Royal jelly, a milky substance produced by worker bees and which the queen bee feeds on throughout her life, is a very rare product. It has been used for centuries for its remarkable healing and rejuvenating properties. Trending for quite some time, we give an in-depth look at its ingredients, benefits and precautions one needs to take.
Why so popular?
Royal Jelly has a complex nutritional profile that includes nucleotides, polyphenols and unique organic acids that rejuvenate the body. It is considered very helpful in muscle building and skin tone. It has been widely used in commercial medical products, health foods and cosmetics in many countries. It is also commonly used as a dietary supplement for its potential health benefits. Due to its multiple uses it is priced at Rs 15,000-20,000 per kg.
increasing demand
Namrata Khanna, director of India Honey Alliance, said, “India produces more than 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of honey every year. The demand for royal jelly in India alone is around 1,000 kg, but the availability of the product is very limited. Countries such as Thailand, China and Vietnam are leaders in the extraction and distribution of royal jelly. However, the quality of Indian Royal Jelly is far better than the Royal Jelly from these countries. India can also become a major producer and exporter of Royal Jelly in the future. There is a need for an organized extraction model to improve the production of royal jelly in India.
government initiative
Due to its increasing demand, officials of the Central Bee Research Training Institute of India (CRBTI) are involving tribal women in its harvesting and training them in the grafting and extraction process. They will collaborate with the horticulture departments of various states. Dr. K. Lakshmi Rao, who recently retired from CBRTI and is the National Resource Person, Ministry of Beekeeping, NRLM, says, “Royal jelly has been known for centuries, but its systematic production has started in India in the last 5-6 years. And consumption has increased.” ,
expert opinion
There are many studies that highlight and prove the benefits of royal jelly. “It has many benefits, however the major side effect associated with royal jelly is allergic reactions. These reactions from orally consuming royal jelly can vary from mild to mild gastrointestinal discomfort to more severe reactions, especially in individuals highly allergic to bee products. Individuals with allergies to bee pollen, honey, or specific trees such as conifers and poplar are advised not to consume royal jelly orally. Additionally, topical application of royal jelly may cause skin irritation in some individuals. So try a patch test before use,” says Dr Parineeta Kaur, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Aakash Healthcare.
