Are you having tummy problems?
Diarrhea? Constipation? Stomach pain? Gas? Bloating?
Gastritis refers to inflammation of the stomach that can cause all these problems, and is believed to affect up to half of all people worldwide.
Can Manuka honey help?
Let's take a look.
First of all, let's look at exactly what gastritis is and what causes it.
According to the Mayo Clinic, gastritis refers specifically to inflammation of the lining of the gut.
This inflammation is commonly caused by overuse of certain pain relievers or the same types of bacteria that cause stomach ulcers, but can also be due to lifestyle issues such as drinking too much alcohol or a poor diet.
Gastritis can be both chronic (long term over time) or acute (appearing quickly and suddenly).
However, the good news is gastritis isn't serious or fatal generally, and can be treated rather easily.
But is Manuka honey good for gastritis?
How Manuka Honey Can Help With Gastritis
Naturally, to treat inflammation of the gut, you want to take something that is anti-inflammatory.
As we've discussed elsewhere on this site, Manuka honey is a well-known anti-inflammatory agent. We've also talked at length about how Manuka honey can be good for stomach problems.
This study in particular showed:
Oral ingestion of Manuka honey has been found to alleviate gastrointestinal inflammation in the contexts of dyspepsia, gastritis, duodenitis, and ulcerations. Additionally, when used as an anal suppository, Manuka honey has demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory properties in treating ulcerative colitis.
In particular respect to ulcers, Manuka honey has shown effectiveness against that particular bacteria in many studies such as this one. H Pylori is one of the most common ulcer-causing bacterias, which we've written about before.
Finally, this study also confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects of consuming Manuka honey:
Finally, manuka honey has been shown to specifically decrease the inflammatory response associated with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory intestine disease characterized by an overexpression of inflammatory cells, in embryonic kidney cell lines. The anti-inflammatory effect by the manuka honey was strongest in the presence of the Pam3CSK4 ligand, indicating that the honeys act through the TLR1/TLR2 signaling pathway.
How To Use Manuka Honey For Gastritis
As amazing as Manuka honey is, try to remember it's not a miracle drug.
We have always said that Manuka honey is not a replacement for medicine, medical treatment or a healthy lifestyle.
If you're suffering from stomach problems, Manuka honey can certainly help, but is best used in tandem with other treatments and changes.
That means:
- Trying to drink less alcohol
- Trying to reduce stress
- Eating a more nutritious diet
- Trying to sleep better
- Following the advice of your doctor for any medical issues
Rather thank think of Manuka honey as the fire itself, think of it as fanning the flames. The antibacterial properties will help clear off bacteria in the gut and promote good bacteria, but only if you've treated any infections properly.
The anti-inflammatory properties will help clear inflammation in the gut lining, but only if you're eating and drinking the right foods (more whole foods and mineral water, less alcohol and junk food).
Manuka honey can be extremely effective, but as a tag team with good health and lifestyle, it can be life changing.
It's also the perfect alternative to try if other treatments haven't worked for you.
Many people have reported multiple rounds of antibiotics and NSAIDs not working to treat infections and inflammation, but seeing immediate improvements after adding Manuka honey.
If this sounds like you, Manuka honey is a great natural alternative that could potentially help.
Which manuka honey should I use for gastritis?
When trying to target as specific medical condition or health ailment, we always recommend using a higher grade Manuka honey.
Manuka honeys use a grading system called a UMF rating.
The UMF system is the gold standard in grading manuka honey for authenticity, quality and potency.
You can read more about the system and how it works here.
If you have persistent gastritis and are hoping Manuka honey can help, we would recommend either the UMF 24 or UMF 26 graded honey by NZ Honey Co.
This will give you a higher level of potency with regards to both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity, significantly stronger than most Manuka honeys you will find on supermarket shelves.
NZ Honey Co is currently the only reputable brand we know of that offers a UMF 24 grading and up.
You can check out these honeys here.
As for how to take it, we love to eat these honeys straight out of the jar.
A spoon at breakfast and a spoon after a dinner is practically tradition in our household!
However, drizzled over cereal or porridge, or spread over a piece of fresh toast is also a wonderful way to enjoy these honeys.
Whichever way you choose, we're sure you will love it.
It's one of the most delicious foods we know of that is actually good for you!
Sending you health!
