BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ Rated Highest Safety by EWG's Skin Deep

All seven products in our BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ natural skin care line have been rated highest safety and lowest toxicity by the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skin Deep product safety database!

EWG's mission is to protect consumers from unsafe, toxic ingredients found in certain body, skin and hair care products by rating them  on a scale from 0-10, with a rating of zero (0) indicating highest safety and lowest toxicity. Generally, ratings of 0-2 indicate low toxicity, 3-5 moderate toxicity, 6-8 high toxicity and 9-10 very high toxicity. We are thrilled (but not surprised) to announce that BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ achieved the best ratings, all between 0 and 2, indicating that our natural skin care is among the safest on the market.



Rose discovered the Skin Deep database when she was pregnant with triplets. After entering her current personal care products in the database, she was shocked and terrified by the ratings most received, due to hidden toxic chemicals. As Rose began to research common skin care ingredients with the potential of harmful risks, she realized the health benefits of natural skin care and became inspired to create a line for BeeAlive. With that motivation and dedication, BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ was born.

Search the ingredients in your current personal care products here.

Warning: Findings may be traumatic.

 

Check out BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ ratings here.

 

Recipes with Rose: 'Berry' Fresh Strawberry Honey Sauce

Every year, May 20 marks National Pick Strawberries Day. The holiday falls during mid-May when strawberries are at their prime. National Pick Strawberries Day usually falls around the time of many state strawberry festivals and farmers' market events where you can sample delicious ripe strawberries and even pick your own. Make sure to check out events going on in your area!

 

Even if you can't pick your own this National Pick Strawberries Day, we hope you'll buy some of nature's tasty ruby red jewels at your local farmers' market or supermarket (we recommend organic). Eat them straight out of the carton, or create tastebud-pleasing recipes. Read more tips on picking, washing and using strawberries here.

 

One of our favorite strawberry recipes is a "Berry" Fresh Strawberry Honey Sauce. Satisfy your sweet tooth with this berrylicious sauce that can be used as a spread or dessert topping -- especially on National Strawberry Sundae Day, which will be here before you know it on July 7!

 

"Berry" Fresh Strawberry Honey Sauce

 

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 cup BeeAlive Pure & Natural Honey
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup diced strawberries

Directions:

1. Warm honey in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until thin but not hot.
2. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and strawberries.
3. Stir until blended, cover and let stand at room temperature until ready to serve.
4. Allow to reach room temperature before serving. Spread on toast or an English muffin, mix with peanut butter or add to desserts!

Note: The sauce will keep covered in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

 

 

What Makes a Food a SUPERfood?

It seems like everywhere we look these days -- from super markets to magazines -- we are swarmed by advertisements and headlines that tout certain eatables as "superfoods."

Source

Because the term is not regulated, it seems like it is being used so much that it is losing its true meaning, making it difficult to understand the real nutritional characteristics of this food category.

What exactly IS the meaning of a superfood then? According to Oxford Dictionaries, a superfood is "a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being."

At BeeAlive, we believe superfoods are whole, nutrient-dense foods found only in nature. Full of essential vitamins and minerals our bodies need but cannot make themselves makes them truly "super!" Other sources mention the necessity of nutrient diversity, low calorie count and the absence of toxins.

Superfoods, therefore, pack a lot of punch!
 

Royal Jelly: Nature's Superfood

Although many of nature's foods can be labeled superfoods, Royal Jelly is known as one of them, having been used for its nutrient-dense properties since ancient times. It might sound like a special jam or preserve used by the royal family, but the truth is Royal Jelly is a truly amazing and natural substance from the beehive with a wide array of nutrients, used around the world as a dietary supplement to provide extra nutritional support for energy, stamina and vitality. 

What's in Royal Jelly?

The exclusive food of the Queen Bee, Royal Jelly is composed of many wonderful nutrients and nutritious, biologically-active compounds. Modern testing has found that Royal Jelly contains many naturally occurring nutrients, including B-complex vitamins like pantothenic acid (B5) and B6 proteins; amino, nucleic and fatty acids; peptides; minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc; and 10-HDA, found exclusively in Royal Jelly and nowhere else in nature. Because of this, Royal Jelly cannot be duplicated in a laboratory. It can only be harvested from beehives, where it is produced in very minute amounts, making it extremely rare and precious.

Where does BeeAlive Royal Jelly come from?

BeeAlive Royal Jelly is harvested by apiculturists (beekeepers) from the finest hand-selected hives in Chiang Mai, Thailand, known to be among the best places on Earth from which to harvest Royal Jelly. The Royal Jelly used in BeeAlive products is ALWAYS FRESH, never freeze-dried! We believe that fresh Royal Jelly produces a superior product; scientific research has shown that freeze-drying Royal Jelly changes its natural composition and causes it to degrade more rapidly when stored.

So it’s like honey?

