Believe it or not, there are so many benefits to using royal jelly that it’s almost difficult to know where to start – so let’s go back to the beginning! Since ancient times, royal jelly has been utilized as a nutritional supplement for human health and personal care, and to this day, it’s still intrinsic to both traditional and folk medicine, particularly in China and other Asiatic countries.
In more recent times, the benefits of royal jelly became wildly popular in the mid-1950s, when Pope Pius XII began using it as a natural therapy to treat his asthmatic problems and other health conditions due to old age. In fact, the Pope declared that “royal jelly is a food given by God to preserve youthfulness forever.” As a result, many Catholics and Christians began seeking it out, causing it to become scarce and expensive.
With its long and illustrious history and varying usages, it is no wonder fresh royal jelly and raw honey have been harvested for thousands of years and revered by cultures around the world. With so many reported health benefits (which we’ll get to in a moment), it has often been referred to as “nature’s perfect food.”
Did You Know…
Speaking of honey-related history, here’s a sweet bit of trivia: cave paintings have been found depicting beekeeping that date back as far as 13,000 years ago! In fact, one of the world’s oldest intact beehives is in Israel, and is believed to be 3,000 years old.
What IsRoyal Jelly?
While most people know that raw honey is primarily consumed as a delicious natural sweetener, either eaten or used in beverages, many folks aren’t quite as familiar with the properties or benefits of royal jelly – or even what it is!So what is royal jelly?According to the NCBI, this viscous, white, nutrient-rich, jelly-like substance (actually a gland secretion of the honeybee used to nourish the hive’s queen bee) is recognized as a “superfood.” It is the sole food consumed by the hive’s queen bee throughout her lifetime, and also used to feed all young larvae within the first three days after hatching. This highly-nutritious bee fuel is the primary reason for the longevity of the queen bee’s lifespan in comparison to her hive subordinates.
Royal Jelly: The Beneficial Superfood
Also recognized as a superfood among humans across the globe, royal jelly is used far and wide as a dietary and nutritional supplement to help treat many types of health conditions and ailments. In fact, the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) states that many pharmacological activities (such as antibacterial, anti-tumor, anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects) have also been attributed to this somewhat miraculous substance.
Here are just a few of the potential benefits authentic royal jelly may provide:
- Antibiotic effects
- Antibacterial effects
- Antioxidant properties
- Anti-tumor effects
- Bone support
- Diabetic support
- Digestive support
- Energy and vitality
- Fertility booster
- Healing wounds
- Healthy skin
- Hormone support & balance
- Immune system support
- Supports kidney, pancreatic and liver function
Did You Know…
Honey is the only food that never spoils. In fact, archeologists discovered 5,000-year-old Egyptian tombs that contained honey in them – and it was still good!
The Science Behind Royal Jelly: Facts To Feed On
With so many reported health advantages, it should come as no surprise that royal jelly is a complex substance that contains a myriad of biological attributes, including high levels of protein, carbohydrates, fats, free amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, among others. In addition, its composition will vary depending on the climate and geography in which it was harvested. With specific regard to its beneficial properties, many experts link the lipids found in the fatty acids of royal jelly as the cornerstone of preventative and supportive medicine. Some research has supported that royal jelly can be used within skin treatments to fight aging, function as an immune-system modulator, utilized as a therapy for menopause, and even inhibit the growth of cancer.
What Does Royal Jelly Taste Like: Flavor & Dosage Info
According to the ‘Bee Time’ website, royal jelly “has a distinctive aroma and slightly spicy acidic-sweet taste.” Others have described it as somewhat astringent, slightly bitter, dry and leaving an aftertaste. Sometimes this ‘aftertaste’ is equated with very low levels of bee venom, thus imparting a tingling or numbing sensation to the mouth and tongue. Therefore, individuals with known honey or bee sting allergies should not consume royal jelly.
Because it’s so concentrated, you only need to consume a small amount to reap royal jelly health benefits – half a teaspoon per day is adequate for most adults. Thick and smooth in texture, this potent substance packs a big blast of B vitamins along with its numerous other health properties, and may be eaten raw, blended into a tea or smoothie, added to pure raw honeycomb as a spread, or consumed in powder form within a gelatin capsule. Most health food stores carry royal jelly, and can likely make suggestions and offer helpful dosage & consumption advice for first-timers based on the consumer’s intentions. Ideally, experts recommend consuming fresh royal jelly, since it will have the greatest potency and consequential health benefits.
Sources Cited:
- Pasupuleti, Visweswara Rao¹; Sammugam, Lakshmi²; Ramesh, Nagesvari², Gan; Siew Hua³ (abstract article). “Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits.”NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov (National Center for Biotechnology Information / US National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health),July 26, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549483/. Accessed June 25, 2019.
- Oliver, Kyra. “10 Royal Treatments of Royal Jelly (No. 2 Is Brain Food).”Dr. Axe.com, March 16, 2016, https://draxe.com/royal-jelly/. Accessed June 25, 2019.
- Kandola, Aaron. Reviewed by Marengo, Katherine LDN, RD. “What are the benefits of royal jelly?” Medical News Today.com, January 10, 2019, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324152.php. Accessed June 25, 2019.