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Since history was first recorded, the beehive has been referred to as the true fountain of youth- a source of miracle healing, giver of the perfect food for man.

The therapeutic and nutritive use of honey, royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen can be traced throughout the ages – a testament in and of itself of the immeasurably rich value of these substances.

In the midst of the new, modern- day plagues like cancer and AIDS, substances like Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen and Propolis are emerging as truly exceptional in their ability to protect against disease and aging. In addition, when taken in raw supplement form, these products can promote a significant increase in energy and stamina, two attributes desperately sought after in our high stress, malnourished society.

Royal Jelly rejuvenates and heals, bee pollen energizes and invigorates, propolis protects and regenerates and honey nourishes and preserves. The combination of these four beehive products is noting less than perfect.

We invite you to visit to visit our Bee Beard page where Walter"grows" his "Bee Beard". Click here.

Healing from the Hive

Royal Jelly is synthesized by the worker bees exclusively for the nourishment and cultivation of the queen bee. In other words, it is this remarkable material which miraculously transforms a common honeybee into a queen bee, extending its longevity from six weeks to five years. Considered the most precious gift of the hive, Royal Jelly is incomparable in its ability to enhance both physical and mental performance.

The human body requires 22 basic elements including vitamins, amino acids, hormone and enzymes. Bee Pollen is raw, live, natural food that contains them all!

Interestingly, while Bee Pollen has received a fair amount of attention over the last few decades, many people still don’t know exactly what it is. Technically, Pollen is the male seed of flowers. It can be looked at as the male sperm cells of flowering plants and is necessary for the plant to be fertilized.

Every kind of flower on this plant produces pollen, which is created in the stamen within the blossom itself. Bee pollen refers to pollen which is collected and stored by honeybees in their hives. Interestingly, while engaging in this industrious activity, honeybees pollinate more than 80 percent of plant propagation. Bee Pollen is a food that has been universally praised for its impressive nutrient content and remarkable ability to provide energy. Scientific studies have found that a person can live indefinitely on a diet consisting of Bee Pollen and water alone.

Bees make honey from the nectar they sip from flower blossoms. This edible “gold” is a viscous fluid exclusively created by the honeybee. To date, modern techniques have failed to synthetically manufacture Honey, Royal Jelly, Propolis and Bee Pollen, These prized substances are only available from Mother Nature.

Pollinators
Honey Bee Facts
Honey Industry Facts
Bee Pollen taken to combat allergies
Honey Fights Cholesterol
Honey's Nutrition and Health Facts
Royal Jelly
Where Does Royal Jelly Come From
A Message from Anthony A. Contre M.D.,Consultant to Bee-Alive
Propolis
Scientific Compendium from the National Honey Board
The Compendium
The Rvalue

Pollinators

Around the world, bees are the world's champion pollinators carrying and delivering more pollen grains to and from flowering plants than any other group of animals. Bees fit just right into flowers and have the know-how to find the nectar and carry away large amounts of pollen. The pollination of flowers is a “lucky accident” that happens when bees and other animals accidentally brush against the stigmas leaving pollen grains behind that will send down pollen tubes fertilizing the ovules that will become the seeds in your bright red apple, orange or other fruits.

Bees have just the right tools for the job at hand. Steve has called bees “living Swiss Army Knives” because they have tools on their legs and mouth parts to help them collect floral rewards. Their hind legs are fuzzy with branched hairs to help hold and transport the pollen back to their nests. Some bees even have specialized pollen combs and “baskets” on their hind legs to help carry pollen more efficiently. Most bees are extremely hairy and makes them super pollinators. Other insects, like butterflies, are less hairy and sit atop flowers on long legs without always contacting the reproductive parts.

Bees need to collect lots of pollen to feed their young and ingest some themselves. Most bees in the world are solitary ground-nester's, although some choose to live in dead wood or dried pithy stems. A typical female bee (only females collect pollen/nectar to feed their young and the females capable of stinging when their lives are threatened) makes dozens of trips to collect enough pollen and nectar to provision a cell. The cells are polished urn-shaped cavities in the soil off lateral burrows in a nest that the female excavates. Female bees mix the pollen and nectar into a Play Dough-like consistency. It is usually worked into a pea-sized ball in the bottom of the cell. An egg is laid on the pollen ball and the lid of the cell sealed with a spiral closure or mud, wax or resin. This is called mass provisioning since the mother bee provides everything the egg will need to grow into a larva, pupate and become a new adult bee. Solitary female bees have no further contact with their offspring. Social bees (bumblebees, honey bees, sting less bees) have overlapping generations and progressive feeding of their larval offspring.

