What Do You Know About Bees?
The western honey bee is the species of bee that is
most well-known for producing honey. Bees are flying insects with a close
relationship to wasps and ants. They are used for pollination. The superfamily
Apoidea contains the monophyletic lineage of bees. Currently, they are regarded
as belonging to the clade Anthophila. Bees are divided into more than 16,000
distinct species and seven recognized biological groups. Most species, such as
mason bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees, are independent.
Some species, such as honey bees, bumblebees, and stingless bees, live socially
in colonies.
With the exception of Antarctica, every ecosystem on
earth that supports insect-pollinated flowering plants is home to bees. The
Halictidae, or sweat bees, are the most prevalent bees in the Northern Hemisphere, yet due to their small size, people frequently mistake them for
wasps or flies. Bees come in a variety of sizes, from tiny stingless bee
species with workers that are less than 2 millimeters (0.08 in) long to the
largest species of leafcutter bee, Megachile pluto, with females that may grow
as long as 39 millimeters (1.54 in).
Bees consume pollen and nectar, the latter for its
protein and other nutrients and the former largely as an energy source. Most
pollen is consumed by their larvae as nourishment. Primates and bee-eating
birds are examples of vertebrate bee predators, whereas beewolves and
dragonflies are examples of insect predators.
Since at least the times of Ancient Egypt and Ancient
Greece, human beekeeping, also known as apiculture (meliponiculture for
stingless bees), has been practiced for millennia.
Stinging wasps in the Crabronidae family, which preyed
on other insects, were the direct descendants of bees. The switch from insect
prey to pollen may have happened as a result of the wasp larvae being fed on
prey insects that were flower visitors and partially covered in pollen. The
pollen wasps may have developed from predatory predecessors in the same
evolutionary setting as the vespoid wasps.
The venation of the hind wings, branched or plume-like
setae (hairs), combs on the forelimbs for cleaning the antennae, minor
anatomical differences in limb structure, and the division of the seventh
dorsal abdominal plate into two half-plates are all ways that bees differ from
closely related groups like wasps.
Bees can live alone or in many kinds of communities.
In halictid bees, eusosociality appears to have at least three independent
ancestors. The most developed of these are eusocial species, which have
overlapping generations in addition to cooperative brood care and a division of
labor between reproductive and non-reproductive adults.
The majority of other bees, including well-known
insects like carpenter, leafcutter, and mason bees, are solitary in that each
female is fertile and normally builds her own nest. These nests lack queens and
worker bees for these species because there is no division of labor. Important
pollinators, solitary bees collect pollen to fill their nests with food for
their young.
A lot of bees have produces different kinds coloring,
which is often orange and black and serves as a warning about their potential
to protect themselves with a potent sting. As a result, they serve as examples
for Batesian mimicry, which is used by non-stinging insects like bee-flies,
robber flies, and hoverflies to acquire some protection by acting and seeming
like bees on the surface.
Bees are also imitated by plants, such as the bee
orchid, which mimics a female bee's look and perfume. Male bees seek to mate
(pseudocopulate), pollinating the flower, with the furry lip of the orchid.
Crepuscular species can be found in four bee families:
Andrenidae, Colletidae, Halictidae, and Apidae. Even though the majority are
tropical or subtropical, some are found in desert areas at higher latitudes. Some bees have compound eyes with
refracting superposition, which combine the output of several of their
components to provide enough light for each retinal photoreceptor. Their
ability to fly at night helps them avoid many predators and take advantage of
blooms that only or mostly generate nectar at night.
Bee-eaters, shrikes, and flycatchers are vertebrate
bee predators that use brief sallies to catch flying insects. Swifts and
swallows almost constantly fly while catching insects. Attacking beehive hives
and eating the larvae are honey buzzards. When interacting with people, the
greater honeyguide directs them to the locations of wild bees' nests. Humans
destroy the nests and steal the honey, while the birds eat the wax and larvae.
Predators like the badger, which is a mammal, dig up bumblebee nests and consume
both the larvae and any food that has been stored.
The earliest known depictions of bees in art can be
found in Spanish artifacts, which date back to 15,000 BC.
For thousands of years, people have kept honey bee
colonies, usually in hives. Bees are also kept to pollinate crops and to
generate bees for sale to other beekeepers. Beekeepers get honey, beeswax,
propolis, pollen, and royal jelly from their hives.
Bees are the primary form of pollinator in many
habitats that feature blooming plants, and they play a significant role in
pollinating flowering plants. According to estimates, bees, both wild and
domesticated, pollinate the majority of the insects, birds, and bats used in
human food production.
