Defining Bee Products - Tulsa natural health | Examiner.com

a great recap on the healthy and natural products from the beehive!

Tulsa's Natural Food Market, Akins, provides great articles covering products and health issues.  This article defines all the products that have become available to us from bees: Bee Pollen, Bee Propolis, Royal Jelly, and Honey.

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is the male seed of a flower or plant which is collected by bees and transported back to the hive to nourish the colony and structure of honeycombs.  Bee pollen has proven to be an interesting substance to scientists because it is a very nutritious food, containing more enzymes and co-enzymes than any other food, along with 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and numerous vitamins.  Bee pollen has been used for several purposes, including reducing allergies.  Bee pollen contains quercetin, a bio-flavoniod that inhibits the release of histamine, the chemical responsible for allergy symptoms.  Bee pollen has also been used to improve the immune system and increase energy and endurance.

Bee Propolis

Bees create propolis by collecting sap from trees and mixing it with wax in their hives.  Propolis is a complex product that contains a variety of phytochemicals, many of which have been shown to possess antibacterial and antiviral properties.  These properties work in the body to increase resistance to disease by internally stimulating the immune system.  Propolis also contains several bio-flavonoids, which help strengthen the capillary blood vessel system.  Propolis is used to fight off infection both internally and externally.

Royal Jelly

Royal jelly is a secretion made by worker bees that is fed to the queen bee.  This substance transforms a female bee into a queen bee and increases her life span and her fertility.  Royal jelly has a gelatinous consistency and contains numerous nutrients.  It is a rich source of protein and essential amino acids, B vitamins, minerals and trace minerals.  Along with the other bee products, royal jelly possesses antibacterial activity.  (Note: Asthmatics should use caution when taking royal jelly internally.)  In addition to internal use, royal jelly is also useful externally.  In creams, masks and lotions, royal jelly acts on a cellular level to increase circulation and deliver more oxygen to the skin.  Over time, wrinkles are reduced and the skin becomes soft and more youthful in appearance.  

Honey

Bees make honey with the use of nectar from flowers.  There are many varieties of honeys depending on the flower from which the nectar is gathered.  Honey is most commonly used as an alternative sweetener to refined white sugar.  While some argue that honey is no different than sugar, others believe differently.  In his book Honey, Garlic & Vinegar, Dr. Patrick Quillin states "...honey is a complex collection of enzymes, plant pigments, organic acids, esters, antibiotic agents, trace minerals like chromium and other unidentified nutrition factors."  As with the other bee products, research done on honey has revealed the antibiotic properties of honey, mainly when used externally on wounds and burns.  Honey is also used as an ingredient in cosmetic formulations for its hydrating and toning effect.  

Article provided by Akin's Natural Food Market

Bees provide us with numerous products that aid in improving our immune system.  Next time you need an antibiotic, consider bee propolis; or to reduce allergies, think of bee pollen on a daily basis.  Remember raw and fresh is best even when you are talking about bees.

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Why Honey?

Is it really hard to imagine that an all natural source of sweetener could provide you with more than something on your toast or in your tea? Why do people naturally find themselves reaching for honey when they are not feeling well? Well, the answers are found in this nice recap:

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Learn Why You Should Eat Raw Honey

By Elizabeth Walling, 8/15/2009

(NaturalNews) - Long before what we refer to as civilization was born, honey was a food prized above all others in many traditional cultures. Ancient peoples in Spain, India, Egypt and all over the world knew that honey supplied a unique richness of nutrients. But far from squeezing honey out of cute little plastic containers shaped like bears, these people were eating their honey freshly harvested from local bee hives - untouched and untainted by civilized man. They worshiped pure, raw honey - and for good reason.

In times before commercial processing overtook our food supply, the remarkable medical benefits of raw honey were understood by primitive man. Today, when we pause to take a closer look at the composition of raw honey, we can clearly see why it is so invaluable:

- Raw honey contains bee pollen, which many leading nutritional experts refer to as a potent superfood. Among bee pollen's many benefits are allergy relief, detoxification, anti-cancer properties, increased energy, amino acids, vitamins and thousands of beneficial enzymes.

- Raw honey is one of the richest natural sources of amylase, an enzyme which facilitates the proper digestion of carbohydrates. This makes raw honey an excellent companion for toast or oatmeal. This essential enzyme is lost the moment honey is heated, since amylase converts to starch when exposed to heat.

- Propolis, a material bees use for constructing their hives, is another beneficial part of raw honey. Propolis is believed to have antioxidant, antimicrobial and even anti-cancer properties. It is said to boost the immune system and improve the health of the liver as well.

- Raw honey is an excellent source of flavonoids (particularly flavanones, flavones and flavonols). These have powerful antioxidant properties that protect us from illness and disease…