Royal Jelly is a secretion that is used to feed bee larvae and adult queens. It is a gelatinous substance excreted from the glands of 'nurse' bees. Royal Jelly itself is composed of approximately two-thirds water, one-eighth proteins, 11 per cent simple sugars, small quantities of Vitamin C and various trace minerals and enzymes. These aspects of Royal Jelly make it an attractive ingredient for skincare.
What are the benefits of Royal Jelly vs Mānuka honey?
There are many perceived benefits of both Mānuka honey and Royal Jelly. In short, the perceived benefits of each are as follows.
Royal Jelly Benefits:
Antioxidant Content – the antioxidant content of many foods is associated with health benefits such as cardiovascular health, healing properties, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Amino Acid Content – amino acids can assist in a range of ways in the body from healing, muscle recovery, and skincare.
Nutrient Specific Profile – the nutrient specific profile of Royal Jelly which includes amino acids, B-Vitamins, Zinc, and Selenium makes it a common additive to skincare products.
Mānuka Honey Benefits:
Mānuka honey is special for many reasons, one of these being Mānuka honey’s interesting relationship with bacteria. Mānuka honey is not only antibacterial it is also bacterial resistant – which means that in theory bacteria cannot build up a tolerance to its anti-bacterial effects.
Wound healing – honey is used to help wounds heal and avoid infection; this practice has been common throughout human cultivation of honey.
Anti-bacterial – the antibacterial effect of honey is well documented, and is related to the effectiveness of its wound healing properties, but it has also been seen that Mānuka honey can help kill harmful oral bacteria which is linked with plaque formation, gum inflammation and tooth decay.
Soothing sore throats – once again, the anti-bacterial agent come into play with the use of honey against sore throats. Additionally, though, the anti-inflammatory and coating nature of honey has been used to help those suffering from coughs, which can cause or aggravate sore throats.
Improve digestive symptoms – honey can offer relief to those with IBS and associated problems such as constipation and ulcerative colitis.
Skincare – a major aspect of the benefits of Mānuka honey is its application in skincare. With the anti-bacterial properties mentioned here, the application of honey to skin that is prone to acne or pimples can help balance the bacteria on the face and possibly help decrease them, as well as the anti-inflammatory properties helping to soothe the skin.
Caution: those with bee allergies should be extremely cautious of Royal Jelly as there can be an allergic response ranging from mild to severe in those with bee allergies.
Can you buy Mānuka honey with fresh New Zealand Royal Jelly?
Yes, you can. Combining manuka honey and royal jelly can create a blend rich in amino acids, lipids, minerals and vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E. These can be taken together in a blend, or separately in capsule and dietary form.