Functional Food for Better Health - Honey, Propolis & Royal Jelly

Its all in the ingredients!! Each of these products merit healthy respect but all three together? In Apitherapy, that's called Synergistic Power! If you're consuming these bee products, you're not only saving your life but helping bees maintain an important role and contributor to all beings on our planet. 

Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits

JOxidMed 2017 February

Introduction

Apiculture is the science and art of prolonging, sustaining, and retaining health by using products obtained from honeybee hives, such as honey, bee bread, bee venom, bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly. Recent years have seen the fast application of bee products in both traditional and modern medicine. Currently, many studies are targeted toward investigating directed health benefits and pharmacological properties of bee products due to their efficacies, leading to the increasing development of nutraceuticals and functional food from these products. The concept of functional food refers to food that has the ability to promote better physiological or psychological health compared to traditional remediated and nutritional food. These effects positively contribute toward excellent health maintenance, well-being, and reduced chronic illness [1]. The present review focuses on the potential health benefits of bee products, including honey, propolis, and royal jelly. 

Conclusion

The present review focused on the potential health benefits of bee products such as honey, propolis, and royal jelly. These products are highly rich in active components such as flavonoids, phenolic acid, phenolic compounds, terpenes, and enzymes, which have biological functions in preventing some diseases and promoting good health. Honey, propolis, and royal jelly have distinct efficacies with significant nutritional properties and functional values. Thus, these bee products can be developed into potent apitherapeutic agents. However, some precautions need to be taken in case of allergens associated with bee products and in finding the right intake dosage. Hence, it is necessary to conduct further studies to determine the critical mechanisms related to the pharmacological activities of these bee products and the appropriate amounts that can be taken in order to obtain promising health benefits.

Anti-Aging Compounds Verified in Royal Jelly

With other studies documenting the anti-aging properties of royal jelly and human trials showing its benefits for age-related conditions, this new study identifies the exact proteins in royal jelly that make it the right product for a long, healthy life.

Royal Jelly-Mediated Prolongevity and Stress Resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans Is Possibly Modulated by the Interplays of DAF-16, SIR-2.1, HCF-1, and 14-3-3 Proteins

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2014 July 29

Recent studies suggest that royal jelly (RJ) and its related substances may have antiaging properties. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects remain elusive. 

We report that the effects of RJ and enzyme-treated RJ (eRJ) on life span and health span in Caenorhabditis elegans (C elegans) are modulated by the sophisticated interplays of DAF-16, SIR-2.1, HCF-1, and 14-3-3 proteins. Dietary supplementation with RJ or eRJ increased C. elegans life span in a dose-dependent manner. The RJ and eRJ consumption increased the tolerance of C elegans to oxidative stress, ultraviolet irradiation, and heat shock stress. Our genetic analyses showed that RJ/eRJ-mediated life-span extension requires insulin/IGF-1 signaling and the activities of DAF-16, SIR-2.1, HCF-1, and FTT-2, a 14-3-3 protein. Earlier studies reported that DAF-16/FOXO, SIR-2.1/SIRT1, FTT-2, and HCF-1 have extensive interplays in worms and mammals. Our present findings suggest that RJ/eRJ-mediated promotion of longevity and stress resistance in C elegans is dependent on these conserved interplays. 

From an evolutionary point of view, this study not only provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of RJ's action on health span promotion in C elegans, but also has imperative implications in using RJ/eRJ as nutraceuticals to delay aging and age-related disorders.

Spatial Memory Improved with Royal Jelly Consumption

This exciting study reinforces previous studies with humans, which found other positive results from consuming royal jelly, even in shorter duration. These findings are very important for those concerned with Alzheimer's and other age-related diseases. The message is clear - consume royal jelly, it's a brain booster!

