In the bustling world of superfoods, there is one extraordinary gem hiding in plain sight: Bee Bread.
This all-natural, richly nutritious substance produced by bees has been consumed for centuries due to its remarkable nutrition and health benefits.
Unlike Manuka Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly and the likes of Propolis, which are well known for their potential health benefits, Bee Bread still remains a relatively new “functional food”.
Clinical research has found Bee Bread to exhibit numerous therapeutic properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-radical and anti-cancer activities.
In this article, let’s embark on a journey to explore the fascinating world of Bee Bread and uncover the array of benefits it offers for our overall well-being.
What Is Bee Bread?
Bee bread, also known as Perga or ambrosia, is the result of bees fermenting and preserving a mixture of pollen, honey, and their own enzymatic secretions.
This unique alchemical process enhances the nutritional profile of the pollen, making bee bread a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, and proteins.
It truly is a one-stop-shop for nutrition!
The Health & Nutritional Benefits Of Bee Bread
1. Bee Bread Contains Over 300+ Nutritional Compounds
Bee Bread is one of the most nutritionally complete “functional foods” known and is packed with a wide variety of nutrients.
More than 300 compounds have been identified in bee bread from different countries around the world, such as free amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, minerals, organic acids, polyphenols, and vitamins. – [1]
Bee bread is considered as a balanced food source since it consists of carbohydrates, fat, proteins, fatty acids and trace minerals, necessary for human health (Čeksterytė &Jansen, 1961). – [2]
The anaerobic lactic fermentation process not only enhances the digestibility of bee bread, but is said to increase the nutrient content by around 200%.
The recent studies on Bee Bread (BB) chemical composition established that it has a higher nutritional value than Bee Pollen (BP). – [3]
The nutritional composition of Bee Bread can also vary depending on botanical origin and other seasonal conditions.
2. Bee Bread Has High Antioxidant Content
Bee bread has gained attention due to its remarkable antioxidant properties, with studies suggesting that it contains a wide range of antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and other phenolic compounds.
Bee bread contains numerous phenolic compounds, including apigenin, chrysin, kaempferol, and p-coumaric acid, and traces of both caffeic and ferulic acids as well as naringenin and quercetin. – [4]
These powerful antioxidants defend our cells from oxidative stress and promote overall well-being.
A study published 2018 in the International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products investigated the effects of bee bread supplementation on running performance and antioxidant status in athletes.
The study concluded:
Supplementation of bee bread seemed to enhance running performance and increased the total antioxidant status in recreational athletes. – [5]
3. Bee Bread May Have Hypolipidemic Properties
Recent studies have revealed Bee Bread may possess remarkable hypolipidemic properties, making it an exciting potential aid for managing cholesterol levels and promoting heart health.
Bee bread, with its unique nutritional composition and wide array of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids, help to regulate lipid metabolism and reduce cholesterol levels.
A clinical trial published in 2011 assessed the efficacy of treatment of patients with atherogenic dyslipidemia (ADL) with beekeeping products (honey, pollen, bee bread).
The study found:
A significant hypolipidemic effect was registered in patients taking honey in combination with pollen (total cholesterol decreased by 18,3 %, LDLP cholesterol by 23,9 %) and bee bread (total cholesterol decreased by 15,7 %, LDLP cholesterol by 20,5 %). – [6]
Recommended Product:
Na’vi Organics is my favorite brand of Bee Bread currently.
Their Bee Bread is 100% pure and natural, gathered from the pristine region of the Altai Mountains, Siberia.
Link: Na’vi Organics – 100% Natual Bee Bread
References
[2] INVESTIGATION OF NUTRITIONAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIESOF ANATOLIAN BEE BREAD
[7] Recent insights into chemical and pharmacological studies of bee bread
The information in this article has not been evaluated by the FDA and should not be used to diagnose, cure or treat any disease, implied or otherwise.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any significant dietary or lifestyle changes including supplements and herbs.