Bees belong to the large insect order Hymenoptera, along with ants and wasps. The name for the order refers to the membranous often clear wings, two fore and two hind wings, these flying insects possess. The group is often referred to as the aculeates, a reference to the aculeus or sting, which female ants, bees and wasps use for defense or to paralyze prey insects (only wasps). Bees are extremely varied. They range in size from the world’s smallest bee (Perdita minima, only 2 mm long in the desert around Tucson) and Wallace’s lost bee, Chalicodoma pluto,about 40 mm long) which lives inside termite nests in forests on the Molucca’s Islands. The little Perdita could sit on the antennae of one of our giant black carpenter bees. They make their living by collecting pollen and nectar from flowers and by excavating nests in the ground or wood, or by finding pre-existing tunnels like beetle burrows in dead trees. Some bees also collect mud, leaves, plant hairs, resins, pebbles or bark for use as building materials in their often elaborate nests.

Today, scientists have discovered, described and formally named (using the scientific nomenclature in Latin or Greek for the genus and species) 25,000 different kinds (scientists call them species) of bees around the world. In the United States alone, we have 3,950 species of native bees. More are being described each year. Steve Buchmann estimates that there may be as many as 30,000 to 40,000 species worldwide. If you make careful studies around your home or nearby wild land sites, maybe you will be the next to discover a new species.

Other Pollinators

In their 1997 book published by Island Press, Stephen Buchmann and Gary Nabhan surveyed the literature and came up with a roster of at least 200,000 animal species around the word that sometimes or regularly visit flowers.

Most of these are the invertebrate groups of insects already familiar to you (bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, moths and wasps). Among the animals with backbones, only the birds (hummingbirds in the New World and sun birds and others in the Old World), bats and some marsupials are routinely engaged in flower-visiting. Examples of bat-pollinated plants include the familiar century plant and the icon of western movies, the saguaro. For a complete list of these animals, click here to read the “Redbook” produced by Gary Nabhan of the Forgotten Pollinators Campaign.

THE COLONY

Honey bees are social insects, with a marked division of labor between the various types of bees in the colony. A colony of honey bees includes a queen, drones and workers.

THE QUEEN

The queen is the only sexually developed female in the hive. She is the largest bee in the colony. A two-day-old larva is selected by the workers to be reared as the queen. She will emerge from her cell 11 days later to mate in flight with approximately 18 drone (male) bees. During this mating, she receives several million sperm cells, which last her entire life span of nearly two years. The queen starts to lay eggs about ten days after mating. A productive queen can lay 3,000 eggs in a single day.

THE DRONES

Drones are stout male bees which have no stingers. Drones do not collect food or pollen from flowers. Their sole purpose is to mate with the queen. If the colony is short on food, drones are often kicked out of the hive.

THE WORKERS

Workers, the smallest bees in the colony, are sexually undeveloped females. A colony can have 50,000 to 60,000 workers. The life span of a worker bee varies according to the time of year. Her life expectancy is approximately 28 to 35 days. Workers that are reared in September and October, however, can live through the winter. Workers feed the queen and larvae, collect nectar, guard the hive entrance and help to keep the hive cool by fanning their wings. In addition, honey bees produce wax comb. The comb is composed of hexagonal cells which have walls that are only 2/1000 inch thick, but support 25 times their own weight.Honey bees' wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.

Honey Industry Facts

HOBBYIST/PART-TIME BEEKEEPERS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that there are between 139,600 and 212,000 beekeepers in the United States. The vast majority (95%) are hobbyists with less than 25 hives. In addition, about 4% are part-timers who keep from 25 to 299 hives. Together, hobbyists and part-timers account for about 50 percent of bee colonies and about 40 percent of honey produced. The number of U.S. bee colonies producing honey in 2001 was 2.51 million (based on beekeepers who manage five or more colonies).

Commercial beekeepers are those with 300 or more bee colonies. There are approximately 1,600 commercial beekeeping operations in the United States which produce about 60 percent of the nation's honey. Many commercial beekeepers migrate their colonies during the year to provide pollination services to farmers and to reach the most abundant sources of nectar. Commercial beekeeping operations are frequently family businesses that are handed down from generation to generation.

