All About Royal Jelly

Royal Jelly (R.J.) is a creamy white substance that is secreted by the hydropharyngeal gland worker bees located in their heads. It contains protein, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, as well as lipids, sugars, and nitrogen, making it an ideal food for developing bees.

Nutritional Value

It´s main application in the hive is to feed the larvae and nourish the queen bee. All bee larvae, i.e. workers, drones and the queen are fed with royal jelly for the first three days of their development. However, only the queen larvae continues to be fed this special substance throughout her entire life time. Scientists believe it helps the queen to produce more eggs and extend her life. For this reason, it is also sometimes called “queen’s milk. ” It is packed with nutrients and proteins, making it essential for the health of the hive. 

Royal Jelly Composition

So what makes this substance so special? The answer lies in it´s unique composition. Made up of water, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals, it also contains a number of unique compounds that are not found in other bee products. These compounds include royalactin, royalisin, royal jelly-acid and – protein.

These unique compounds are responsible for its numerous health benefits. Royalactin is the main active ingredient in royal jelly. It has been shown to have anti-tumor properties and to stimulate the growth of new cells. 

Royalisin is an antimicrobial peptide that can help to fight off infections, while Royal Jelly Acid is an antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Royal Jelly Protein is a unique protein that is only found in royal jelly. It is made up of 18 amino acids, including all of the essential amino acids. This protein is responsible for its growth-promoting and anti-inflammatory properties.

The chemical composition is made of 67% water, 12.5% protein, 11% simple sugars (monosaccharides), 6% fatty acids and 3.5% 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA). It also contains trace minerals, antibacterial and antibiotic components, Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and trace amounts of Vitamin C.

Human Uses of Royal Jelly

Because of it´s unique properties, R.J. has also been shown to have amazing benefits for humans! It is best known for it´s anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory and anti-tumor properties.

A number of studies have looked at the effects on human health. One study showed that royal jelly was able to boost the immune system, lower cholesterol levels, promote skin health and wound healing, as well as improve energy levels, and fight off viral infections such as the common cold.

Research has also shown that it has anticancer properties and can help to improve memory, menopause symptoms, Type 2 Diabetes, increase lifespan, and protect against disease.

Many cosmetics and skincare products use this unique bee product because of its purported anti-aging properties. It can also be used topically to treat skin conditions such as acne and eczema because of its anti-inflammatory properties. 

Another use is as a natural sweetener in some foods and beverages. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular as a natural health supplement.

How To Use It

Royal Jelly comes in various forms, including a gel-like substance or, as a pill or capsule. Can you be allergic to Royal Jelly? In general it is considered safe for topical use and consumption in moderate amounts, however, in some people it may cause allergic reactions, ranging from hives, asthma, to anaphylaxis in rare cases. The risk of having an allergy is higher in people who have other allergies.