Commercial production of honey involves the utilization of honey bees. Additionally, they generate royal jelly, pollen, propolis, and other ingredients used as nutritional supplements with potential health advantages, while all of them can also trigger allergic reactions.
Bees are regarded as palatable insects. Insects,
including bee larvae and pupae—mostly stingless species—are consumed by people
in several places. Additionally, they collect bee brood, or the larvae, pupae,
and surrounding cells, for consumption.
The poison gland and the Dufour's gland, two abdominal exocrine glands that contain a variety of substances, are mostly linked to the severe bee stings.
Bees' Significance For People, The Environment, And Food Supplies
Bee populations are essential to both human and environmental health. Because of their function as pollinators and the health benefits of honey and other products, bees are crucial for the production of food.
Bees are cherished for more reasons than just their
honey, including their role in preserving animal and plant diversity and
ensuring food security. Bee populations, however, are
currently in decline due to reasons including increased pesticide use and
urbanization, which has a detrimental effect on many ecosystems on Earth.
The loss of bees would have an effect on honey production, but more importantly, it would have an impact on biodiversity and world food security. If not for them, the world may look very different.
Bees are valued not only for their honey, but also for
helping to ensure food security and diversity in both plants and animals.
Bee populations, however, are currently in decline due
to reasons including increased pesticide use and urbanization, which has a
detrimental effect on many ecosystems on Earth.
Honey production would be impacted by the loss of
bees, but more crucially, so would biodiversity and global food security. The
world may look very different if not for them.
Why Are Bees So Vital?
Bees are important for a variety of reasons. They have
historical significance, are good for human health, and maintain healthy
ecosystems.
Healthcare Products
Honey is one of the main reasons why people adore bees, despite the fact that not all bees produce it. It is a healthy natural sweetener with a number of possible advantages.
People have applied bees and bee-related products for therapeutic purposes ever since the dawn of time. According to claims made, it contains anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer qualities.
Traditional medicine uses honey to treat a variety of diseases. These include: eye conditions, bronchial asthma, throat infections, TB, thirst, hiccups, weariness, dizziness, hepatitis, constipation, worm infestation, haemorrhoids, eczema, ulcers, and wounds, however many of these uses without scientific justification.
Beeswax is another important material that has
historically been used for waterproofing and energy. It now has health benefits
and is found in plenty of skincare products. Additionally, it is utilized in
ointments by the pharmaceutical industry.
Propolis, a resin that bees produce, bee bread, bee
pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, and bee venom are further bee products that can
be beneficial to human health.
A 2020 study discovered proof that melittin, a
substance contained in honeybee venom, could eradicate cancer cells.
Pollination
In recent years, it has become clear that the value of
bee preservation may not be solely based on honey supply. This is due to the
fact that bees are crucial to pollination because they move large grains of
pollen between plants using their body hair.
Nearly 75% of crops provide better results when
animals help with pollination. The majority of animals, including bees,
pollinate both domesticated and wild plants. More than 90% of the top 107 crops
on earth are visited by them.
In other words, bees are essential to the growth of
many plants, notably food crops.
Historic Significance
People from all across the world have kept bees for millennia. The significance is due to the direct collecting of honey and beeswax as well as cultural beliefs.
For instance, the Ancient Greeks thought of bees as a
symbol of immortality. Beekeepers in New England would inform their hives of
any major societal events in the 19th century. The indigenous inhabitants of
northern Australia painted on rocks with beeswax. Experts in history view
bee products as a crucial component of archaeology. This is owing to the fact
that beeswax creates a "chemical fingerprint" that can be used to
distinguish between different organic residue components.
Environment and Society
Bees are highly intelligent, and people have used
their social connections and behaviors as inspiration for human endeavors.
For instance, academics have proposed that observing bee behavior could assist professionals in creating emergency plans to evacuate people from a congested area.
Scientists can learn more about where environmental
changes are occurring by watching honeybee dances.
How Does This Impact People?
Farming practices, climate change, and sickness are a
few things that are causing bee populations to fall. Experts are concerned
about the effects on the world's food resources, especially those of fruits,
nuts, and vegetables.
Others claim that if bees didn't exist, there wouldn't
be any nuts, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, apples, or almonds, to name a few
crops. This could lead to nutritional deficiencies in the human diet because
these products are essential sources of vital elements.
Additionally, without bees to offer them, the newly
discovered medical benefits of bee venom and other bee products could never be
available.