Millions of acres of U.S. fruit, vegetable, oilseed and legume seed crops depend on insect pollination, including honey bees. A 1999 Cornell University study concluded that the direct value of honey bee pollination annually to U.S. agriculture is $14.6 billion. This is a 56.7% increase from $9.3 billion determined by the same study in 1989.

Since 1980, U.S. honey production has averaged around 200 million pounds per year. In 2002, over 171 million pounds of honey were produced in the United States. The average annual yield per colony was 67.8 pounds of honey. The average producer price per pound was $1.28. The 2002 honey crop was valued at $221 million.

Honey is produced in every state. The following states are the top honey producing states for 2002:

VARIABLES

Production varies yearly and regionally depending on rainfall, soil conditions, temperature, cropping patterns and management.

CONSUMPTION

The U.S. per capita consumption of honey is around 1.31 pounds per year.

ADDED VALUE

In addition to producing honey, honey bees produce beeswax and help pollinate agricultural crops, home gardens and wildlife habitat.

The USDA has estimated that 80 percent of insect crop pollination is accomplished by honey bees. Approximately one-third of the total human diet is derived directly or indirectly from insect-pollinated plants (fruits, legumes and vegetables).

Bee Pollen is taken extensively to combat allergies. It is also associated with increase in energy and stamina, and is popular amongst athletes worldwide.

It is claimed that pollen provides regulation of body systems, particularly noted is regulation of the endocrine system.

Taking pollen may also help reduce the effects of stress and aid digestive system function.

Pollen is the seed of a flower blossom that has been collected by bees. The bees produce digestive enzymes, which become a component of the bee pollen.

It is widely used for its ability to remove 'free radicals' from the body. These toxins are harmful, and bee pollen is demonstrated to be effective in providing the anti-oxidants that remove these free radical toxins. It is used in place of natural herbal products as an effective anti oxidant.

Like other beehive products, (see honey, propolis, royal jelly) it has been used in certain cultures for thousands of years, but is only recently being recognized by the masses for its health benefits. Due to an improved understanding of its more complex compounds, bee products like propolis, royal jelly and honey are now used daily by millions of people worldwide. The demand for these incredible health supplements is still somewhat overshadowed by the demand for less esoteric products such as natural herbs, but the demand for natural bee products is growing at a high rate. Some compound formulations of beehive products are said to contain every vitamin and mineral required by the body. All this is a simple gel capsule which can be obtained quite affordably. As this becomes more common knowledge, bee products may be set to overtake common herbal products as dietary/food supplements.
The medicinal properties of bee pollen is also of significance. Taken for a variety of ailments, it is said to be particularly effective against allergies and may help hay-fever sufferers control the symptoms.

BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 19 - Don't like spinach? Try honey. It contains about the same level of plaque-fighting antioxidants as the leafy green stuff. And according to research presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, the range of antioxidants in honey is comparable to that in apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries.

A five-week study of blood from 25 men between the ages of 18 - 68 indicates that drinking a mixture of water and honey, about four Tablespoons per 16-ounce glass, improved the antioxidant levels in their blood. Nicki Engeseth, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who conducted the study, says this means the sweet stuff may have the potential to protect against heart disease.

"It looks like honey is having a mild protective effect," Engeseth said. She added, however, that this should not be taken as an excuse to avoid fruits and vegetables.

Although it's been known for some time that honey contains varying levels of antioxidants - with dark honey generally having the most - this is the first in vivo study to consider how honey may affect human blood.

An earlier in vitro study by Engeseth's lab, which prompted the current research, showed that the darker the honey, the better it was at lifting antioxidant levels in the blood. The honeys tested (from darkest to lightest) were Buckwheat, Hawaiian Christmas Berry, Tupelo, Soybean, Clover, Fireweed and Acacia.

Engeseth's research group is now in the middle of a 12-week study with rabbits to determine if honey has an inhibitory effect on atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease often referred to as hardening of the arteries, a leading cause of death in the United States. She expects that results from the rabbit testing could be "more dramatic" than those of the shorter human blood study.

To get the same amount of antioxidants from honey that you would from some fruits and vegetables, you would have to eat an equivalent per-weight amount of honey, Engeseth pointed out. As that might be excessive, she noted, "People could incorporate more honey in places where they might be using some sort of sweetening agent, like sugar, and this might contribute a significant amount of dietary phenolics."

