In the 4th century BC, the Greek philosopher Aristotle mentioned this "kind of whitish jelly that resembles porridge". It was part of the composition of ambrosia, the beverage believed to confer immortality to the gods of antiquity.
At the Origin of Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is above all a vital substance for the survival of the hive. The bee colony needs it to feed the larvae, which literally bathe in it, and then to feed the queen. When the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of the young bee are well developed, it produces royal jelly. Royal jelly is therefore the mixture of secretions from these two glands, from pollen and nectar collected by bees from flowers. A hive dedicated to the production of royal jelly can produce 300 to 500 grams per year.
What Does Royal Jelly Contain?
The composition of royal jelly is in itself an exceptional natural concentrate:
- Water in large quantity (between 60 and 70%).
- Sugars (9-23%) and proteins (10-18%).
- Amino acids: 45% of the dry extract of royal jelly is composed of amino acids, including eight essential amino acids that our body does not produce: valine, lysine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, and methionine.
- Lipids (4-8%), including the famous 10-HDA (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid), which is a fatty acid specific to royal jelly, found nowhere else. It is a compound that interests researchers greatly.
The lipids of royal jelly are composed mostly of fatty acids (aliphatic). In addition to fatty acids, these lipids contain sterols in minor amounts. They are interesting for their functionalities, including potential cancer growth inhibitors, immune system modulators, alternative therapies for menopause, skin aging retardants, inducers of neurogenesis, and more. Taken as a whole, research data indicate that the health protective properties of royal jelly may be partly attributable to the actions of the lipids it contains. The combination of these elements (more than a hundred different compounds) fully justifies the exceptional reputation of royal jelly!
Why Consume Royal Jelly?
Royal jelly can be consumed as a preventive and supportive dietary supplement, in a cure or throughout the year, to replenish vitamins, trace elements, and antioxidants. After a few days of treatment, the effects on vitality are spectacular!
References: (1) Aristotle devotes three long developments to bees: H.A., V, 21, 553 a 17 - 554 b 21; H.A., IX, 40, 623 b 4 - 627 b 22; G.A. III. 10, 759 a 8 - 761 a 2. (2) Suzuki KM, Isohama Y, Maruyama H, Yamada Y, Narita Y, et al. (2008) Estrogenic activities of Fatty acids and a sterol isolated from royal jelly. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 5: 295–302.