Bee products offer numerous benefits for your health. While raw honey may be all the rage, bee pollen, propolis and royal jelly can also offer fantastic nutritional benefits. In fact, these products are extremely popular with health enthusiasts all over the world.
Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is used a general tonic to help combat cellular aging and boost the immune system. It has also been used for asthma, menopausal symptoms, high cholesterol, PMS, kidney disease, hay fever and a host of other conditions. Some other benefits you may not have heard of include, improving infertility in men, fighting cancer and treating viruses such as herpes simplex.
Royal Jelly is nutrient rich. Royal jelly is abundant in vitamins A, C, D, E, and B, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Royal Jelly also has 17 different amino acids, including the 8 essential amino acids that we must get from food, as our body doesn’t produce it on its own. This nutrient rich blend is helpful in reducing stress levels.
With a wide range of enzymes, vitamins, and flavonoids, royal jelly has strong anti-inflammatory properties. The presence of flavonoids that inhibit the development of inflammation are prolific in royal jelly. Learn more about royal jelly.
Royal Jelly is available in local health food stores.
Propolis
The ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) shows antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties. Due to its antimicrobial activity, propolis also shows promise in the treatment of oral cavity diseases and gingivitis.
Propolis has many medicinal uses:
- When combined with echinacea and vitamin C, propolis has been effective in preventing respiratory tract infections in children.
- Children with recurrent acute ear infections (rAOM) have found relief and lower incidence of recurrence with propolis.
Read more studies about propolis.
Today propolis is commonly found in products such as chewing gum, creams, cosmetics, throat lozenges and is also currently being researched as an option for dental sealants and a tooth enamel hardener.
Look for propolis in your local health food store. Wise Woman Herbals carries a pure propolis tincture that I use in a dental rinse.
Bee Pollen
Pollen, the male seed of flowers, is required for fertilization of plants. Since it is rich in proteins, free amino acids, vitamins and folic acid, it also considered being one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods.
In his book, Conscious Eating, Dr. Gabriel Cousens, M.D., shares info from the San Francisco Medical Research Foundation, which estimates that pollen has more than 5,000 different enzymes and co-enzymes, which is more than any food in existence. According to Dr. Cousens, gram for gram, pollen contains an estimated 5-7 times more protein than meat, eggs or cheese. (p.612)
Local bee pollen can be beneficial for hay fever and allergies. This type of protocol is usually started 6-8 weeks before allergy season begins. This treatment is best utilized under the supervision of your medical allergy specialist.
You can incorporate bee pollen into your diet by enjoying the granules in your smoothie, yogurt or sprinkled on your cereal. Heating it above 105 destroys the enzymes. Look for bee pollen in your local health food store. Be sure to buy raw, not pasteurized. Pollen should be kept in a cool, dry environment. Pollen purchased in powder, tablets or capsules usually has additional additives. Learn more about bee pollen.
If you have pollen allergies, check with your health care practitioner before taking this product. Severe reactions including anaphylaxis, although rare, has occurred.
General Notes
- If you have allergies to honey, pollen or seasonal allergies, check with your health care practitioner before consuming any honey related products.
- It is always best to purchase products from a trusted source in their original state to minimize your risk of allergic reactions.
- Individuals with diabetes need to limit their intake of honey products, as it may raise insulin levels.
