Bee Products
Bee products are rich in several nutrients and so they are fast gaining recognition as a valuable source of nutrition. In most cases a combination of honey bee products are used in order to obtain a larger range of nutrients. The term bee products refers mainly to pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and honey. Pollen is a fine almost dust-like component that is transferred to the bee from a flower. Propolis is a substance collected from plants by bees and used in their hives as a sealant and to discourage bacterial growth. Royal jelly is a thick secretion that is produced by worker bees and is used to feed the larvae in a colony as well as the adult queen bee. Honey is made by bees from nectar and is stored in their hives as a form of nutrition. There are several other bee products like bee venom and beeswax that are also used for various medicinal purposes.
Bee products have different nutrients and therefore they also have different uses. In a beehive propolis prevents the growth of bacteria and so this bee product can be used to prevent bacterial infections in humans. It also has strong antimicrobial properties which help to increase the body’s resistance to infection by stimulating the nervous system. Pollen is a very fine dust produced by plants for the purpose of reproduction. These tiny particles are rich in several amino acids and proteins. They also contain mineral and can contain well over 150 different nutrients. Since Royal jelly is used as a source of nutrition for larvae, it is rich in vitamins, and amino acids. It also has very strong antibiotic properties as well as antibacterial components. Honey contains several antioxidants and is considered to be effective in the treatment of allergies.
Bee venom is used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and it is now gaining recognition as a viable treatment for multiple sclerosis. However, there is still a lot of debate on how effective this method is but many people who have tried this method have found that it helps to alleviate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Beebread is made up of a combination of pollen and honey and is used as the main source of nutrition for almost the entire colony. Beeswax is a type of wax and is produced by honey bees. The wax in a honeycomb is white but turns yellow with the introduction of propolis and pollen oils. Beeswax is generally used in skin creams as it is an excellent moisturizer.