The financial benefit of wild bees' pollination of
fruits and vegetables across the United States is substantial. A 2020 study
found that wild bees produced a sizable portion of the net income from
blueberries. Bee populations and agricultural productivity are closely tied.
In 2012, experts estimated the worth of pollination at
$34 billion, with bees responsible for a sizable portion of this total.
What Could You Do To Assist?
Bees can find a lot of food in grassy areas and
gardens. Growing native flowers, allowing weeds to develop, and giving food and
shelter can all help to boost the health and population of bees. Reducing
landscaping duties like mowing or trimming can help bees by increasing the
amount of plant material available.
A 2019 study found that, in addition to helping the
bees, expanding rural areas in metropolitan regions can improve people's mental
and emotional health.
Nonscientists and volunteers can contribute to
research through citizen science programs, which encourage people to report
what they observe in their local area. This might help experts understand
what's happening in a certain country or region.
For instance, a citizen-based 2020 study found that
squash bees choose farms with minimal soil disturbance and occupy a wide
geographic range.
In addition, as part of the 2007 Great Pollinator
Project, a partnership in New York urged people to observe bees and record the
types of wildflowers they visited.
The hunt for effective bee conservation strategies is
aided by these discoveries. The ability of individuals to correctly identify
species is necessary for this, though. As a result, knowledge of bee species
and behaviors can aid people in protecting them.
In Conclusion
Bees are essential to culture
and the environment because they pollinate plants and produce honey and other
medicinal products. Plants must exchange pollen with other plants in order to
fertilize themselves and reproduce.
Domesticated and wild bees
control the amount and quality of vegetation; when they are in good health,
crops also prosper. Bees are vital for the security of our food supply.
However, bee populations and
welfare are in decline across the globe, and it is essential to their
maintenance for the survival of human well-being.
What Advantages Does Raw Honey Have For Your Health?
For hundreds of years, people
have utilized raw honey in traditional medicine. This naturally sweet material
might offer beneficial components that processed honey lacks.
A variety of health advantages
are offered by honey. Bee pollen, bee propolis, and a ton of antioxidants are
all found in raw honey that is harvested directly from the hive.
Although studies have not proven that raw honey is healthier than ordinary honey, some individuals think that regular honey's processing and pasteurization reduce many of its beneficial components. Because of this, some people think that raw honey has more health advantages over normal honey.
In this post, we analyze the advantages of raw honey against regular honey in terms of health.
Describe Raw Honey.
A sweet, golden liquid called
honey is produced by honeybees. A honeycomb is a tiny, hexagonal container that
honeybees use to store their honey. Straight from the honeycomb comes raw
honey.
Bee pollen, beeswax, and even
the remains of deceased bees can be found in hive-produced honey. Honey
producers typically filter raw honey to get rid of as many pollutants as they
can, although some usually linger. You can still eat it.
Regular honey is pasteurized, as opposed to raw honey. This indicates that it has been heated by makers to destroy yeast cells that could alter its flavor, lengthen its shelf life, and improve its transparency and aesthetic appeal. Pasteurization, however, might have a negative impact on the amount of nutrients in the honey.
According to certain
historical evidence, people have been using honey for more than 8,000 years. In
the past, raw honey would have been utilized, but most people now use
pasteurized honey.
Honey has the following
beneficial health effects by nature:
• bacterial resistance
• Results in healing wounds
• Food antioxidants
• Decreased inflammatory response
Bee pollen and bee propolis, which acts like glue and is used by bees to hold their colony together, are also found in raw honey. The amount of bee pollen and bee propolis in regular honey could not be as high as it is in raw honey.
Bee propolis and bee pollen have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties, according to reviews of honey from 2017 and bee pollen from 2015.
The following points go over seven benefits of raw honey for health that have been proven.
1.
The Role Of Antioxidants
According
to researchers, honey's antioxidant concentration is what accounts for some of
the key health benefits.
A
range of antioxidants, including flavonoids, phytochemicals, and ascorbic acid,
are present in natural honey.
By
scavenging free radicals, antioxidants lessen the effects of oxidative stress
on the organism. Researchers have linked oxidative stress to a range of chronic
health conditions, including numerous types of cancer. People's chance of
developing chronic diseases can be decreased by consuming a diet high in
antioxidants.
According to some theories, pasteurization diminishes the amount of antioxidants in honey, so it could not have the same health benefits as raw honey.
While
studies on the effects of pasteurization on the antioxidants in honey are
lacking, it is known that heating other foods can lower their antioxidant
content.