Phenolics are chemical compounds that inhibit oxidation. Higher phenolic contents in foods tend to generate higher antioxidant levels.

Engeseth's research group at Urbana is currently collaborating with scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago to evaluate honey's ability to inhibit oral pathogenic bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which can cause tooth cavities.

"Some types of honey seem to be protective against these bacteria," Engeseth said. "Sage honey and Tupelo honey are two of the tested honeys to show the most inhibitory effects." Both fall in the middle of the dark to light range of honeys.

The research on inhibition of bacteria is still ongoing and the results are only preliminary, Engeseth cautioned.

Engeseth's group also looked at the antioxidant level in wine made with honey, which is called mead. "It's sort of comparable to white wine in terms of its antioxidant capability but it doesn't come anywhere close to red wine," Engeseth said. Mead is popular as a homemade wine.

The National Honey Board provided funding for Engeseth's research.

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The paper on this research, AGFD 44, will be presented at 11:00 a.m., Monday, Aug. 19, at the Marriott Copley Place, Salon C, during the symposium, "Bioactives in Food and their Health Effects."

Nicki Engeseth, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of food chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, in Urbana, Ill.

Honey is a source of simple carbohydrates. Its composition on average, is 17.1 percent water, 82.4 percent total carbohydrate and 0.5 percent proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The average carbohydrate content is mainly fructose (38.5 percent) and glucose (31 percent). The remaining 12.9 percent of carbohydrates is made up of maltose, sucrose and other sugars.

As a carbohydrate, honey supplies energy at 64 calories per tablespoon, providing fuel to working muscles. A limited study at the University of Memphis Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory found honey to be one of the most effective forms of carbohydrate gels to ingest just prior to exercise. According to Dr. Richard Kreider, the study’s lead investigator, “honey appears to be a carbohydrate source that is relatively mild on its effects upon blood sugar compared to other carbohydrate sources.” Continuing research is examining the effects of honey in comparison to different types of carbohydrate gels prior to weightlifting on the effect on glucose, insulin and markers of protein breakdown.

Other limited studies performed in Dr. Kreider’s lab have shown that honey may comprise half of the secret to post-workout recuperation. Many post-workout products on the market combine a large amount of carbohydrates with protein. The most common carbohydrate source used is maltodextrin, a mildly sweet carbohydrate usually derived from corn. Upon comparison of a honey-protein vs. a maltodextrin-protein shake taken after a vigorous weightlifting workout, the honey-protein combination fared as well in promoting markers of muscle recuperation. The honey group’s blood sugar was sustained for at least two hours post-workout. “Our data suggest that honey functions well in all of the aspects associated with post-workout recuperation and energy repletion. In addition, honey appears to stand out as perhaps a better source of carbohydrate to ingest with post-workout protein supplements. These findings support our previous study presented at the annual Experimental Biology meeting in April 2000,” added Dr. Kreider.

“In addition to promoting muscle recuperation and glycogen [carbohydrates stored in muscle] restoration, honey-protein combinations also seem well suited to sustain favorable blood sugar concentrations after training.”

Honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. The vitamins found in honey may include (depending on floral variety) niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid; minerals present include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Just as the color and flavor of honey varies by floral source, so does the vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and amino acid content.

In addition to the nutrients that are involved in normal metabolic activity, foods contain components that may provide additional health benefits. These nutrients are referred to as nutraceuticals. Phytochemicals are one broad category of nutraceuticals found in plants that are actively being investigated by scientists for their health-promoting potential. Honey has a phytochemical profile which includes polyphenols that can act as antioxidants.

Antioxidants perform the role of eliminating free radicals, which are reactive compounds in the body. Free radicals are created through the normal process of metabolism and contribute to many serious diseases. Researchers at the University of Illinois, led by Nicki J. Engeseth, Ph.D. and May R. Berenbaum, Ph.D., are studying the antioxidant capacity of common honey varieties.

The use of honey as a wound dressing goes back to ancient times and has now been ‘rediscovered’ by modern medicine, according to Dr. Peter Molan of the University of Waikato, New Zealand. “It is a common observation in the many reports in medical journals that numerous benefits result from using honey to dress wounds,” says Dr. Molan. The antibacterial properties of honey may help clear infection in wounds, and the anti-inflammatory action of honey may reduce pain and may improve circulation which hastens the healing process. According to Dr. Molan, “Honey stimulates the re-growth of tissue involved in healing, making healing faster and reducing scarring.”

