Do you often find yourself reaching for that extra cup of coffee to keep you going throughout the day? While caffeine can provide a quick energy boost, it’s not a sustainable or healthy solution. In fact, excessive caffeine consumption can lead to negative side effects like jitters, nervousness, and insomnia.
So, what’s a great alternative? Look no further than royal jelly! This natural substance is packed with nutrients that can support your energy levels without the negative impacts of caffeine.
Royal jelly contains up to 35% protein and is rich in B vitamins and antioxidants.
What is royal jelly?
Royal jelly is a natural gelatinous food product that is made by worker honey bees. It is a milky white substance with a high protein content and a very complex and beneficial mix of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fatty acids.
Royal jelly is collected from the cells of the honeycomb that are fed to the queen bee and her young. The reason why the queen bee lives up to 50 times longer than a regular working bee and is able to lay over 1500 eggs each day is because of her steady diet consisting of only royal jelly.
Is royal jelly a honey?
Royal jelly is produced by bees, but it is not honey. A honey bee fluid called royal jelly is used to feed larvae and adult queens. It is supplied to all larvae in the colony, independent of sex or caste, and is secreted by glands in nurse bees’ hypopharynx.
It is a byproduct of the nectar collected and produced for the consumption and nutrition of all of the worker bees. The queen bee does not consume honey, she eats only royal jelly.
Royal jelly vs honey: What is the difference?
1. Composition
Honey is a sweet viscous liquid produced by bees from plant nectar or secretions, while royal jelly is a milky white nutritional substance rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein secreted by worker bees and fed exclusively to queen bees and young larvae.
2. Collection
Royal jelly is not typically harvested for commercial use due to the small quantities available and the difficulty in collecting it.
It is available for purchase from specialty farms who harvest it in small quantities. Scroll down for a good place to buy fresh royal jelly where they ship it to you on ice.
3. Use
Royal jelly is mainly used as a dietary supplement due to its high nutritional content and purported health benefits.
4. Flavor
Honey has a sweet flavor that varies depending on the type of plant nectar from which it was produced, while royal jelly has a tangy and slightly bitter taste.
5. Texture
Honey is a thick, sticky liquid, while royal jelly is a creamy, thick substance with a gel-like consistency.
6. Health Benefits
While both honey and royal jelly have wonderful health benefits, royal jelly is believed to have more potent effects due to its high vitamin and mineral content, including improved immune system function, increased energy levels, and improved skin health.
7. Allergies
Some people may be allergic to honey, especially if they have a pollen allergy, while royal jelly allergies are rare but can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals.
How do bees make royal jelly?
Bees produce royal jelly through a process that involves specialized glands and feeding of the young larvae. Royal jelly is a creamy, whitish substance that is secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands in the heads of nurse bees. The production of royal jelly is stimulated by the presence of young larvae in the colony.
The worker bees that produce royal jelly are between 5-15 days old and have well-developed hypopharyngeal glands. They secrete the royal jelly into the queen cell to feed the young larvae. Interestingly, the same worker bees that produce royal jelly will also care for the queen bee once she has developed.
The composition of royal jelly is complex and varies depending on factors such as age, diet, and genetics of the bee. It is rich in protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, and is thought to be responsible for the development and overall health of the queen bee.
Harvesting royal jelly requires special care and techniques to prevent contamination and damage to the delicate substance. For this reason, it is often produced by beekeepers who specialize in queen bee breeding and production.
Overall, the production of royal jelly is a fascinating process that relies on the specialized glands and behaviors of worker bees. It is a vital substance in the development and health of the queen bee, and has been used for centuries as a natural supplement for its purported health benefits for humans.
- Skin disorders
Royal jelly has been known to help with skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.
- Diabetes
This makes it a popular dietary supplement for those with type 2 diabetes.
- Fertility
It is thought to stimulate ovarian function in women and increase sperm count in men.
- Immune system support
This makes it a popular supplement for those looking to boost their immune system.
- Alzheimer’s disease
Some studies have found that royal jelly may have a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.
- Cancer
While more research is needed, some studies have suggested that royal jelly may have anticancer properties.
- Menopause
Royal jelly has been shown to alleviate symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats.
What are the health benefits of royal jelly?
Royal jelly is a highly nutritious substance produced by bees to feed their queen bee. It contains a variety of nutrients, such as proteins, sugars, lipids, and vitamins, and has been claimed to provide numerous health benefits, and used extensively in Eastern Chinese Medicine.
According to a study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, royal jelly’s composition varies depending on factors such as bee species, geographic location, and harvesting season.
Another study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported that royal jelly contains high levels of antioxidants, which may contribute to its potential health benefits. Links to these studies are below.
Some of the reported health benefits of royal jelly include:
- Lowering bad cholesterol levels
- Supporting wound healing
- Easing premenstrual syndrome symptoms
- Fighting diabetes
- Boosting the immune system
- Improving heart health
- Enhancing fertility
Western medicine researchers indicate that while there are many anecdotal reports and some scientific studies on the potential health benefits of royal jelly, more research is needed to fully understand its effects on human health.
