23/03/2023
Why are bees important?
Bees are significant for many reasons. They have historical importance, contribute to human health, and play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Health products
Not all bees produce honey, but it is one of the main reasons people value them. The substance is a natural sweetener with many potential health qualities.
People have used bees and bee-related products for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
have noted claims that it has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
In traditional medicine, people use honey when treating a wide variety of conditions. While many of these uses do not have scientific backing, they include:
eye diseases
bronchial asthma
throat infections
tuberculosis
thirst
hiccups
fatigue
dizziness
hepatitis
constipation
worm infestation
hemorrhoids
eczema
ulcers
wounds
Beeswax is another important product that people have previously used in waterproofing and fuel. It currently has benefits for health and features in a number of skincare products. Additionally, pharmaceutical industries use it
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in ointments.
Other bee products that can benefit human health include:
propolis, a resin that bees create
bee bread
bee pollen
royal jelly
beeswax
bee venom
In a 2020 study
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, scientists found evidence that melittin, a component in honeybee venom, could kill cancer cells.
Learn more about the benefits of honey.
Pollination
In recent years, it has become clear that honey may not be the most important reason to protect bees. This is because bees play a crucial role in pollination, where they use the hairs on their bodies to carry large grains of pollen between plants.
Around 75% of crops produce better yields if animals help them pollinate. Of all animals, bees are the most dominant pollinators of wild and crop plants. They visit over 90% of the world’s top 107 crops.
In other words, bees are essential for the growth of many plants, including food crops.
Historical importance
People have been working with bees around the world for millennia. The significance comes from the direct harvesting of honey and beeswax and cultural beliefs.
For example, the Ancient Greeks thought of bees as a symbol of immortality. In the 19th century, beekeepers in New England would inform their bees of any major events in human society. Meanwhile, native northern Australians used beeswax when producing rock art.
For history experts, bee products are a key aspect of archaeology
Trusted Source This is because beeswax produces a “chemical fingerprint” that people can assess to identify components in organic residue.
Society and the environment
Bees are very intelligent, and people have applied knowledge of their mannerisms and social interactions when creating human initiatives.
How does this affect humans?
Farming practices, global warming, and disease are just a few reasons why bee numbers are declining. Experts are concerned about the impact on world food supplies, especially fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
They say that without bees, there will be no more nuts, coffee, cocoa, tomatoes, apples, or almonds, to name a few crops. This could lead to nutritional deficiencies in the human diet, as these products are essential sources of vital nutrients.
Additionally, the emerging
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medicinal properties of bee venom and other bee products may never be accessible without bees to provide them.
In financial terms, the pollination of fruits and vegetables by wild bees across the United States has a high economic value. One 2020 study found that wild bees were responsible for a significant portion of net income from blueberries. There is a direct link between the economic yield of farmers and the presence of bees.
What are the health benefits of raw honey?
People have used raw honey in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. This sweet, natural substance may contain healthful elements that processed honey does not have.
Honey provides a range of health benefits. Raw honey, which comes straight from the beehive, contains healthful bee pollen, bee propolis, and plenty of antioxidants.
Research has not confirmed that raw honey has more health benefits than regular honey, but some people believe that the processing and pasteurization that regular honey undergoes diminishes many of the beneficial elements. Some people believe that because of this, raw honey provides more health benefits than regular honey.
What is raw honey?
Honey is a sweet, golden liquid made by honeybees. Honeybees store their honey in small, hexagonal cups called a honeycomb. Raw honey comes straight from the honeycomb.
Honey from the hive contains bee pollen, beeswax, and parts of dead bees. Honey manufacturers will usually pass raw honey through a filter to remove as many impurities as possible, but some generally remain. It is still safe to eat.
Unlike raw honey, regular honey undergoes a pasteurization process. This means manufacturers have heated it to kill yeast cells that can affect its taste, increase its shelf-life, and make it look more transparent and attractive. However, pasteurization may adversely affect the number of nutrients in the honey.
Some historical evidence estimates that humans have used honey for over 8,000 years
Trusted Source During ancient times, people would have used raw honey, but today, most people use pasteurized honey.
Honey naturally offers
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the following healthful properties:
antibacterial action
wound-healing effects
dietary antioxidants
anti-inflammatory effects
Raw honey also contains bee pollen and bee propolis, which is a sticky, glue-like substance bees use to hold their hive together. Regular honey may not contain the same levels of bee propolis and bee pollen as raw honey.