Royal Jelly is taken extensively to promote energy and health, it is considered by many to be a potent anti-oxidant. Produced in the beehive for the nourishment of the queen bee, it is a complex substance that cannot be recreated synthetically by man. When examining its properties and considering the source of its documented benefits, many conclude that it is its high amino acid content that may make it such a special and rejuvenating substance.

The chemical composition of Royal Jelly:
It contains approximately 12% protein with 5-6% lipids and 12-15% carbohydrates. It’s B Vitamin content is high, it has 17 amino acids including all 8 essential amino acids. Royal Jelly also contains around 15% aspartic acid, which is important for tissue growth, muscle and cell regeneration.The Vitamin Content of Royal Jelly:

Royal Jelly appears to have anti-tumor properties. A team of Japanese researchers gave royal jelly to one of two groups of laboratory mice before transplanting different types of cancer cells in them. The royal jelly had dramatic effects on sarcoma cells. The life-span of the mice was extended by about one-fifth and tumor sizes were about half the size, compared with untreated mice, according to a report in the journal Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshji-Folia Pharmacologica Japonica (Feb. 1987; 89:73-80).

Quality - much is being said about the different processes involved when preparing Royal Jelly for use as a health supplement, mainly 'freeze-dried versus non freeze-dried' - what is the difference? click here Potency - Compare the potency/cost of our capsules against those of our competitors and you will be amazed at what we offer. Why pay $$$'s for 150mg capsules? View a cost comparison

The Many Options - Be careful buying bee products, and do not be duped into buying low potency, cheap imported products that are unregulated and unscreened for contaminants. Read information on how to shop for bee products including quality, price and what to look for: or if you have a few minutes take a mini-tour and learn more about royal jelly products - click here

Where Does Royal Jelly Come From?

Deep within every ordinary beehive a miracle unfolds. A single bee is chosen to become the Queen. As she feeds solely upon Royal Jelly a wondrous food produced exclusively for her by the worker bees she undergoes an amazing transformation that allows her to live nearly six years. The less fortunate worker bees, feeding only on honey and pollen, live about six weeks! Astoundingly, if you take the Queen Bee off her diet of Royal Jelly, she also lives about six weeks, just like the worker bees! It is clear that, when it comes to providing the Queen Bee with sustenance, energy and long life, Royal Jelly can only be described as one of nature's miraculous foods.

What is the difference between Bee-Alive Royal Jelly and freeze dried Royal Jelly?

All Royal Jelly is not created equal! First of all, there is a difference between freeze dried Royal Jelly and non-freeze dried, such as Bee-Alive's. Freeze drying removes all moisture, which we believe may destroy some of the properties of this precious food substance. At Bee-Alive, we work diligently to provide all-natural non-freeze dried Royal Jelly that is as close to nature as possible. And to preserve this purity, we pack our product in glass and we date each and every container for freshness.

May I continue to take my regular vitamins with Royal Jelly?

Absolutely! Royal Jelly is a completely natural food substance and therefore it doesn't interfere with vitamins. As a matter of fact, because we believe so strongly in the powerful benefits of Vitamin C, we recommend that our customers take it regularly as an excellent complement to our Royal Jelly program.

If I'm allergic to bee stings, can I still take Royal Jelly?

If you are allergic to bee stings, it means you have sensitivity to bee venom. Individuals who have allergies may be sensitive to an array of substances, including Royal Jelly. If you have any concerns about taking the product, we recommend you consult with your health care provider.

Have you heard of anyone having an allergic reaction to Royal Jelly?

A small number of reports have been received by the company from people claiming to have had an allergic reaction. When this occurs, we simply recommend that they discontinue use of the product. If you have any concerns, we suggest that you speak with your health care provider. Also, to help you in determining if our products are right for you, for every royal jelly product on our site, there is a link, that provides a list of ingredients.

Since Royal Jelly is not a drug, but a natural food substance, it takes time to work in the body. While some may see results within a few weeks, through the years, we've learned that most people begin to see benefits within the first three months. At Bee-Alive, the most important thing to us is that our customers see results. That's why we feel the best way to buy Royal Jelly is in a three month supply.

Once I begin taking Royal Jelly, do I have to take it forever?