Long-term administration of Greek royal jelly improves spatial memory and influences the concentration of brain neurotransmitters in naturally aged wistar male rats

J Ethnopharmacology, 2014, May

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Royal Jelly (RJ) is a bee-derived product that has been traditionally used in the European and Asian systems of medicine for longevity. RJ has various pharmacological activities that may prevent aging e.g., anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-hypercholesterolemic and anti-hyperglycemic properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

To evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical effects of long-term oral, previously chemically analyzed, Greek RJ administration to aged rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

RJ powder was given to 18-month old male Wistar rats (50 and 100mg of powder/kg b.w./day) by gastric gavage for 2 months. The spatial memory was assessed in the water maze and next the level of neurotransmitters, their metabolites and utilization in the selected brain regions were estimated.

RESULTS:

The improvement of memory in rats pretreated with the smaller dose of RJ was observed compared with controls. In biochemical examination mainly the depletion of dopamine and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex along with an increase in their metabolite concentration and turnover were seen.

CONCLUSION:

Better cognitive performance in the old animals using a non-toxic, natural food product in the view of the process of the aging of human population is noteworthy. Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of RJ in promoting a better quality of life in old age.

Royal Jelly Prevents Geriatric Muscle Loss

This important study confirms yet another aspect of Royal Jelly's anti-aging effectiveness in preventing issues such as muscle loss (Sarcopenia), mental clarity (Parkinsons, Alzheimers), skin conditions, lack of vitality, etc. Other studies on this blog, confirm the positive results in combating these problems through the consumption of Royal Jelly...

Royal Jelly Prevents the Progression of Sarcopenia in Aged Mice In Vivo and In Vitro

J GerontolA Biol Sci Med Sci, 2013 May 8

Sarcopenia is characterized by the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. One of the mechanisms of sarcopenia is the loss in the function and number of muscle satellite cells.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a health food used worldwide. To obtain better digestion and absorption than RJ, protease-treated RJ (pRJ) has been developed. RJ and pRJ have been suggested to have potential pharmacological benefits such as prolonging the life span and reducing fatigue. Because these effects may improve sarcopenia and the functions of satellite cells, we examined the effects of RJ or pRJ treatment on the skeletal muscles in an animal model using aged mice.

In vivo, RJ/pRJ treatment attenuated the decrease in the muscle weight and grip strength and increased the regenerating capacity of injured muscles and the serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels compared with controls. In vitro, using isolated satellite cells from aged mice, pRJ treatment increased the cell proliferation rate, promoted cell differentiation, and activated Akt intracellular signaling pathway compared with controls.

These findings suggest that RJ/pRJ treatment had a beneficial effect on age-related sarcopenia.

Royal Jelly Increases Collagen Production, Anti-Aging Effect

Studies continue to validate that the only pure source of pantothenic acid, which we need for our bodies to produce collogen, is found in royal jelly. Whether you consume it or apply it on skin surfaces, it's good stuff...

Royal Jelly Increases Collagen Production in Rat Skin After Ovariectomy

J Med Food, 2012 Apr 2

Royal jelly (RJ) is a honeybee product that contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, free amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. RJ has been reported to have antitumor, antibacterial, and wound-healing activities.

We previously reported that RJ enhanced the migration of human dermal fibroblasts and altered the levels of cholesterol and sphinganine in an in vitro wound-healing model in addition to regulating skin photoaging following exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation.

We established an animal model of skin aging in the context of estrogen deficiency and assessed the antiaging effects of RJ on skin.

To establish an in vivo model of skin aging, bilateral ovariectomies were performed in 12-week-old virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats. Induction of osteoporosis was confirmed through two-dimensional images of the trabecular bone in the left femoral necks using microcomputed tomography. The protective effects of RJ ovariectomy-induced skin aging were examined by determining the protein expression of type I procollagen and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1. The collagen content and epidermal thickness of skin tissue were measured by staining techniques. There was a significant difference in weight between sham-operated and ovariectomized groups. Food efficiency ratio did not differ significantly among the groups.

The level of procollagen type I protein was increased in the dorsal skin of ovariectomized rats fed with a dietary supplement containing 1% RJ extract, but the level of MMP-1 was not altered. In particular, the amount of collagen recovered was close to the normal level.