Royal Jelly and honey both come from the beehive, but that’s where the similarity ends. Royal Jelly is not honey. It is a substance like no other, used by people all over the world for increased energy, stamina and vitality.

Why is it called "Royal Jelly"?

When Royal Jelly is produced in the beehive, it has a milky, jelly-like appearance. It is titled "Royal" for being the only food in nature used to nourish the Queen Bee (In fact, because of her exclusive Royal Jelly diet, the Queen Bee lives longer, grows bigger and produces more eggs than other worker bees that feed on honey and pollen). In fact, at one point in history, because of Royal Jelly's rare nature, only people of royalty or great wealth could afford Royal Jelly. Today, it is widely available and enjoyed by many worldwide.

Why BeeAlive?

For nearly 30 years, BeeAlive has been a premier provider of the highest quality Royal Jelly dietary supplements. BeeAlive uses only fresh, never freeze-dried Royal Jelly -- the way nature intended. Research has shown that freeze-drying degrades Royal Jelly more quickly and may destroy some of the properties of this precious food substance. At BeeAlive, we carefully handle, ship and store the Royal Jelly to preserve freshness and quality, so it is as close to nature as possible, ensuring you the finest Royal Jelly available. Royal Jelly can't get more "super" than that!

To learn more about BeeAlive Royal Jelly, visit our website www.beealive.com or call one of our friendly call center representatives at 1-800-543-BEES (2337).

Dr. Oz Targets Misleading Advertisements in "It's Not Me" Campaign

Dr. Mehmet Oz announced his “It’s Not Me” campaign to inform and warn viewers about rogue marketers engaging in copyright infringement and the illegal use of the Dr. Oz name on the Today Show Monday, May 6.

Dr. Oz explains "It's Not Me" campaign on the Today Show Monday, May 6.

 Over the past several years, advertisements featuring Dr. Oz endorsements have plagued the internet, on sites like Facebook, Google, Amazon and YouTube. Email spamming, targeted ads and robo-calling have also been reported by viewers. These ads are misleading because, although the products may have been seen or mentioned on the show, no specific product names have been endorsed by Dr. Oz. As a result of these false and fraudulent claims, the Dr. Oz Show launched "OzWatch" on his website, so viewers could report violations.

"We've gotten more than 10,000 complaints this season alone about fake internet ads; about me selling stuff. Let me make it clear, I do not sell anything. We've made a big stink about this. My prescription pad has basically been stolen," said Dr. Oz.

From now on, the heart-surgeon-turned-Emmy-winning-talk-show-host will run a disclaimer at the beginning of his shows:

"If you receive an email or any kind of direct marketing claiming to be from me selling a product with my name, my image or the show's name, you need to know IT'S NOT ME! I consider anyone that uses my name or my picture to try to sell you a product or supplement reckless and dangerous. They are undermining my credibility with you and the trust you place in me. More importantly, it could be dangerous to your health. Please go to doctoroz.com/oz-watch to report if you receive any messages that use me to sell you anything. To see a list of our trusted partners, please go to Dr. Oz.com."

Unfortunately, false claims are all-too-prevalent in society. At BeeAlive, we stand behind Dr. Oz's campaign of integrity and action.  As a company in business for nearly 30 years, our mission has always been to positively impact the health and lives of all people through our products, our messages, our interactions and our commitments. We strive to uphold integrity by acting morally and ethically with sincerity and truth in all situations, including our advertising efforts. We believe it is our responsibility to treat consumers with absolute respect by providing outstanding excellence in our product formulations and services to fulfill our mission of truly making a difference in people’s lives. Our intent of informing you about Dr. Oz's campaign is that you become more aware as a consumer, and always make conscientious judgments based on thorough research.

Bee Happy. Bee Healthy. BeeAlive!

Bees Face Pesticides, Parasites and Poor Forage; Oh My!

If you've been following the news on honeybee declines and the recent EU pesticide ban, you'll probably be interested in a new federal report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and EPA Thursday that cites a parasitic mite, multiple viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition, genetics and habitat loss, as well as pesticides, as causes for colony collapse disorder in the U.S. These multiple causes make it harder to do something about to preserve the bees and, thus, our crops.

A Florida beekeeper collects honey from his hives.
A variety of factors have contributed to a worrisome loss of bee colonies in recent years,
and a federal report released Thursday concludes there is no single remedy. 
Source

 

"It's not a simple situation. If it were one factor we would have identified it by now," said David Inouye, President of the Ecological Society of America.

"No single silver bullet will solve the problems affecting honeybees and other pollinators," wrote the report authors. "Habitat enhancement, judicious and targeted pesticide use, improved colony management techniques and improved disease- and pest-resistant stocks of bees are collectively needed to improve the health of honeybee colonies."

Although good management practices have been developed to improve bee health, the report added that "there are numerous obstacles to widespread adoption of these practices.'"

