Nature’s fresh buzzword
AFTER a breathtaking summer and a bright autumn, winter suddenly seems to be here with a vengeance. Everyone is coughing and sniffling as they wander through the shops, all gaily bedecked for Christmas.
It’s a time of year, with parties on the horizon and so much to plan, that we can’t afford to feel under the weather. And yet there is an early Christmas present you can give yourself to help you through – a taste of honey.
Honey in hot water laced with lemon juice has long been seen as soothing but its health-giving properties have now been officially recognised.
NICE, the NHS watchdog, and Public Health England both confirm that we should try the traditional treatment before worrying the doctor about a cough or sore throat. It’s not just wasting precious time, it’s because experts fear that doctors are handing out more antibiotics than are really necessary.
“Honey is a natural remedy which has been tried and tested for generations,” says Dr Tessa Lewis of NICE. “A trial suggests honey can reduce the severity and frequency after a day but doesn’t have a significant effect on sleep quality.”
While any honey can be beneficial, the best – and with the backing of many scientists – is manuka honey which has considerable levels of antimicrobial activity, enabling it to kill or slow the spread of microorganisms, including bacteria.
It comes from New Zealand where bees take pollen from the manuka bush. Manuka Doctor is the leading producer of the finest manuka honey with 60,000 hives on its own land, free from pesticides and other pollution.
After being harvested by hand, the honey is put into pots which are then certified as pure by the New Zealand government.
Celebrity fans include models and actresses, with our latest royal, Meghan Markle, saying that her fine complexion owes much to manuka honey being part of her breakfast routine.
Try it on cereal or on toast, or maybe have a honey and lemon drink as a warm, refreshing start to the day whether you have a cough or not.
Alongside its pots of honey, Manuka Doctor offers a range of skincare products such as moisturisers and facial oils as well as the new Overnight Lavender Mask that targets dry skin, ageing and wrinkles.
The cold weather might be here for a while but manuka honey can be one of winter’s wonders, able to stem that tickle in the throat while helping you to keep that golden glow.
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