Bees are productive creatures, producing honey and other food substances that are renowned for their nutritional or even medicinal value. Here, we briefly look at the incredible value of bees, and discuss four bee products beneficial to human health.
The Value of Bees to Human Health
To some, bees are known for their sting. But to the worldwide agricultural industry, bees are known for their absolutely crucial role in the production of the world’s food supply. Their foremost role as pollinators is critical; bees pollinate about 1 in 3 bites of the foods that humans eat! They also pollinate about 80% of the world’s flowering plants, a phenomenon which you are bound to catch sight of every spring.
Bees are also known for their output of various products such as royal jelly, propolis, and especially honey. All of these are considered foods because each of them add nutritional value to the human diet and are consumed because of their benefits. More than 80 million hives produce an estimated 1.6 million tons of honey annually.
Beneficial Bee Supplements
Multiple substances produced by bees are nutritionally valuable to humans. Here are the four most used edible products of bees accompanied by a glance at their nutritional benefits:
Bee pollen is a natural combination of flower pollen, nectar, honey, and bee secretions. Pollen is collected by bees and stored in the beehive, where the members of a bee colony consume it as food. Hence its name, bee pollen. This unique natural substance is nutritionally rich, containing proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and a variety of antioxidants. These nutrients reduce oxidative stress on the body, which helps prevent many forms of disease. Bee pollen has properties that also manage blood lipid levels and cholesterol, making it valuable for heart health. Bee pollen is often combined with other bee products in a single supplement. Bee pollen granules are also available in a highly concentrated supplement form.
Bee propolis is another distinctive substance that is produced within beehives. Bees produce propolis by ingesting resin from trees adjacent to a beehive, digesting it and combining it with beeswax. Used for constructive and disinfecting purposes for the hive, bee propolis has natural antibiotic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming bee propolis can support the immune system against infections.
Royal jelly is produced by honey bees in order to feed larvae. This substance contains fatty acids, proteins, and B vitamins, and is known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Research suggests that royal jelly could help those with diabetes manage their blood glucose, as well as reduce high cholesterol. Royal jelly is often combined with bee pollen or bee propolis in a single supplement.
Honey: You are probably familiar with honey already, perhaps even consuming it regularly. Honey is made up mostly of sugar, but it does naturally contain small amounts of various nutrients including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and more. Some research suggests it has noticeable healthful benefits, but it is not as nutritiously rich as the other products listed here. However, a small amount of honey is often included with bee pollen and the other bee products in supplement form.
Bees are super valuable, and supplementing with bee propolis + royal jelly, or with a supplement containing all four of these bee substances, can be truly beneficial to your bodily health. It’s recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider before taking any of these nutritional supplements for the first time.