2. Nutrition
Honey can be a healthy addition to the diet because it provides a number of nutrients. Raw honey's precise nutritional value and chemical make-up vary between nations and settings, in part because of the kinds of flowers that bees choose to collect nectar from. Despite these aspects, honey still has beneficial elements such vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Raw honey weighs 21 grams (g) per tablespoon, or 64 calories and 16 g of sugar. Between brands and batches, these numbers may change.
The following vitamins and minerals are naturally present in modest levels in natural honey: niacin and riboflavin. Acid pantothenic:
• calcium
• magnesium
•
manganese
• potassium
• phosphorous
• zinc
Sugar occurs naturally in honey. Fructose makes up slightly more than half of the sugar in honey. Numerous health issues have been connected by research to fructose.
Honey is a healthier alternative to table sugar even though it contains fructose. According to some research, some varieties of honey may help lower cholesterol levels while others may have a preventive impact against diabetes.
Consuming honey in moderation can help people with diabetes or on sugar-restricted diets avoid having their blood sugar levels significantly alter. The glycemic index (GI) of pure honey is 58, which indicates that it has a moderate impact on blood sugar levels.
3. Antimicrobial Effect
Natural
antibacterial and antimicrobial agents include honey. It can kill hazardous
germs and fungus since it includes glucose oxidase and hydrogen peroxide and
has a low pH level. It also prevents yeast or bacteria from growing due to its
distinct chemical makeup.
Its
antimicrobial properties allow users to use it to clean wounds, manuka honey, a
form of raw honey, has been demonstrated in studies to be effective in killing
common infections like:
• Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli, a bacteria that can cause food poisoning and skin infections.
• Staphylococcus aureus, or as S. aureus, a bacteria that causes infections of the skin.
• Helicobacter pylori, or as H. pylori, a bacterium that causes chronic gastritis and stomach ulcers.
4. Heal The Wound
Honey
has been shown in numerous trials to be an effective dressing for wound
healing.
According
to a review, honey's antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant
qualities help with wound healing. Additionally, some research points to
honey's antiviral and antifungal capabilities.
Additionally,
honey is acidic, which helps the wound release oxygen and speed up healing.
Minor burns and cuts should be treated immediately with raw honey before being covered with gauze or a bandage. As an alternative, patients can purchase manuka honey products for wound care online or at some pharmacies.
5. Coughing Relief
According
to some studies, honey may be just as effective as some over-the-counter (OTC)
cough medications, if not more so. Honey may be a viable alternative for kids
over the age of one year since many cough medications are not safe for younger
kids to consume.
According
to a meta-analysis, honey may be an efficient strategy to lessen the intensity
and frequency of a child's nightly cough. In a tiny trial, it was shown that a
milk and one type of honey concoction might treat children's coughs just as
well as an OTC medication.
Take
a teaspoon of raw honey to calm a cough, and wait a few minutes before drinking
or eating anything else to let the honey coat your throat.
6. Diarrheal Medicine
Raw honey may have a calming
impact on the digestive system, easing diarrheal symptoms.
In a trial involving 150 kids
with acute gastroenteritis, those who got honey along with an oral rehydration
solution recovered from diarrhea better than those who did not. The kids who
got honey had less bowel motions and recovered from the sickness more quickly.
To treat mild diarrhea, try
taking a teaspoon of raw honey or mixing honey with a beverage. Avoid consuming
excessive amounts of honey since too much sugar can worsen diarrhea.
7. Taking Care Of The Brain
Some studies suggest that
honey has beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities for the brain.
Rats that drank honey had a protective effect against the brain damage induced
by lead exposure, according to an experiment on animals.
Furthermore, a study claims
that raw honey may have compounds that may reduce inflammation in the
hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory.
Risks
Raw honey is generally safe to
use, provided that the user is not allergic to bee pollen.
Due to the possibility of
newborn botulism, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) advise
against giving honey to children under the age of one. Honey is safe for
consumption starting at age 1. Both raw and ordinary honey fall under this
category.
Summary
While normal honey lacks
certain nutrients, raw honey might. This suggests that the health advantages of
raw honey may be greater or more potent. Research has not, however, backed this
up.
Bee pollen and bee propolis,
which have additional antioxidant and antibacterial qualities, may be present
in raw honey as supplementary ingredients.
The prospects for using raw honey medicinally are encouraging. According to research on its health benefits and nutritional value, raw honey may be a healthier sweetener than sugar.