It is not necessary to stay on Royal Jelly forever. However, many people choose to do so because they love the way they feel. Non-freeze dried Royal Jelly, combined with exercise and good nutrition, can help you maintain a more healthy and nutritious lifestyle.

"Royal Jelly is far superior to any other product in the beehive. In its natural state, its trace amounts of many energizing nutrients, including B-complex vitamins, essential amino acids and minerals, nourish the body and provide long-lasting natural energy. Royal Jelly is a delicate substance, however, and that is why it is so important to always be sure that your Royal Jelly is non-freeze dried, with all of its properties intact.

Some companies offer freeze-dried (lyophilized) Royal Jelly because it's more convenient and less expensive to process and package it that way. As a medical doctor for over 40 years and one of the pioneers in alternative medicine, I feel strongly that only all-natural, non-freeze dried Royal Jelly provides the best way to experience the full benefits of this remarkable substance. Straight from the beehive, the Bee-Alive non-freeze dried Royal Jelly has all the potency that nature intended. Bee-Alive is totally committed to offering only non-freeze-dried Royal Jelly and that is why I recommend their products over all others."

Noted nutritionist, Robert Crayhon, also stresses the importance of non-freeze dried Royal Jelly.

"Royal Jelly is neither a vitamin nor a drug. It is a food supplement, sold in the United States as a dietary supplement. As one of those truly rare gifts of nature, it is a nutritional wonder from the beehive that is unlike any substance we have ever known. And, while scientists are unable to duplicate Royal Jelly in a laboratory, there is one thing we know for sure - as with the best whole foods, Royal Jelly is at its most potent when it is taken in its natural state and not freeze dried. It is then that it can best help nourish the body, keeping it energized and nutritionally strong."

From young people through seniors, from busy mothers to stressed out executives, from athletes to those of us who don't get enough exercise – Bee-Alive's non-freeze dried Royal Jelly is the right choice to energize your life!

Propolis is a form of resin which is collected by bees from bark and tree leaves. When combined by the worker bee with pollen, nectar and wax, it forms 'sticky' substance termed 'propolis'. It is used around the hive as an effective sealant, filling holes and cracks in the shell of the bee hive.

Bees have been on the planet in their present form for what some experts claim could be as long as 80 million years! Needless to say they have stood the test of time better than any other species on the planet. Experts are claiming the reason for this incredible existence is largely due to the natural properties of the bee 'elements' themselves. Protecting, sterilizing and nourishing bees to guard them against the hazards of the outside world, the natural bee products are now being recognized widely for their benefit to humans. Despite the obvious benefits, there is no way for man to synthetically recreate the properties of honey, pollen, Propolis or royal jelly. In fact it contains certain compounds which are so complex that they have yet to be identified and categorized.

It contains all the known vitamins except for vitamin K, and has fourteen of the 15 minerals that the human body requires for normal function. (it does not contain sulfur)

Vitamin and Mineral Content

16 amino acids have been identified in propolis and it is known to provide a superior source of bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties.

It is often described as a complete food for raw energy and may provide protection against microorganisms.

LONGMONT, CO (September 25, 2002) - Humans have used honey for more than 8,000 years according to documented sources. This natural sweetener has been used for everything from healing wounds to soothing coughs.

The National Honey Board has summarized the numerous research studies conducted on honey in a published compendium titled "Honey - Health and Therapeutic Qualities."

The new 28-page document sets the foundation with a narrative of honey's history including references dating as far back as 460 BC with Hippocrates applying honey as a wound healer. Other research includes honey's antimicrobial characteristics and the positive effects on disorders such as ulcers. The antimicrobial properties as they apply to food safety and food-borne pathogens are also outlined.

An emerging area of research for the National Honey Board concerns honey as a source of energy. Conclusions in the compendium note that honey "potentially offers many of the performance advantages of the sports beverages and gels that are commonly used by athletes."

Additional research topics that are presented in the compendium include antioxidant activity including its use for food preservation and human health, prebiotic properties and other areas currently under investigation, including dental health.

The document is now available for health care professionals, food scientists and manufacturers and will also be posted on the Honey Board Web site at www.nhb.org/foodtech.

Based in Longmont, Colorado, the National Honey Board is a research and promotion board that drives the demand for honey generically through marketing, research, promotion, and advertising.

The Compendium PDF (28 pages)

The Rvalue PDF (24 pages)

 *Courtesy of the National Honey Board *