Winter is in full swing. It is the time of year when your body is most prone to fatigue, colds, sore throats, stomach flu, or various illnesses. It is not the time to let your guard down on your health but rather to support your immunity by providing your body with all the nutrients it needs to function normally and slip through the cracks of winter ailments. Royal jelly (of good quality) is a natural treasure because it is incredibly rich in nutrients. Perfect for this season! We explain in this article what royal jelly is, its benefits, and everything you need to know to choose it well.
What is royal jelly?
In the hive, royal jelly is THE exceptional food: it is reserved for the queen, who will be fed it all her life, as well as for larvae less than 3 days old. This whitish, gelatinous substance with a somewhat strange taste is secreted by glands of nurse bees. Fed exclusively on royal jelly, the queen can live up to 50 times longer than a worker bee, that is 5 to 6 years, compared to 45 days for a worker.
During a beekeeping season, the beekeeper can hope to harvest 800g of royal jelly per hive per year, if all conditions are met for a favorable harvest. This requires significant work from the beekeeper. To learn more about its harvest, you can read our article on the subject.
How to choose your royal jelly?
- Tip #1: I choose pure, unprocessed royal jelly
First of all, if you want to enjoy all the benefits of royal jelly, you must consume it pure/raw. It must not be processed.
For example, you can find royal jelly in ampoules. This has been lyophilized (reduced to powder) to be in this form. It has therefore lost a large part of its benefits.
- Tip #2: I choose French ORGANIC royal jelly
Royal jelly is a very trendy product. And the industry has understood this. Today, the majority of royal jelly you find on the market does not come from France. Even if it is non-French but organic, it will still be frozen, then thawed, and will lose part of its benefits.
At Miel Factory, we work with a beekeeper in Isère who does not give antibiotics to his bees, does not feed his bees artificially, and pays attention to all the products used. The royal jelly we offer you is of high quality and certified ORGANIC . It has undergone no freezing/thawing, no processing, no mixing.
We offer jars of 10 or 25 grams depending on your consumption. Each small jar comes with a measuring spoon.
How to consume royal jelly?
You can consume royal jelly at any time of the year, when fatigue is felt.
It can also be interesting to take royal jelly as a preventive measure during seasonal changes :
- in autumn (October) to get through a calm winter,
- at the end of winter (February/March) to approach spring full of energy.
For optimal intake, we advise you to consume royal jelly in a cure: once the jar is opened, finish it ;)
It is generally recommended to take one spoonful (about 1g, provided with the royal jelly jar) every day, in the morning on an empty stomach, and let it melt under your tongue for at least 10 days.
It can also be consumed occasionally in larger doses during great fatigue.
Do not consume more than two grams of royal jelly per day.
Royal jelly keeps well in a cool place, in your refrigerator.
Are there any contraindications for royal jelly?
It is not recommended for people allergic to hive products and young children to consume royal jelly.
We advise people in these situations to consult a doctor before consuming royal jelly:
- pregnant women
- hormone-dependent cancers
- medication intake...
What are the benefits of royal jelly?
The following effects of royal jelly have been checked and validated by the European Commission. Royal jelly is a source of:
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine): contributes to normal energy metabolism, to the normal functioning of the nervous and cardiac systems.
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): contributes to the maintenance of normal vision and skin and helps protect cells against oxidative stress.
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to normal psychological functions, to a normal energy metabolism, to the maintenance of normal skin, and to the reduction of fatigue.
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): contributes to normal brain performance, to normal energy metabolism, to the synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, Vitamin D, and certain neurotransmitters, and to the reduction of fatigue.
- Vitamin B9 (Folate): contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system, to normal amino acid synthesis, to normal blood formation, to normal psychological functions, and to the reduction of fatigue.
- Copper: contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system and protects cells from oxidative stress.
- Phosphorus : contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, to normal energy metabolism, and to the normal functioning of cell membranes.
- Zinc : contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, to the maintenance of normal nails, hair, and skin, as well as to the normal functioning of the immune system.
- Proteins: royal jelly contains all 8 essential amino acids that the body cannot synthesize itself.
