Junior Be Healthy

Vitamin C

• Vitamin C is perhaps best known for its ability to strengthen the immune system
• Destroys detrimental bacteria and viruses
• When it comes to the common cold, vitamin C may not be a cure, but it can help prevent more serious complications. There is good evidence taking vitamin C for colds and flu can reduce the risk of developing further complications, such as pneumonia and lung infections.
• Vitamin C helps detoxify our bodies
• Promotes healing of all of our cells
• Allows us to better deal with stress
• Supports the good bacteria in our gut
• Neutralizes harmful free radicals
• Removes heavy metals
• Protects us from pollution

Do you know what is propolis?

Some trees and conifers produce sticky resins as part of their immune system to defend themselves against disease.
Honey bees collect these substances that ooze from the buds of these plants. After chewing them and mixing them with their saliva and other substances, propolis is formed.
This nutrient-rich substance is of vital importance for the survival of the honey bees in the beehive.

• It is created to sterilize the hive and protect it against diseases and infection. Not only does it help to inhibit the spread of bacteria, virus, and fungi that would otherwise pose a significant threat in the closely-knit quarters, it also and help fight against climatic changes, such as wind and cold.
• It is also used as a "putty" to seal cracks and openings in the hive and to strengthen and repair honeycombs, and for this reason is also known as 'bee glue'.
• Another fact that amazes me is that honey bees also use this sticky substance to embalm or "mummify" the carcasses of larger insects that invade the hive. Such intruders are immediately stung to death but because the defending bees can't transport such heavy corpse away from the hive, they embalm them rather than allowing them to decay.
• The ancient Eygptians observed this and used propolis as one of the embalming agents for their exquisite mummies!

Propolis

• This precious substance has been used as a healing agent for many centuries because of its :
  • antibacterial
  • antifungal
  • antiviral
  • anti-inflammatory
  • antioxidant effects
• It has the ability to provide protection against infectious invaders, promote healing and regeneration of tissue, and provides a superior source of energy and stamina.
• It has been used as ointments for healing cuts and wounds and shown to have outstanding value for a wide variety of illnesses.
• It is also used as a natural alternative to penicillin and other antibiotics.
• It is said to be particularly safe and effective and inhibits the resistance-building effect that is a negative factor with prescription antibiotics.
• This bee product is certainly a good weapon against bacteria when used topically.
• It can clearly prevent infections, and can also help heal infections that have already begun.

Propolis Treats Asthma?

• Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways for which current treatments are mainly pharmaceutical drugs.
• With the increase in smog and air pollution we continue to see around the world, it is no surprise that asthma rates are increasing, especially in children.
• Scientists set out to study how a plant chemical synthesized from propolis called CAPE (which stands for 'caffeic acid phenethyl ester'), effects cytokine (signaling molecules) secretion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in asthmatic children.
• So what does all that mean? Cytokines are messengers between cells. They message the PBMC's to show up when needed. PBMC's are blood cells that are a critical component in the immune system to fight infection and adapt to intruders.

So what did the scientist's find?

• They found that CAPE (the compound found in propolis) had significant immunoregulatory effects in the asthmatic children. All this means is that propolis helped to modulate the immune system - it helped prevent the immune system from over-reacting, which is what leads to an asthma attack.
• So is propolis worth a try if you suffer from asthma? I would say so.