Royal jelly is a nutritious type of food that comes from bees, made in a similar way to honey, and it’s full of incredible health benefits for your entire body.
It is a milky, creamy secretion made from worker bees and is essential for maintaining the health, strength, and fertility of queen bees in the hive. It’s made up of 60-70% water, 12-15% protein, 10-16% sugar, 3-6% healthy fats, and 2-3% of vitamins, antioxidants, salts, and enzymes.
After the discovery that royal jelly increases the lifespan of queen bees up to 20 times more than worker bees, studies were conducted to analyze its effect on human health: the results were staggering! Royal jelly applied topically or taken as a dietary supplement has been shown to increase digestive health, boost immunity, prevent disease, and even offer skin and hair a youthful glow.
It is often sold as an herbal supplement, not to be confused with bee pollen, and can be bought fresh from health food stores or online.
Here are 12 Health Benefits of Royal Jelly:
1.. Strengthens Immunity
In a 2001 study, which was published in the International Immunopharmacology journal, royal jelly could help to suppress the body’s histamine response to allergies, which reduces the symptoms of seasonal allergies and helps to keep the immune system strong.
A study conducted at the University of Ryukyus in Japan also showed that royal jelly could prevent autoimmunity, which is a condition whereby the body’s immune system attacks itself. It additionally increased the life-span in mice due to strengthened immunity, which demonstrates the powerful potential that it could have on human longevity and health.
2. Improves Digestive Function
Royal jelly contains a probiotic compound known as bifidobacteria, which is a good kind of bacteria that helps to improve digestive function. It also contains a compound known as lecithin, which is a type of fat called a phospholipid. Lecithin is excellent for digestive health and royal jelly is one of the most concentrated sources of it.
3. Promotes Youthful Skin
Researchers at the Department of East-West Medical Science at Kyung Hee University in Korea discovered that royal jelly helps to keep skin youthful by enhancing collagen production in the body. Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that helps to maintain the elasticity of skin, thereby reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation. Royal jelly, taken topically or ingested, helps to keep collagen production at its optimum and helps to reduce oxidative stress of skin tissue.
4. Regulates Blood Sugar
Doctors from the Justus-Liebig University Hospital in Germany conducted a trial to observe the effects of royal jelly on insulin activity and blood sugar balance. 20 volunteers underwent a standardized oral glucose test (OGTT) before and after being given 20 grams of royal jelly.
Within 2-hours, all participants had lower blood sugar levels and were within the ideal range.
In a separate randomized clinical trial, supplementing with 10 grams of royal jelly resulted in better blood sugar level management in diabetic patients, particularly those with Type II diabetes.
5. Reduces Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms
Alzheimer’s disease impairs the brain’s neural and memory functions and studies have shown that royal jelly helps to improve brain function. Royal jelly also contains plenty of powerful antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids that have been shown to prevent and cure neurodegenerative diseases.
6. Could Increase Male Fertility
Sperm parameters, testosterone, malondialdehyde production were tested in mice after royal jelly supplementation and it was found that sperm motility, viability, and DNA-integrity was increased. The study, published in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, suggests that royal jelly treatment could increase male fertility.
Royalactin is a protein in royal jelly which helps the queen bee to remain incredibly fertile for 3-4 years, which is what triggered its effect on human fertility to be analyzed. It could prove to be a promising supplement for female fertility as well; studies are still ongoing.
7. Better Circulation 
Research has shown that royal jelly contains proteins and potassium that help to lower blood pressure, reduce menopausal symptoms, increase circulation, and improve the health of the cardiovascular system. The protein hydrolysate and potassium work together as a vasodilator, which reduces stress on blood vessels and the heart and helps to reduce the risks associated with hypertension.
8. Excellent for Bones
Japanese scientists conducted a study on rats after hypothesizing that royal jelly could prevent osteoporosis, and it was shown that it increased calcium absorption during the digestive process. Calcium is important for maintaining strong teeth and bones, which means that royal jelly supplementation could help to prevent arthritis, osteoporosis, and bone fractures.
9. Helps to Heal Wounds Faster
A 2010 study discovered that, much like honey, royal jelly had healing properties and could help to heal wounds faster. Topical or internal supplementation of
royal jelly was shown to increase the migration of fibroblasts, which are cells in the connective tissue that are responsible for the healing of wounds.
10. Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Royal jelly contains a range of active enzymes and vitamins that help to reduce inflammation in the body, especially when applied topically to an inflamed area. Studies have also shown that it helps to heal symptoms of oral mucositis in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect.
11. Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a type of environmental estrogen that has been associated with increasing the risk of developing breast cancer. Royal jelly contains a variety of powerful antioxidant agents that have been shown to inhibit BPA build-up in the body, particularly in the glands and tissues of the breast.
A 2008 report from the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry has confirmed that royal jelly contains significant amounts of antioxidants that are associated with reducing the risk of developing several diseases, including cancer.
12. Accelerates Metabolism
Royal jelly contains all 8 of the essential amino acids required through dietary supplementation, which helps to keep the metabolism functioning optimally. It also contains lecithin, which helps to promote a healthy digestion, the combination being excellent for natural weight loss and efficient nutrient absorption.
Sources:
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