Royal Jelly: Is It Good For You? (2024)

Royal jelly is a substance that is secreted by nurse bees in a colony to feed larvae and the queen bee. Because of its potency, royal jelly is touted as a dietary supplement and alternative treatment for everything from menopause to skin conditions.

Royal jelly is harvested from the queen cells of beehives and sold as a supplement or in skin creams to enhance collagen production, ease premenstrual and postmenopausal symptoms, and improve overall health.

However, while modern science has lent some support to these and other traditional medicine claims about royal jelly, much more research is needed.

Nutrition Information

One teaspoon of royal jelly contains:

  • Calories: 20
  • Protein: 0 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 6 grams
  • Fiber: 0 grams
  • Sugar: 5 grams

Royal jelly contains only trace amounts of other vitamins and minerals.

Potential Health Benefits of Royal Jelly

Royal jelly carries many potential health benefits that are supported by research. However, royal jelly can also create complications for people with certain medical conditions or allergies.

Research has found a number of potential health benefits to royal jelly:

Antibacterial Properties

Royal jelly has demonstrated antibacterial properties against a range of bacteria. The evidence suggests that royal jelly may be a valuable ingredient in developing future antibacterial remedies.

Antiviral Properties

In addition to its antibacterial properties, royal jelly also shows efficacy against viruses, including the herpes simplex virus. One study found that royal jelly inhibited the growth of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and decreased viral load, suggesting that royal jelly may be used as an alternative treatment to antiviral medication.

Diabetes Management

In a systematic review, royal jelly was shown to be an effective treatment for diabetes mellitus. It demonstrated efficacy in improving glycemic status, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress.

Menopause Support

Royal jelly may help to relieve many of the symptoms associated with menopause. In a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, women who took 1,000 mg of royal jelly daily over eight weeks saw improvement in symptoms.

Another study showed that vagin*l application of royal jelly helped to increase lubrication and reduce vagin*l atrophy for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Collagen Production

Royal jelly is a popular ingredient in skin creams, and the research supports its use as collagen enhancer. By boosting collagen production in the skin, royal jelly also helps to protect skin against the effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Potential Risks of Royal Jelly

Because royal jelly is so potent, you should consult with your doctor before taking it or any other supplement. Consider the following before using royal jelly:

Allergies

Royal jelly can cause a range of allergic reactions, from contact dermatitis to anaphylaxis. Use caution when introducing royal jelly and discontinue use if you experience an allergic reaction.

Pregnancy Concerns

The effects of royal jelly on someone who is pregnant or breast-feeding are unclear. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding a baby, it is best to look for an alternative.

Medication Interference

Royal jelly may interact with other medications you are taking. Consult your healthcare provider before adding royal jelly to your diet in order to rule out any potential interactions.

Royal Jelly: Is It Good For You? (2024)

FAQs

Is royal jelly actually healthy? ›

Small human studies have found royal jelly can help reduce cholesterol, blood sugar, PMS symptoms, menopause symptoms, and chemotherapy side effects. However, we need more quality research to confirm these benefits. Still, taking 1,000 mg of royal jelly daily is likely safe if you don't have asthma or allergies.

What are the side effects of too much royal jelly? ›

Royal jelly might cause serious allergic reactions including asthma, swelling of the throat, and death. Rarely, it might cause the colon to bleed, accompanied by stomach pain and bloody diarrhea. Royal jelly is also POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin appropriately.

How long does it take to see the effects of royal jelly? ›

In a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, women who took 1,000 mg of royal jelly daily over eight weeks saw improvement in symptoms. Another study showed that vagin*l application of royal jelly helped to increase lubrication and reduce vagin*l atrophy for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.

What are the beauty benefits of royal jelly? ›

It slows down premature skin aging and reduces dark spots linked to age. Its nutritional and revitalising properties make it a regular in your skin care routine: royal jelly helps to fight fine lines and combats dry skin. It can even help against eczema and acne!

Who should avoid royal jelly? ›

Women with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer should avoid products containing royal jelly as these may stimulate the cancer (3). Patients allergic to bee products should avoid royal jelly (37). For this reason, propolis should also be avoided.

What is the downside of jelly? ›

It's higher in sugar, sodium, and other ingredients, making it unhealthy to eat. Many people want more collagen to help their skin. Other people may try collagen to restore balance to their gut health. Collagen and gelatin shouldn't replace good behaviors, though.

Is royal jelly good for kidneys? ›

The favorable effects of Royal Jelly on renal damage due to inflammation are presented. The resulting renal damage is associated with oxidative stress. Antioxidants in Royal Jelly prevent ROS production and support the antioxidant system.

What is the best form of royal jelly to take? ›

Royal Jelly Powder: Stakich Royal Jelly Powder is concentrated and has 3x higher potency than Fresh Royal Jelly. It is easily mixed into smoothies, water or juice and can be stirred into just about anything. We recommend taking 1/4 teaspoon daily of Royal Jelly Powder.

Is royal jelly bad for testosterone? ›

Supplementing royal jelly can enhance testicular testosterone production. Animal research suggests it is able to increase estrogen in post-menopausal animals. Royal jelly may also reduce the effects of estrogen in youth.

Is it OK to take royal jelly everyday? ›

When taken by mouth: Royal jelly is possibly safe when used short-term. Doses of up to 4.8 grams daily have been used safely for up to 1 year. It's usually well-tolerated. But people with asthma or allergies might experience an allergic reaction.

When should I take royal jelly, morning or night? ›

It can be selected in fresh or lyophilised form, and combined with other hive products such as honey, for example. Ideally, royal jelly should be taken in the morning before breakfast to benefit from its positive properties for vitality and energy throughout the day.

Should I take royal jelly on an empty stomach? ›

Royal jelly should be taken in the morning, preferably on an empty stomach, to benefit from all its virtues. It is advisable to take it as a cure.

What does royal jelly do to men? ›

Royal Jelly is also important for men's reproductive health as it may increase libido, improve sperm motility, and help in passing healthy DNA to the next generation. Royal jelly provides us with many nutrients, proteins, amino acids, B complex vitamins and minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, and silica.

Does royal jelly thicken hair? ›

Royal Jelly soothes your scalp due to its high moisture content and can eliminate the dry, flaky skin. The extra moisture from royal jelly will mean hair breakage is reduced, hair thickness increased and damage caused from over styling can be repaired.

Why is royal jelly so expensive? ›

Royal jelly is a secretion honeybee workers make to feed larvae of future queen bees. All bees consume royal jelly, but once a queen is selected, workers then feed on pollen and honey, while only the queen feeds on the prized jelly.

Is royal jelly more nutritious than honey? ›

Royal jelly is higher in protein and lower in sugars than honey, adds Kris Sollid, RD, senior director of nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council. “Bee larvae and queen bees consume royal jelly exclusively because of their higher protein needs,” he says.

Does royal jelly increase estrogen? ›

Supplementing royal jelly can enhance testicular testosterone production. Animal research suggests it is able to increase estrogen in post-menopausal animals. Royal jelly may also reduce the effects of estrogen in youth. These hormonal effects are unreliable and difficult to predict.

Does royal jelly spike blood sugar? ›

Royal jelly (RJ) has been observed to have therapeutic properties in diabetic individuals, including the reduction of high blood sugar.

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