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

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.***

Treat Yourself: BeeAlive Chocolate Honey Mints

Growing up, I loved all things mint chocolate. Favorite ice cream? Mint chocolate chip. Favorite candy? York Peppermint Patties. My mom even used to sneak a little peppermint in my hot chocolate at Christmastime.

Truth be told, I still love all things chocolate and mint. But now that I'm older and wiser (that's my story and I'm sticking to it), I realize that I should not be consuming my favorite childhood treats every day. I'm a firm proponent of everything in moderation, but try to stick to a diet of whole foods as close to their natural state as possible.

That's why when we introduced Chocolate Honey Mints at BeeAlive, I could not wait to get my hands (and tastebuds) on them. At BeeAlive, we only use natural ingredients in our products -- and the Chocolate Honey Mints are no exception!

These unbelievably scrumptious candies go back to the bare basics. With only three ingredients -- honey, dark chocolate and peppermint oil -- there is absolutely no room for any artificial fillers,  preservatives or refined sugar -- only pure, all-natural ingredients. It’s that simple and they are that good! With that assurance, you can feel free to indulge guilt-free. More healthy awesomeness? Chocolate Honey Mints contain less than 37 calories a piece and are dairy- and gluten-free!

Chocolate + Honey + Mint = The Perfect Combination

You, too, probably love the classic combination of mint and chocolate. Like me, you probably love honey. But... all three together? Believe me when I tell you we have found the most delicious way to combine these ingredients to give you a decadent, rich, HEALTHY treat.

The solid honey crème center adds just a little sweetness to find harmony with its unsweetened pure dark chocolate coating, while not interfering with the peppermint flavor. Each piece is soft and melts in your mouth, and is rich enough to satisfy your sweet tooth with just one or two! Chocolate Honey Mints make a delicious after-dinner mint or sweet treat any time!

Heavenly... AND Healthy

Did you know that each ingredient in BeeAlive Chocolate Honey Mints is a superfood? They each have health benefits that allow you to do your body some good while doing the same for your tastebuds!

Dark Chocolate:
We know you've heard the great news: Dark chocolate is good for you! -- well, in moderation, of course :) Dark chocolate's reputation is on the rise as scientists study cacao's nutritional components. Studies have found that not only does delicious dark chocolate contain powerful antioxidants, beneficial chemicals like flavonoids and theobromine, and healthy fats; it appears to reduce the risk for heart disease and high blood pressure. As if those benefits aren't enough, it also produces happier children... which can reduce your stress!

Peppermint Oil:
Peppermint is one of the world's oldest herbal remedies, with archaeological evidence dating its use back at least ten thousand years to ancient Egypt. The botanical name of peppermint is mentha piperita. Not to be confused with peppermint extract, peppermint oil is derived by steam distillation from the peppermint plant, which grows in North America and Europe. It contains menthol, the element responsible for its heady fresh, minty scent and notable cooling sensation when touched or tasted. Peppermint is believed to have excellent antimicrobial, antioxidant and antispasmodic properties. Peppermint oil has been used to help various health conditions, such as indigestion, respiratory problems, headache, nausea and irritable bowel syndrome. As you can see, when part of a healthy diet, peppermint oil can be very beneficial.

Honey:
At BeeAlive, we are experts on bees and trust confidently in the power of bee products. We've posted about honey as the healthiest sweetener and how to know if your honey is really honey, but honey is known for a plethora of other benefits. For example, it is a great source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, calcium and iron. Honey is also believed to possess antibacterial and antifungal properties, as well as contain many potent antioxidants.

So, there you have it -- the heavenly AND healthy characteristics of BeeAlive's Chocolate Honey Mints! Now that spring has sprung, the season of gift-giving is here. Mother’s Day is just around the corner, with graduations, weddings and other special occasions following close behind. BeeAlive Chocolate Honey Mints as part of our Sweet Spring Collections make the perfect gift for a loved one... or to "treat yourself!"

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20070703/dark-chocolate-may-help-blood-pressure

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-you-should-eat-and-drink-high-cacao-dark-chocolate/#axzz2Rb88GHoD

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-chocolate/AN02060

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/peppermint-oil-side-effects.html

http://www.emaxhealth.com/8782/dr-oz-3-anti-aging-cooking-oils-kitchen-can-help-you-live-longer

http://www.livestrong.com/article/271305-what-are-the-benefits-of-peppermint-extract/

http://peppermintoiluses.org/

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/health-benefits-of-peppermint-oil.html

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-animal-products/organic-honey/health-benefits-of-honey.html

Restored Bee Populations in Pesticide-Free Italy

Have you heard the buzz on bees dying at an alarmingly-rapid rate in the U.S. due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)?