1. Antioxidant effects
Researchers believe that some of the main health benefits from honey come from its antioxidant content.
Natural honey contains
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a range of compounds that act as antioxidants, including phytochemicals, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid.
Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in the body by mopping up free radicals. Scientists have linked oxidative stress to a range of chronic health conditions, including many cancers. By eating an antioxidant-rich diet, people can reduce their risk of chronic disease.
Some people believe that pasteurization reduces the number of antioxidants in the honey, meaning that pasteurized honey may not offer the same benefits as raw honey.
2. Nutrition
Honey contains specific nutrients that can make it a healthful addition to the diet.
The exact nutrition and chemical composition of raw honey varies between different countries and environments
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and depends partly upon which types of flowers the bees gather their nectar from. Regardless of these factors, honey still contains healthful compounds, such as antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins.
Natural honey naturally contains
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small amounts of the following vitamins and minerals:
niacin
riboflavin
pantothenic acid
calcium
magnesium
manganese
potassium
phosphorous
zinc
Honey naturally contains sugar. A little more than half of the sugar in honey is fructose. Research has linked
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fructose to various health problems.
However, even with its fructose content, honey may be a healthier option than table sugar. Some research suggests that honey may offer a protective effect against diabetes and some types of honey may help improve cholesterol levels.
People who have diabetes or who are on sugar-restricted diets may choose to eat honey in moderation to avoid significant changes in their blood sugar levels. Pure honey has a glycemic index (GI) of 58, meaning it has a medium effect on blood sugar levels.
3. Antibacterial action
Honey is a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial agent
Trusted Source It contains hydrogen peroxide and glucose oxidase and has a low pH level, which means it can kill harmful bacteria and fungi. Also, because of its unique chemical composition, it does not help yeast or bacteria to grow.
Because of its antibacterial action, people can use it to cleanse wounds,
4. Wound healing
Numerous studies have suggested that honey works well as a wound healing dressing.
A review confirms
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that honey is useful in wound healing because of its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Some evidence also suggests that honey has antiviral and antifungal properties.
Also, honey is acidic, which helps release oxygen from the wound and promote healing.
Apply raw honey directly to minor cuts and burns then place gauze or a bandage over the wound. Alternatively,
6. Treating diarrhea
Raw honey may have a soothing effect on digestion, helping with symptoms of diarrhea.
A study of 150 children with acute gastroenteritis found that those who received honey with an oral rehydration solution had a better recovery from diarrhea than those who did not receive honey. The children who received honey had fewer bowel movements and recovered faster from the illness.
To help treat mild diarrhea, try taking a teaspoon of raw honey or mixing honey with a drink. Avoid taking too much honey because excess sugar can make diarrhea worse.
7. Protecting the brain
Some evidence suggests that honey may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers that can benefit the brain. An animal study found that rats that consumed honey had protection against brain damage caused by exposure to lead.
In addition, a review states
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that raw honey may contain ingredients that help fight inflammation in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory.
Risks
As long as a person is not allergic to bee pollen, raw honey is generally safe to use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) say that
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people should not give honey to infants under the age of 1 because of the risk of infant botulism. Honey is safe from the age of 1 upwards. This applies to both raw and regular honey.
When raw honey turns to ‘sugar’
Raw honey may crystallize after a few months of storage. This means that the honey gets a grainy or sugar-like texture. Crystallized honey is safe to eat and has the same taste.
To make the honey liquid again, use a gentle heating technique:
Boil a pot of water and remove it from the heat.
Place the container of honey in the hot water. Do not allow the water to reach the top of the honey container to avoid contaminating it.
Remove the container of honey after a few minutes. If it is still solid or crystallized, repeat the process.
Do not microwave raw honey or put it directly in boiling water or on a hot stove top, as this may destroy some of its nutrients.
Summary
Raw honey may contain nutrients that regular honey does not. This means raw honey could potentially offer more, or more powerful, health benefits. However, research has not confirmed this.
Raw honey may contain extra elements, such as bee pollen and bee propolis, which can offer additional antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Research on the medicinal uses of raw honey is promising. The studies on its healing properties and nutrition suggest that raw honey may be a more healthful sweetener than sugar.