RJ may protect against skin aging by enhancing collagen production in rats with ovariectomy-induced estrogen deficiency.

Royal Jelly Has Lifespan-Extending Effect

Reinforces what we know - the queen lives much longer due to her exclusive diet of Royal Jelly...

Lifespan-Extending Effects of Royal Jelly and Its Related Substances on the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
PLoS ONE 6(8): Published: August 9, 2011

Background

One of the most important challenges in the study of aging is to discover compounds with longevity-promoting activities and to unravel their underlying mechanisms. Royal jelly (RJ) has been reported to possess diverse beneficial properties. Furthermore, protease-treated RJ (pRJ) has additional pharmacological activities. Exactly how RJ and pRJ exert these effects and which of their components are responsible for these effects are largely unknown. The evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that control longevity have been indicated. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether RJ and its related substances exert a lifespan-extending function in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and to gain insights into the active agents in RJ and their mechanism of action.

Principal Findings

We found that both RJ and pRJ extended the lifespan of C. elegans. The lifespan-extending activity of pRJ was enhanced by Octadecyl-silica column chromatography (pRJ-Fraction 5). pRJ-Fr.5 increased the animals' lifespan in part by acting through the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16, the activation of which is known to promote longevity in C. elegans by reducing insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS). pRJ-Fr.5 reduced the expression of ins-9, one of the insulin-like peptide genes. Moreover, pRJ-Fr.5 and reduced IIS shared some common features in terms of their effects on gene expression, such as the up-regulation of dod-3 and the down-regulation of dod-19, dao-4 and fkb-4. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which was present at high concentrations in pRJ-Fr.5, increased lifespan independently of DAF-16 activity.

Conclusions/Significance

These results demonstrate that RJ and its related substances extend lifespan in C. elegans, suggesting that RJ may contain longevity-promoting factors. Further analysis and characterization of the lifespan-extending agents in RJ and pRJ may broaden our understanding of the gene network involved in longevity regulation in diverse species and may lead to the development of nutraceutical interventions in the aging process.

Royal Jelly Powder Acts as a Brain Food

It's not called royal for nothing... Royal Jelly is good for the brain and the body...

(NaturalNews, Sunday, July 24, 2011 by: Alex Malinsky aka RawGuru)

An interesting product, to say the least, royal jelly is the food that turns regular bee larvae into queen bees - it's the substance that elevates the physical capabilities of certain bees to allow them to become leaders of their own hives. Secreted by the nurse bees that look after the larvae in a hive, royal jelly causes some of the baby bees to grow faster and stronger than the rest. Claims have been made that when consumed by humans royal jelly can act as a "brain food," providing the boost the brain needs to grow faster and more efficient.

This claim is made because royal jelly contains a rare fatty acid, 10-HDA, that is said to enhance the cognitive capabilities of individuals. Due to a high concentration of phospholipids, people that consume royal jelly are able to improve their motor function, short-term memory, learning abilities, and overall awareness. Studies have shown that royal jelly has even been able to improve the conditions of individuals that suffer from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The availability of a natural therapy for such illnesses is certainly important, as the market's current medications are laden with harsh chemicals that often provide serious side effects.

Despite the fact that royal jelly is recognized as a brain food, it remains that this natural remedy has much more to offer than increased brain function. As a substance that contains many B vitamins (especially Vitamin B5, pantothenic acid), trace minerals, and antibacterial proteins, royal jelly provides a natural boost of overall well-being. Some of its many other health benefits are:

* Efficient regeneration of tissue, especially that involving DNA.

* Increase in the strength of white blood cells, which boosts the immune system.

* Reduction of oxygen supplied to tumors, allowing the body to fight several types of cancer.

* Regulations of blood sugar, which can improve the health of individuals with diabetes.

* DHEA, a hormone that has anti-aging and adrenal-regulating properties.

* Restoration of the function of both the adrenal and kidney systems.

* Faster hair growth that also improves shine and color, due to para-aminobenzoic acid.

* Younger looking skin, a result of collagen and zinc.

