First of all, I’d like to wish all my readers/friends a healthy, happy, prosperous and serene new year.
Royal jelly refers to the substance produced by the glands of nurse bees, which is then used as the only food source of the queen bee.
The queen bee is a term usually applied to any dominant reproductive female in a colony of bees. The queens are developed from larvae selected by worker bees and specially fed in order to become sexually mature. There is normally only one adult mated queen in a hive, and the worker bees usually follow, feed and fiercely protect her.
She is dominant, and rules the hive, if you will. Whereas normal bees die after they sting, the queen bee can sting many times and keep living, because her stinger is not barbed.
The queen bee’s abdomen is longer than the worker bees surrounding her and male bees. Even so, in a hive of 60,000 to 80,000 bees it is difficult for beekeepers to find the queen, for reproductive purposes, with any speed. The blue paint you see in the above picture is for this reason; no its not her crown. Other colors are also used.
Given such dominant attributes, it is no wonder that people looked into her only food, royal jelly, to see if consuming it would provide similar benefits.
Royal Jelly
Before royal jelly was used as a supplement, it was utilized for a variety of traditional uses, including promotion of hair growth and wrinkle reduction. Some people have claimed that it can also help prolong life, the same way it’s supposedly able to increase the lifespan of the queen bee.
Potential Health Benefits
Royal jelly contains high amounts of essential vitamins and minerals. It contains all of the B vitamins, pantothenic acid and trace amounts of vitamin A, C, D, and E.
Here are some potential benefits:
- May improve skin health. Taking royal jelly as a supplement may help boost collagen production, which is essential for promoting healthier and younger skin. It can help hasten wound healing when applied topically. It can also increase skin moisture, which benefits people with dry and damaged skin.
- Assist in blood pressure regulation. In a 2004 study, it was found that royal jelly contains certain peptides that have antihypertensive properties.
- Supports fertility. It may help improve the quality of women’s egg cells, which then increases their chance of getting pregnant. It may also promote testosterone level increases in men.
- Reduces premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. Royal jelly has the ability to mimic human estrogen, which is important for an improved menstrual cycle. In a 2014 study, it was shown that royal jelly could help minimize the symptoms of PMS.
- Assist in diabetic ulcer healing. Diabetics are at high risk of suffering from ulcers in various parts of their body. Slow healing and risk of infection usually characterize this. Studies suggest that the application of royal jelly on diabetic ulcers can help with faster complete skin restoration.
Some Royal Jelly Studies
Studies done on royal jelly have focused on its potential effects on cancer, fertility and its role in testosterone production.
In a study done in Iraq, infertile men were given different dosages of royal jelly and honey to increase the production of testosterone. After three months, the men who were given royal jelly had higher testosterone levels, improved sperm active motility and luteinizing hormone levels., thus showing the potential impact royal jelly can have on infertility in men.
In 2014 study, royal jelly was found to help with reducing the symptoms of mucositis in patients suffering from neck and head cancer. Mucositis refers to the inflammation of the digestive tract brought on by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Patients given royal jelly twice a day showed a decreased occurrence of mucositis.
How Much Royal Jelly is Safe to Take?
The best way to take royal jelly is fresh under the tongue; this will speed up the absorption into the blood.
If you have purchased royal jelly tablets, you can take 50 to 300 milligrams daily.
It is also worth keeping in mind that taking royal jelly for long periods is not advised. After 15 to 30 consecutive days of consumption, you should take a break for the same amount of time.
Look Out for These Possible Side Effects
* Allergic asthma. Patients who have asthma should be aware of this.
* Contact dermatitis. Cases of contact dermatitis have been reported when royal jelly is applied topically.
* Anaphylaxis. In rare cases, people may suffer from severe anaphylactic shock, which could lead to death. The body reacts negatively to the introduction of royal jelly into the body, releasing a rush of chemicals to fight off the proteins in the supplement. This can cause your blood pressure to drop, causing dizziness, nausea and difficulty in breathing.
As can bee seen, taking royal jelly has many health benefits. However, keep the above side effects in mind, AND BE SURE THAT YOU DON’T HAVE A BEE ALLERGY.
That’s it for now; see you all next time.
