For centuries, the Chinese have used royal jelly in traditional medicine and foods to aid in recovery, improve endurance and vitality, and support longevity. The Chinese believe royal jelly to be a miracle food that can help prolong life and preserve youth, providing sufficient energy for the body to function properly, from increased stamina to beautiful skin. In fact, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, people who have taken royal jelly admit to experiencing improved energy levels and intellectual performance. Royal jelly also affects our immune response positively. Here are four unique ways in which royal jelly positively supports our body systems:

ANTI-AGING

Gelatin is one of the substances found in royal jelly that is a predecessor of collagen, a powerful element that fills up wrinkles that are prevalent when we age, and give our skin a healthy look and feel. Additionally, royal jelly’s high concentration of minerals, lecithin, vitamins A, C, D and E, folic acid and nucleic acids also help preserve youth by moisturizing and nourishing our skin. The hydroxy fatty acids found in royal jelly are primarily responsible for protecting the skin from dehydration, soothing dry skin and other skin conditions, thus slowing down the aging process effectively.

ANTI-FATIGUE

According to a study by Dr. H. W. Schmidt for the German Medical Association, royal jelly is “the most prominent valuable, rejuvenating substance for reviving the body.” According to research by Kamakura et al., subjects that consumed royal jelly showed significantly less signs of fatigue due to the decrease of the accumulation of serum lactate and serum ammonia in the body. In addition to increasing energy, royal jelly also helps to elevate our body’s energy burning process by improving the body’s lipoprotein metabolism, thus decreasing cholesterol and triglycerides levels.

ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

Wounds and skin lesions treated with royal jelly can show a remarkable healing rate within a short period of time. This is due to royalisin, an antibacterial protein rich in amino acids, which is effective against “gram-positive” bacteria including staph and strep, curbing the growth and spread of microorganisms. Research has also found royal jelly to be effective against certain viruses and fungi.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Japanese researchers found royal jelly to be anti-inflammatory when it decreased exudation and collagen forming when applied on open wounds, thus decreasing healing time. Another study by Kohno et al. found that royal jelly suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the body by activating macrophages, cells that make up part of our body’s defense mechanism. Macrophages, when elevated in activity, strengthen the body’s immune response and rid it of worn-out cells and debris.

Other than these health-enhancing properties, royal jelly also helps our bodies defend against bacteria and the aging effects of inflammation. On top of that, we also equip our body with one of nature’s most health-benefiting foods.