Nature's Queens: Empowering Women Through Science and Wellness
Lessons from Nature's Queens:
What the Queen Bee Eats Makes Her the Queen Bee
Queen Bee // Regina apis
Royal Jelly // Regiis gelata
What’s in a name? If you google Queen Bee there are many different definitions. For this article besides an actual Queen Bee or Regina Apis, we also use the positive connotations associated with a Queen Bee. In the heart of every thriving community, there's a Queen Bee—not in the sense of dominance over others, but as a beacon of empowerment, collaboration, and nurturing. This Queen Bee is a powerful woman who not only excels in her own right but also uplifts and supports everyone around her. With a remarkable blend of leadership, wisdom, and compassion, she orchestrates success not just for herself but for the entire hive.
Historical Use
- Ancient China: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has recognized royal jelly for its health-promoting properties for centuries. It has been used to improve longevity, enhance beauty, boost vitality, and as a treatment for a variety of ailments, ranging from asthma to liver disease.
- Ancient Egypt: The Egyptians highly regarded bees, especially the queen bee, for their role in pollination and honey production, which were essential for their agriculture.
- Ancient Greece: The Greeks used honey and other bee products for their antiseptic and healing properties.
- 19th Century Europe: With the advancement of beekeeping practices, royal jelly began to be harvested in more significant quantities. It was used in various European folk medicines to treat open wounds, as a general health tonic, and to improve fertility and sexual vigor.
- 20th Century to Modern Day: The use of royal jelly became more widespread with the advent of commercial beekeeping and scientific research into its composition and potential health benefits.
Present Day Use
- There are many ethical concerns regarding royal jelly, however there are humane options to source honey
- Today there are a variety of uses for bees and honey including apiculture (beekeeping), cosmetics, nutraceuticals, traditional and alternative medicine, nutritional supplements
Interesting Facts
- The Queen Bee is genetically identical to a worker bee: the difference is their diets. Queen bees only eat Royal Jelly while worker bees eat pollen and nectar
- The health and behavior of a queen bee directly impacts the overall health and productivity of the colony. Beekeepers monitor queen health closely, as a failing or absent queen can lead to colony decline or collapse
Nutrients in Royal Jelly:
10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-HDA): This fatty acid is exclusive to royal jelly and is believed to be one of the compounds responsible for its health-promoting properties. 10-HDA has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and potentially anticancer properties.
Royalactin: Royalactin is a protein found only in royal jelly and is crucial for inducing the development of queen morphology, including enhanced size, fertility, and longevity. Research in model organisms suggests that royalactin can promote lifespan extension, although its effects in humans are not yet fully understood.
Unique Peptides: Royal jelly contains specific peptides that have been identified to have antihypertensive, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects.
Vitamins and Minerals: Royal jelly is rich in B vitamins, including pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6), which are essential for energy metabolism and cognitive functions. It also contains trace minerals like zinc and selenium, which are important for immune function and antioxidant defense.
Health Benefits of Royal Jelly:
- Immune System Support: The bioactive compounds in royal jelly have been found to enhance immune responses and have antimicrobial properties.
- Anti-inflammatory Effects: Components like 10-HDA contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of royal jelly, potentially benefiting conditions characterized by inflammation.
- Skin Health: The vitamins and antioxidants in royal jelly can support skin renewal and may protect against aging and skin damage.
- Cholesterol Regulation: Some studies suggest that royal jelly can help reduce bad LDL cholesterol levels, contributing to heart health.
Phytonutrients in Sempre Vitamins:
Turmeric
- Phytonutrients: Curcuminoids (including curcumin)
- Health Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, may improve brain function and lower the risk of heart disease.
Spirulina
- Phytonutrients: Phycocyanin, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin
- Health Benefits: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, may improve lipid and glucose metabolism, immune-boosting properties.
Saw Palmetto
- Phytonutrients: Fatty acids, plant sterols
- Health Benefits: Natural DHT blocker, Supports prostate health, may reduce hair loss, anti-inflammatory effects.
Nettle Extract
- Phytonutrients: Vitamins A, C, and K, polyphenols, pigments like beta-carotene
- Health Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, may relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, natural diuretic properties.
Horsetail Extract
- Phytonutrients: Silica, flavonoids, saponins
- Health Benefits: Supports bone health, diuretic properties, may improve hair growth and strength.
Pumpkin Seed Extract
- Phytonutrients: Zinc, selenium, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Health Benefits: Supports prostate health, may improve heart health, antioxidant properties.
Bamboo
- Phytonutrients: Silica, amino acids, flavonoids
- Health Benefits: Supports bone and hair health, may improve skin elasticity and strength.
Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu)
- Phytonutrients: Lecithin, anthraquinones
- Health Benefits: Anti-aging properties, supports hair health and color, may improve vitality.
Pygeum Bark Powder
- Phytonutrients: Phytosterols, triterpenes
- Health Benefits: Supports prostate health, may reduce inflammation, and improve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Moringa
- Phytonutrients: Vitamins A, C, E, calcium, potassium, proteins
- Health Benefits: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, supports immune health, may lower blood sugar levels.
Black Pepper
- Phytonutrients: Piperine
- Health Benefits: Enhances nutrient absorption, may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Kelp
- Phytonutrients: Iodine, fucoxanthin, fucoidan
- Health Benefits: Supports thyroid function, may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Ashwagandha
- Phytonutrients: Withanolides
- Health Benefits: Reduces stress and anxiety, may improve strength and fertility, anti-inflammatory effects. Thought to block DHT
Plant Sterol Seeds (e.g., Beta-Sitosterol)
- Phytonutrients: Beta-sitosterol, campesterol
- Health Benefits: Lowers cholesterol levels, supports prostate health, anti-inflammatory properties.
Other: like royal jelly, Sempre Organonutrients are rich in B vitamins, zinc and selenium
Products: The above ingredients other than Queen Bee Royal Jelly are found in our physician formulated Sempre Hair Growth Organonutrients - Targeted ingredients for hair growth and glowing skin that also provide overall wellness benefits.
If you want to incorporate more Royal Jelly foods in your diet here are some foods that contain nutrients with similar health benefits:
- Fermented Foods (e.g., kefir, yogurt): These contain probiotics that support gut health and immune function.
- Fatty Fish (e.g., salmon, sardines): Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory and heart-health benefits.
- Nuts and Seeds (e.g., almonds, flaxseeds): Sources of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats beneficial for heart and skin health.
- Green Leafy Vegetables (e.g., spinach, kale): High in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health.
Write Up:
Did you know your diet can actually reprogram your genes? Nutrigenomics is a fascinating field that explores how the food we eat interacts with our genes to affect our health and well-being. This emerging science suggests that our dietary choices can directly influence gene expression, potentially leading to different health outcomes.
A compelling example of nutrigenomics in nature can be observed within a beehive. Despite having identical genetic material, worker bees and queen bees develop into vastly different organisms with distinct roles, lifespans, and reproductive capabilities. This divergence arises not from genetic differences but from their diets. Worker bees consume nectar and pollen, which supports their role within the hive but does not unlock any additional genetic potential. In contrast, the queen bee's diet consists primarily of royal jelly, a substance that activates specific genes to develop the unique anatomy and physiology required for her role as the colony's sole reproducer. This example illustrates the profound impact that diet can have on gene expression and the development of different physiological traits.
Royal jelly contains a rich array of nutrients, including proteins, sugars, fats, vitamins, minerals, and specific bioactive compounds unique to this substance. Some of the unique nutrients found in royal jelly and their health benefits include:
- Unique Nutrients: 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-HDA), royalactin
- Health Benefits: Supports immune health, anti-inflammatory, may improve cholesterol levels, anti-aging properties.
The unique compounds in royal jelly like 10-HDA and royalactin do not have direct equivalents in plant or animal foods commonly consumed by humans, but as listed above under Phytonutrients there are many natural supplements that provide similar benefits.
Modern research on queen bee royal jelly has explored its unique composition and potential health benefits, revealing its relevance to human health across several domains including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and skin healing effects.
Historically, the queen bee and royal jelly have been enveloped in an aura of mystery attributed to the exceptional qualities that have made them subjects of continuous interest and study. We kick off Women's History Month saluting the actual queen bee and will be celebrating Natural Queen Bees of the scientific world throughout March—women who have paved the way in their fields, breaking barriers and fostering growth for future generations.
Sources:
Dus, Monica (2022). "Nutrigenomics: What You Eat Can Reprogram Your Genes." www.realclearscience.com
Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). "Curcumin: A Review of Its’ Effects on Human Health." Foods.
Kamakura M. Royalactin induces queen differentiation in honeybees. Nature. 2011 May 26;473(7348):478-83. doi: 10.1038/nature10093. Epub 2011 Apr 24. PMID: 21516106.
Komosinska-Vassev, K., Olczyk, P., Kaźmierczak, J., Mencner, L., & Olczyk, K. (2015). Bee Products in Dermatology and Skin Care. Molecules.
Ku, C. S., Yang, Y., Park, Y., & Lee, J. (2013). "Health Benefits of Blue-Green Algae: Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease." Journal of Medicinal Food.
Pasupuleti, V. R., Sammugam, L., Ramesh, N., & Gan, S. H. (2017). "Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