* Rest and renewal after being overworked or excessively tired.

* Relief from asthenia, anxiety, insomnia, asthma, arthritis, gout, skin problems, and even broken bones.

* Lower cholesterol.

* Increased anti-inflammatory and antibiotic capabilities.

The use of royal jelly powder has been deemed safe for the majority of individuals; however, people that suffer from allergies or are allergic to royal jelly may suffer from an allergic reaction that could be fatal. Therefore, knowing all allergies before taking the supplement is crucial to achieving success when incorporating royal jelly into a diet.

Individuals who choose to add royal jelly powder can expect to experience an overall boost in their health. These many benefits will provide a well-rounded increase in well-being, allowing users to feel more alert and more comfortable. Though it is advertised as a "brain food," and does contain substances that can boost the activity of the brain and nervous system, royal jelly also provides many other highly valuable health benefits that make it an important supplement in the lives of people who are seeking natural remedies.

Royal Jelly Benefits Humans as well as Bees

Fresh royal jelly has the best results, but I can attest that the freeze-dried capsules are also effective and practical... 

April 29, 2011 by: Shona Botes

(NaturalNews) Many people are aware of the health benefits of honey, but few are aware of the benefits that Royal Jelly has to offer. This is the substance that is produced by worker bees to feed the young bee larvae and the Queen bee in the hive. This substance offers many benefits to people, such as lowering cholesterol levels, wound healing properties and even anti-cancer properties.

Royal Jelly has anti-inflammatory properties. This applies when it is applied topically or ingested internally, making it an excellent supplement for those suffering from arthritis. It has been shown to stimulate the growth of brain stem cells, thereby making it an effective tool in preventing both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Research done in both Japan and Croatia show that Royal Jelly may have significant anti-cancer properties. In one study, mice were injected with cancer cells. When they were then injected with Royal Jelly, it drastically reduced the spread of the cancer cells.

It is believed that Royal Jelly is able to improve the quality of a woman`s eggs, thereby aiding fertility issues and promoting overall health of the reproductive organs. Many women report that Royal Jelly is able to help reduce the effects and symptoms of PMS because of the fact that it is able to balance and regulate hormone levels in the body.

This nutrient is also able to assist those suffering from insomnia and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatism. It is able to boost sexual libido and even help regenerate bone growth. It is able to boost the immune system, making it effective in fighting against infections.

Over the years, Royal Jelly has been given to premature infants to help them gain weight. Studies have shown that it is also useful for ulcers, digestive disorders such as constipation, circulatory problems and cardiovascular ailments. It also has remarkable anti-aging properties because it helps to improve collagen production in the skin. In summary, Royal Jelly is able to assist with regulating all of the functions of the human body.

People who are allergic to bees or honey products should exercise caution when using this product, as serious allergic reactions may occur.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

Sources:
http://www.bee-pollen-buzz.com/bene...
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthi...
http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2008...
About the author: Shona Botes is a budding blogger, as well as a fabulous frugalist. Her spare time is spent engaged in blogging, cycling, photography, as well as green living and natural healing and remedies.

Propolis Source Demonstrates Anti-Aging Effects

The list keeps getting longer and yet so much we haven't discovered with Propolis, it's the NATURAL Protector...

Poplar Tree Leaf Bud Extract Could Fight Skin Aging
Medical News Today, 6/8/2011



Antioxidants are popular anti-aging ingredients in skin creams, and now scientists are reporting a new source of these healthful substances - leaf buds of poplar trees. Their study appears in the ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Xavier Vitrac and colleagues note that there's a long history of using poplar buds to treat various health problems, such as colds, sinusitis, sunburn and arthritis. A substance found in beehives that is made from poplar buds (called propolis) also appears to have similar disease-fighting benefits. Propolis' effects seem to be due to poplar bud compounds, but very little is known about these substances. To see whether poplar buds are a good source of antioxidants for skin creams, the researchers decided to test an extract from the buds.

The group found that poplar bud extract had moderate antioxidant activity, and it demonstrated anti-aging effects on cells in the laboratory…