Read the full Los Angeles Times article here.

Sign the Petition: Save Our Bees!

European bees have something to "bee happy" about today! After a long committee meeting Monday, April 29, the European Union voted to enact a two-year ban on three popular pesticides. Officials hope the change helps restore populations of honey bees, vital to crop production, to healthy levels, as trial bans accomplished in Italy in 2009. The new ban is scheduled to be enacted in December.

Activists dressed as bees swarmed Parliament Square in London to show their support for a ban on pesticides.

"I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that our bees, which are so vital to our ecosystem and contribute over €22 billion ($28.8 billion) annually to European agriculture, are protected," said EU Health and Consumer Commissioner Tonio Borg.

Bayer of Germany and Sygenta of Switzerland, two European producers of the banned pesticides, have argued their products are not responsible for the bees' decline. However, a European Food Safety Authority report filed earlier this year found that the pesticides clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam presented a risk to bees when they are exposed to the dust, pollen or nectar of some treated crops. Called neonicotinoids, these pesticides will no longer be approved for use in European crops that include corn, rapeseed and cotton.

In March in the U.S., a group of environmentalists and beekeepers sued the Environmental Protection Agency to stop the use of two of the pesticides banned in the EU. Critics of the pesticides claim that while small doses may not be immediately toxic to bees, pesticides disrupt bees' ability to work with their colonies, eventually leading to weakened hives that cannot sustain themselves -- or, perhaps more detrimental to citizens, pollinate plants that are crucial to a sufficient and affordable food supply.

Regardless of the protests and lawsuits, U.S. policymakers have not stepped up to initiate legislation to protect the bees. With beekeepers around the nation reporting record-breaking bee losses this year (up to 40% or more) and major losses since 2006, action to protect honey bees is more urgent than ever.

Tell the EPA it's time to follow the science and protect bees by signing this Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) petition and sharing it with your friends! Save the Bees!

Read more on www.PANNA.org.

Sources:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/29/179868454/europe-bans-pesticides-in-move-to-protect-honey-bees
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/business/global/30iht-eubees30.html?_r=0

Weekly Buzz Series: The Buzz on Royal Jelly

At BeeAlive, we feel our products are superior and serve as nutritious supplements to healthy lifestyles.

To offer substantiation on our views and educate you on the benefits of supplementing with BeeAlive products, we have decided to launch the BeeAlive Weekly Buzz, a series devoted to providing credible studies and articles on various ingredients found in BeeAlive products.

This week, we give you the Buzz on Royal Jelly with a study found on the Memorial Sloan-Kettering website.

Clinical Summary
Royal Jelly is a viscous substance secreted by worker bees and constitutes the essential food for queen bees and their larvae. It is consumed as a health food around the world. It demonstrated vasodilatory, hypotensive, antihypercholesterolemic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory effects and estrogenic activity (1) (3) (9) but its affinity for estrogen receptors is weaker compared to diethylstilbestrol and phytoestrogens (3). Royal Jelly was shown to stimulate MCF-7 cell proliferation which was reversed by tamoxifen (3). It also stimulated the production of collagen as well as other actions needed for bone formation via its action on osteoblasts (4). Royal Jelly may be effective against colitis (10). Oral administration of royal jelly improved testostrerone levels in male rabbits (19). Clinical studies have demonstrated that Royal Jelly lowered total serum lipid levels and total serum cholesterol in individuals with moderately elevated cholesterol levels (5). Mid-cycle peri-coital intravaginal applications of a combination of Egyptian bee honey and Royal Jelly improved infertility due to idiopathic asthenozoospermia (2). In an uncontrolled prospective observational study, Royal Jelly improved menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women (6).

Abstract

Guo H, Saiga A, Sato M, et al. Royal jelly supplementation improves lipoprotein metabolism in humans. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). Aug 2007;53(4):345-348.

Royal jelly (RJ) has several physiological effects and is widely used in commercial medical products and health foods. We examined the effects of RJ supplementation on serum lipoprotein metabolism in humans. Fifteen volunteers were divided into an RJ intake group (n=7) and a control group (n=8). The RJ group took 6 g per day for 4 wk. Their serum total cholesterol (TC) and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) decreased significantly compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or triglyceride concentrations. Moreover, the relationship between the serum cholesterol and lipoprotein levels was investigated. Among the lipoprotein fractions, small very-low-density lipoprotein was decreased (p<0.05) after RJ intake. Our results suggest that dietary RJ decreases TC and LDL by lowering small VLDL levels.

Read the full study here. GO ROYAL JELLY!

***These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Royal Jelly is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Our Royal jelly and other dietary supplements are only meant to be added to the diet as part of a healthy lifestyle; not to treat, cure, prevent or have any effect on any health condition or illness. If you have any concerns, we believe it’s important to work with a healthcare professional.***