Here’s how bee ingredients can support your kids’ immune health this fall

Now that school is back in session, it’s time to start stocking up on kid-safe health and wellness essentials. You might already turn to honey when your little one has a sore throat, but did you know that other bee ingredients like propolis and royal jelly are great natural immune boosters too? Thanks to their potent antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effects, propolis and royal jelly can help your kiddos ward off allergies and viruses and more this school year.

As a food scientist and biologist and the co-founder of BEE&YOU, my passion for bee ingredients runs deep. I became aware of the healing powers of bee ingredients, including propolis and royal jelly, while I was searching for a solution for my son’s autoimmune disease. After six months of giving my son propolis extract, his immune system and overall health improved significantly–Eventually his autoimmune disease was cured entirely, and I owe that to the miracles of bee ingredients. 

Here, I’ll share my favorite facts about propolis and royal jelly, and why you should add them to your cold-remedies arsenal this fall. 

Related: Must-have products for baby’s first cold

What is propolis?

Collected from the leaves, stems, and buds of plants, propolis, also known as bee glue, is a resin-type material that bees use to eliminate microbes in the hive and ensure sterilization. 

Propolis is the most potent antioxidant known in nature. Thanks to its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, bees first line honeycomb cells with propolis before the queen bee lays her eggs. Propolis is also used to seal cracks in the hive or to mummify invaders. 

What is “royal jelly” and what are its benefits

Royal jelly contains unique components of royalactin protein and 10-HAD fatty acids that are not available in any other food in the world. All the bees in the hive have similar physical properties initially. However, only the one bee fed with royal jelly becomes the queen of the hive. In addition to consuming royal jelly, the queen bee is twice the size of other bees, and she can lay as many as 2,000 eggs daily. The queen bee can live for 5 to 7 years, but the worker bees live only 45 days.

Propolis may help reduce the risk of infectious diseases 

Incorporating propolis into a child’s routine can help reduce the risk of contracting infectious diseases and boost the overall immune system. In addition to its antioxidant properties, propolis has antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect children from unwanted infections. Try using a propolis nasal spray–The spray creates a shield against viruses and prevents them from entering our body. You can also go the propolis extract route and get creative by mixing the propolis solution into your little ones juice, yogurt, or favorite snack! 

Propolis can help you get over colds more quickly

Propolis can help children recover more quickly from the common cold. The properties within propolis have been shown to reduce cold and flu-like symptoms, boost the immune system, and speed up the recovery process entirely. A propolis throat spray, for example, produces a barrier in the throat, preventing unwanted viruses and allergens from entering the body, and can relieve uncomfortable cold symptoms almost immediately. Continued use can nip a common cold in the bud entirely! 

Propolis can prevent and reduce allergy symptoms 

Propolis can be a powerful allergy relief tool. A propolis nasal spray cleans the nasal passages from dust and environmental pollutants and opens the sinuses by cleansing them from allergen substances. A propolis nasal spray might be your child’s savior this allergy season! 

Royal jelly is protein-rich and supports the nutrition and overall health of children

Royal jelly has been shown to improve the immune system and help regulate kids’ appetite. The remarkable ingredient is a valuable food for the growth of the queen bee and larvae as it helps to nurture the brood. Royal jelly contains about 15g of protein in 100g. Additionally, it is rich in B-complex vitamins, biotin, folic acid, and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and iron. Try this: Royal jelly-infused honey–Not only is it nutritious, your little one will also love the deliciously sweet taste!

Royal jelly supports healthy brain function

Back-to-school season here you come! Royal jelly has been shown to support physical and mental development and improved cognitive function. There’s even a chewable royal jelly tablet that children can easily add to their morning or nightly routine. 

BEE&YOU, a science-backed company that harnesses the immune-boosting properties of pure and natural bee ingredients, offers a handful of kid-friendly health and wellness essentials including:  

• Propolis Extract 
• Propolis Throat Spray
• Propolis Nasal Spray
• Royal Jelly + Raw Honey + Propolis Mix
• Royal Jelly + Propolis + Bee Pollen Chewable Tablets

To learn more about BEE&YOU, and purchase pure propolis and royal jelly products, please visit: https://www.beeandyou.com/. 

Sources:

Alvarenga, L., Cardozo, L.F., Borges, N.A., Chermut, T.R., Ribeiro, M., Leite Jr, M., Shiels, P.G., Stenvinkel, P. and Mafra, D., 2021. To bee or not to bee? The bee extract propolis as a bioactive compound in the burden of lifestyle diseases. Nutrition, 83, p.111094.

Özsezen, B. and Karakaya, S., 2022. Propolis and the immune system. In Bee Products and Their Applications in the Food and Pharmaceutical Industries (pp. 115-137). Academic Press.

Marti J, López F, Gascón I, Julve J. Propolis nasal spray effectively improves recovery from infectious acute rhinitis and common cold symptoms in children: a pilot study. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2017 Oct-Dec;31(4):943-95

Liew KY, Kamise NI, Ong HM, Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Tan JW, Tham CL. Anti-Allergic Properties of Propolis: Evidence From Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jan 21;12:785371. 

Mizrahi A, Lensky Y, editors. Bee products: properties, applications, and apitherapy. Springer Science & Business Media; 2013 Jun 29. 

Ali AM, Kunugi H. Royal Jelly as an Intelligent Anti-Aging Agent-A Focus on Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Sep 29;9(10):937. 

Di Pierro, F., Zanvit, A. and Colombo, M., 2016. Role of a proprietary propolis-based product on the wait-and-see approach in acute otitis media and in preventing evolution to tracheitis, bronchitis, or rhinosinusitis from nonstreptococcal pharyngitis. International Journal of General Medicine, 9, p.409.