Think Good discusses the many health benefits of royal jelly
What are 3 pure royal jelly products to try?
We have done the research so you don’t have to. We base our selections on purity, quality, potency, third-party testing, and value.
1. Stakich Fresh Royal Jelly
This is where I order my royal jelly, they take it very seriously and have perfected their production for over 90 years. Stakich Fresh Royal Jelly is a company that specializes in producing and selling pure, all-natural royal jelly.
The company is based in Troy, Michigan, which is where I used to live before moving to California.
They offer fresh royal jelly that is highly potent, nutrient-rich, and available in various sizes, including 2 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz, 1 kg, 2 kg, and 10 kg.
Stakich’s royal jelly is unprocessed, shipped frozen with ice packs, and contains all of the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids found in the substance.
Stakich Inc. also offers other bee hive products and supplements, such as raw honey, bee pollen, beeswax, propolis, green powders, and herbal extracts, all of which are 100% natural and of premium quality.
What we love about Stakich Royal Jelly: We have this jar in our fridge currently.
- Stakich is a company that only produces bee products, they are expert bees and produce a high quality product.
- Small business
- 100% pure
- Unprocessed, unfiltered
- Raw
- Fresh, shipped in a cooler with an icepack
- Glass jar packaging
- Nothing artificial
- Non GMO
- Excellent source of energy
- Highly rated on Amazon
2. Carlyle Royal Jelly Capsules
What we love about Carlyle Royal Jelly:
- 2500mg high potency
- Quick release capsules
- 3rd party lab tested
- Superior quality
- Free of gluten, wheat, yeast, milk, lactose, soy, artificial flavor
- Non-GMO
- Highly rated on Amazon
3. NOW Supplements Royal Jelly
What we love about Now Royal Jelly:
- 1000mg high potency
- Freeze dried to retain maximum potency
- Non GMO
- Gelatin, soy and dairy free
- 3rd party tested
- Superior quality
- USA family owned company since 1968
- Highly rated on Amazon
What is special about royal jelly?
Royal jelly is the chosen superior concentrated nutritive food given to larvae in their first three days of life.
Throughout their development, these selected larvae are bathed in royal jelly in special, bigger, and somewhat elongated “queen cells.” The queen bee is fed royal jelly for the remainder of her life when she leaves the larval stage. She receives the nutrition and energy she needs to continuously generate larvae (new bees) for the rest of her life.
What is royal jelly made of?
The nutritional constitution of royal jelly is impressive in that it possesses a wide range of nutrients essential for good health.
Royal jelly is just over 50% water, and the rest is comprised of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, mineral salts, vitamins and polyphenols (which are antioxidants). The vitamin in abundance in royal jelly are the B vitamins. The B vitamins that can be found in royal jelly are:
1.B1 Thiamine
2. B2 riboflavin
3. B3 Niacin
3. B5 Pantothenic acid
4. B6 Pyridoxine
5. B9 Folid Acid
6. B8 Inositol
7. B7 Biotin
What are possible side effects of royal jelly?
Royal jelly is “considered safe” for internal and external use, though people who have asthma, allergies, are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid it unless they clear the use with their healthcare professional.
There is the potential that some who are sensitive can develop rashes or itchy or warmer red patches when royal jelly is applied to the skin. Discontinue use if these symptoms occur.
As always, before starting anything new within your healthcare regime, it is best to consult your healthcare provider.
We hope that the information provided in this article helped, especially if you are looking for increased energy, and looking to decrease less healthy options when trying to obtain more energy and productivity throughout your day.
Sources and additional reading on royal jelly
- Natural Wellness – “What is Royal Jelly and How Can It Benefit Your Health?” – https://www.naturalwellness.com/nwupdate/what-is-royal-jelly-and-how-can-it-benefit-your-health/
- Healthline – “Royal Jelly: Benefits, Side Effects, and More” – https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/royal-jelly
- Dr. Axe – “Royal Jelly: The Anti-Aging, Energy-Boosting Superfood” – https://draxe.com/nutrition/royal-jelly/
- Beekeeper’s Naturals – “The Benefits of Royal Jelly” – https://beekeepersnaturals.com/blogs/blog/the-benefits-of-royal-jelly
- WebMD – “Royal Jelly” – https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-royal-jelly#1
- Organic Facts – “11 Impressive Benefits of Royal Jelly” – https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/animal-product/royal-jelly.html
- Verywell Health – “The Health Benefits of Royal Jelly” – https://www.verywellhealth.com/royal-jelly-for-health-4163717
- “Nutritional composition of honey bee food: impact on human health” published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09637480701278925
- “Antioxidative and antiproliferative activities of different types of honeybee-derived propolis and royal jelly” published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf034077f
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