Bees are beneficial insects to humans. They produce many nutritious products such as honey, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, which are loved by people and often used as gifts for relatives and friends or for visiting patients. Among these bee products, propolis is a substance with amazing effects and is known as "natural broad-spectrum antibiotic".
Nowadays, more and more people like to consume bee products because they generally have beauty and health benefits. However, these products should not be taken casually.
Propolis is a pure source that bees collect from the buds, bark, or wounds of resinous plants. It is a sticky secretion mixture of resins, pollen, and secretions from the bees' salivary and wax glands. Propolis is an opaque solid gum-like substance with a smooth or rough surface and a marbled appearance when broken. The natural color of propolis is usually reddish-brown, brownish-yellow, or brown, sometimes with a greenish or blackish hue. Propolis contains a large number of compounds such as flavonoids and terpenes. More than 30 flavonoid and flavonol compounds have been isolated from propolis. In addition, propolis also contains various essential trace elements for the human body, such as selenium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, magnesium, and calcium, as well as multiple vitamins.
Propolis has many benefits and is considered a "natural antibiotic". It enhances the body's natural immune system with minimal side effects. Propolis has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipruritic, blood circulation promoting, tissue regeneration promoting, and keratolytic effects. It has a wide range of applications in medical and health care, food industry, agricultural production, daily chemical industry, and paint industry. Regular consumption of propolis can significantly enhance the body's immune system and have a preventive and strengthening effect.
Propolis has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral characteristics, and it has very good auxiliary therapeutic effects on many diseases, especially in reducing blood pressure, preventing gastric ulcers, anti-radiation, and anti-tumor aspects, which can help patients recover faster. These characteristics of propolis indicate that it is a natural antibiotic with significant effects. The human body already has a certain amount of beneficial bacterial flora that maintains normal body functions. If antibiotics are increased in the body, it may lead to healthy individuals taking natural antibiotics for a long time, which is no different from long-term medication.
Experts believe that the consumption of propolis products should be strictly targeted and controlled, and not everyone can take them. In addition, due to the complexity of the components in propolis and the limitations of processing technology, it may be difficult to remove the heavy metals commonly found in propolis. Once absorbed by the human body, it can cause serious harm. Long-term consumption can also accumulate damages that should not be underestimated.
Various bee products have always been favored by a considerable number of consumers. Propolis products are not prohibited, but they must be targeted and controlled, and they are definitely not suitable for everyone as a tonic. Many people have the habit of long-term consumption. However, propolis is a typical natural antibiotic, and it is not suitable for long-term consumption by healthy individuals.
Editor's reminder: Compared with propolis, honey also has rich nutrition, but it is relatively safer to consume. Honey is delicious and sweet, with comprehensive vitamin and mineral content. However, some people are afraid of consuming raw honey due to hygiene concerns, so they boil the honey or mix it with hot water. In fact, these methods do not achieve the desired effect, as high temperatures can destroy the beneficial components of honey. The best way to consume honey is to mix it with warm water or add it to soy milk, milk, or rice porridge. Avoid boiling or using boiling water to consume honey to prevent the destruction of nutrients.
