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Even if you haven’t seen it, the chances are that you’ve heard of royal jelly. This creamy white substance is rich in nutrient content that encourages younger bees to make food for the Queen. Like anything to do with nature, royal jelly is no secret to health claims.

Whether it’s relieving the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or supporting the healing of a wound, the supposed health benefits of royal jelly are far-reaching. It’s packed full of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Taking royal jelly in a small amount can help you tackle everyday realities like menopause symptoms and type 2 diabetes.

While research has established that certain nutrient within royal jelly can be beneficial for our health, there is still little evidence or research that has been carried out on the specifics of royal jelly itself. This article takes an in-depth look at what royal jelly is and the top 12 health benefits that are backed by research.

What is royal jelly?

In essence, royal jelly is a substance made by honeybees to feed the Queen bee and their young. In recent years, it has become popular as a dietary supplement to tackle everything from menopause to Type 2 diabetes.

Royal jelly is considered primarily safe and without any major side effects. However, as it is a bee product, it’s recommended that you should avoid royal jelly if you have a bee, pollen, or environmental allergen.

Royal jelly is made up of a nutritional content that focuses 50-60% on water, with 18% proteins and 15% carbohydrates. The remaining percentage is made up of lipids and mineral salt. There is also a small percentage of vitamins and minerals found in royal jelly, including vitamin C.

As a natural remedy, royal jelly is not subjected to FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) rules. If you’re unsure about incorporating royal jelly into your routine, it’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor first. If you start taking royal jelly and spot any side effects, it’s advisable to stop using it immediately.

The health benefits of royal jelly

Just like honey, the health benefits of royal jelly are wide and far reaching, impacting almost every aspect of our life. You can use royal jelly by applying it orally or directly to your skin. Royal jelly has a distinctive gel-like substance that can also be freeze-dried and turned into a powder form to take as a pill or capsule.

If you’re thinking of taking royal jelly for the first time, it’s always advisable to start with a smaller dose and slowly work your way up, while being consistent with your use of it.

We’re rounding up 12 of the most popular health benefits relating to royal jelly. These benefits are backed up by research and studies that show the potential of royal jelly to boost our overall health. Whatever your healthcare concerns are, royal jelly is guaranteed to offer something for you.

1. Relieves the symptoms of menopause

A major study in 2011 found that four natural ingredients – including royal jelly – could diminish the symptoms of menopause and make the more manageable. A further study has found that taking up to 150mg of royal jelly every day for a period of 3 months could significantly improve the cholesterol levels of healthy post-menopausal women.

By improving the cholesterol levels in these women, royal jelly can also lower their risk of heart disease and stroke.

2. Tackles premenstrual syndrome

It’s not just menopause that royal jelly can help, research has also shown that it can be beneficial for those who struggle with premenstrual syndrome. A 2014 study saw 110 participants take a royal jelly capsule or placebo every day over two menstrual cycles. The research found that those who took the royal jelly capsules had less severe symptoms over their two cycles.

3. Speed up the healing process

Another benefit that is similar between honey and royal jelly is their ability to accelerate the healing process for wounds. Results from a recent study found that royal jelly could hold the potential to increase the movement of fibroblasts (a cell that facilitates wound healing) to the wound site.

4. Offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

Royal jelly is widely viewed as having the ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress on the body. After extensive testing, it appears that royal jelly has several potent antioxidant effects. The same research showed the ability of royal jelly to tackle inflammation. There is still an ongoing debate about the ability of royal jelly to treat inflammation, but this is on the side lines until comprehensive human research can be carried out.

5. Reduces glucose levels for those with type 2 diabetes

A further similarity between honey and royal jelly is their ability to help those with type 2 diabetes. Results from a recent case study found that taking a regular 1-gram dose of royal jelly could lead to a reduction in the level of blood glucose for those with type 2 diabetes. Research is still on-going in this area, with larger projects and samples needed to give us a clear picture.

6. Reduce your risk of heart disease due to cholesterol levels

Your cholesterol levels directly impact your likelihood of contracting heart disease or taking a stroke. Royal jelly has been found to be able to have a positive impact on your cholesterol levels, decreasing your risk of these happening.

Proteins within royal jelly are seen as able to lower your ‘bad’ cholesterol. A one-month study found that there was a n 11% and 4% reduction in total and ‘bad’ cholesterol levels in those who took 3 grams of royal jelly every day.

7. Lower your blood pressure with the help of proteins

As well as lowering your cholesterol, royal jelly can improve the condition of your heart by lowering your blood pressure. Royal jelly has been found to relax muscle cells within your arteries and veins, helping to lower your blood pressure. A recent study found that combining royal jelly with another bee-derived product could lead to a significant reduction in your blood pressure.

8. Helps to regulate blood sugar by reducing oxidative stress

One universal benefit of using royal jelly is that it can help you control your blood sugar and any insulin sensitivity you may have. While research is still ongoing in this topic, it is clear that royal jelly shows signs of insulin sensitivity, while being bale to protect the vital organs, such as kidneys and liver.

9. Support brain functioning

Are you starting to forget things? Do you want to remember your earlier years? You might be a student wanting to free their brain before an example or an adult concerned about a generic history.

A study showed that royal jelly could lower the stress hormones within stress-induced mice, while another study showed that it help to boost memory and also reduce depression amongst postmenopausal rats. Using royal jelly can positively impact your brain functioning and nervous system by keeping you in control for your thoughts.

10. Strengthens your immune system

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of looking after our immune system. Having a royal jelly supplement works to boost your body’s natural immune system, particularly when around a foreign viruses or bacteria.

The fatty acids that exist within royal jelly promote antibacterial activity, helping to fight away infection and toxins from the body to keep a healthy and strong immune system.

11. Offers anti-aging benefits

It’s never too early to start thinking about anti-aging treatments. The secret is to keep it simple and natural. Royal jelly is an unlikely hero for improving lifespans and boosting cognitive performance. We’re starting to see royal jelly being incorporated into skincare products to create healthy skin with a dewy-looking glow.

One specific anti-aging benefit that royal jelly offers is that it boosts collagen production to keep your skin smooth, soft, and wrinkle-free. It also helps offer protection from free radical damage, including UV radiation.

12. Can reduce the side effects associated with cancer treatment

Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments are a daily reality to millions across the UK. These cancer treatments can lead to serious side effects, such as gastrointestinal issues, health care, and inflammation.

Two studies have found royal jelly can reduce the chances of chemotherapy-induced illness. Another study focused on the ability of royal jelly to prevent mucositis, which scares every cancer patient at the idea of causing pain to your digestive tact.

Royal jelly is an unappreciated natural asset that has the ability to transform your health, whether you take it as a daily supplement or alongside honey. Are you interested in experimenting with royal jelly?