the consistency of cream or butter when you wait for it in the refrigerator for 1 month.

5. Honey that does not freeze in cold weather is not real.

Manuka Honey

Manuka honey is often claimed as an outstanding food that treats many health issues such as allergies, digestive problems, sore throats, infections, and a variety of injuries. Apparently, Manuka can also make you more energetic, refresh your body system through detoxification, reduce your cholesterol, and make you sleep better, beautify your skin color and even prevent hair loss. Some of these allegations are not based on scientific studies, but some of them have strong proof that supports the benefits of it.

Manuka honey has been used as a medicine throughout history, with records of its significance shown in ancient paintings and texts from many different societies. So how is manuka honey different to regular honey? Manuka honey is obtained through the essence of manuka trees, which makes it different from regular honey in terms of its antimicrobial power. It may even kill bacteria resistant to antibiotics including the one that causes sore throat.

Manuka leaves, native to New Zealand, have been used by the native Maori for centuries. They believe that the beverage you prepare with these leaves is good for the high fever and the oil prepared by crushing the leaves is good for wounds. Manuka is a very expensive item. However, the antibacterial properties of manuka honey are said to be much more than regular honey. Even if you expose it to sun and heat, its beneficial effects remain constant.

Manuka honey is very effective against bacteria that cause wounds to become infected, especially those that cause stomach ulcers, and the cause of sore throat. Research shows that it heals wounds and it is good for skin ulcers. It is known for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Also, it is rich in antioxidants that support immunity and good for bowel and stomach problems. Moreover, it reduces reflux and improves the digestive system.

When you use it as a facial mask, it beautifies and revitalizes the skin. It is common that those who have problems such as insomnia can make an easy transition to deep sleep thanks to manuka honey. It also allows the skin to go to sleep easily. If you have questions about how to use it, the answer is simple. You can apply it to your skin for infection, bites, and cuts. You can add it to your milk before sleeping. 1 or 2 spoon of manuka honey is enough for sore throats and the digestive system.

However, we suggest you be cautious about its risks. Please avoid using manuka honey for infants under 12 months. It can be dangerous in people with diabetes. Like everything else, there are also varieties of manuka honey. It is necessary to pay attention to the amount of consumption. If you are allergic to honey, do not consume excessive amounts. Be careful not to use it for any discomfort beyond the control of your doctor.

Now you know that honey can act as antibiotics and it is more than what you have thought about it so far. But, how is honey antibacterial? Since honey has an antibacterial property, the microorganism cannot survive and proliferate. In recent years, apitherapy, which is called treatment with rapidly developing bee products all over the world, uses bee venom, propolis, royal jelly, and pollen as well as honey.

All bee products have general health and body resistance as well as therapeutic properties. Antibacterial properties of honey are related to its acidic structure and amount of the sugar it contains. Honey, which contains high levels of sugar, shows an antibacterial effect by causing the water-borne microorganism to die by losing water.

There are many kinds of Manuka Honey that you can find on Amazon. Its price depends on its seller, quality, and quantity. That’s why the price varies. Here is a list of some of them on Amazon right now.

Kiva Raw Manuka Honey, Certified UMF 20+

This product comes in about 40 dollars.

It is certified genuine manuka honey harvested from the remote pristine hills, forests and coastal areas of New Zealand. It is a UMF rated honey. UMF rating is a measure of the attributes and values that make up Manuka honey and guarantees purity and quality. Therefore, it is tested, high-grade honey with very beneficial health value.

Raw Certified NPA 20+ Highest Grade Manuka Honey

This product comes in about 45 dollars.

This brand manages bees by organic standards without the use of sugar feeding, veterinary pharmaceuticals or chemicals. They use a special cold extraction method that preserves antibacterial properties and wound healing abilities. They test their product at laboratories to ensure the most accurate levels of potency.

Manuka Health – MGO 400+ Manuka Honey

This product comes in about 33 dollars.

This honey is deliciously smooth and crafted to naturally support general wellness. They judge Manuka honey based on the quantity of methylglyoxal, the “magic Manuka ingredient,” for a precise measurement of potency and quality. The brand tests its product to assure quality, purity, and safety.