Bees barely hang on before collapsing.

If not, we wrote a post on the topic a few weeks ago. Most beekeepers and environmentalists believe pesticides (specifically neonicotinoids) are the culprit. In fact, these harmful toxins, which are chemically similar to nicotine, have already been shown to interfere with bees' capacity to learn scents, hampering their efforts to collect food. A recent study published by the American Bird Conservancy suggested that the pesticides may also negatively impact birds and water-borne insects.

Large pesticide producers Bayer and Syngenta have lobbied against a proposed ban on pesticides in the European Union. However, a study performed in Italy in 2009 offers more substatiation for the claim that neocinotinoids are responsible for killing bees. **Update 4/29/2013: The EU became the first continent to ban widely-used insecticides that have been linked to bee deaths. Can the U.S. hop on board?!

The Study

Following France and Germany, in 2009, the Italian Agriculture Ministry suspended the use of neonicotinoids during corn-sowing season as a "precautionary measure." The compelling results? Restored bee populations in apiaries around the crops, which prompted the government to uphold the ban.

Despite this groundbreaking evidence the U.S. has been aware of for years, why does CCD remain a 'mystery' and why are pesticides still allowed to be used on our crops?

You Can Help

Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) promotes healthy communities and a safe, fair and clean food system. Donate now to help PANNA develop campaigns to replace all the highly hazardous pesticides out there with ecologically sound, socially just solutions -- for future generations (and the bees!).

Make Every Day Earth Day

Today, April 22, marks the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day. But at BeeAlive, we like to think of every day as Earth Day. Living green is a lifestyle. As our company moves forward into the future, we are very careful about the carbon footprint we leave behind. Our goal is to protect the bounty of nature (and of course the bees!) that we leave behind -- it is crucial for the sustainability of life for future generations.

This is how we're going green;

What can YOU do to incorporate eco-friendly habits into your daily routine?

 

We've compiled a list of 10 Simple Tips to Live Sustainably that you can practice not only today, but every day!

1. Turn it off. Turn off the lights, computer and anything else you are not using to conserve energy.

2. 'Clean' As You Clean. Make your own household cleaners out of natural cleansers like baking soda and vinegar.

3. Buy Local. Support the farm-to-table movement by buying from local farmers, supporting local restaurants that serve food that comes from less than 100 miles away and, better yet, growing your own food!

4. Go Paperless. It's the digital age, people: Do as much as you can online, such as paying bills.

5. Reuse Paper. When you must use paper, print on two sides and use scraps.

6. Drive Responsibly. Drive the speed limit and get as many errands done in one trip as you can. Better yet, satisfy the planet AND your body by walking or riding your bike!

7. Stop using disposable items. Invest in reusable items whenever possible, such as bags and water bottles.

8. Greenify Your Backyard. Plant a tree or garden. Pick up roadside litter. Build a bird house or a BEE HIVE (which will help your garden grow)! Build a compost for food scraps, leaves and lawn clippings. Save rainwater and reuse for outdoor gardens. If you're feeling extra daring, incorporate reusable items like tires, mason jars, barrels and corks in your outdoor decor! Check out our "Bee Green" board on Pinterest for details!

9. Load Less Laundry. Moms will love this -- do as few loads as possible. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot. During warm, dry weather, hang your clothes outside to dry.

10. Bee Energy Efficient! Switch most, if not all, your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs and consider investing in energy-efficient appliances, such as those labeled by Energy Star.

Really, all you have to remember:

Source:
http://inkjot.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/reuse-reduce-recycle-just-not-everything/

BeeAlive Spa Essentials at IECSC Spa Show

Earlier this week, we exhibited our natural skin care line, BeeAlive Spa Essentials™, at the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conferences for the first time. The spa show took place April 14-16, 2013 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York. We feel so fortunate to have been involved!

International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conferences (IECSC) is the premier spa and wellness event in the country. Taking place in New York, Las Vegas, and Florida, IECSC offers leading education and dynamic show floors. Spa and wellness professionals rely on IECSC for insightful guidance to grow their businesses and keep them at the forefront of their competitive industry.

BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ had its own booth (#3713), just like at Natural Products Expo West. We met many spa and wellness professionals, consumers and students from across the country -- everyone raved about our line!

 

What did visitors to our booth love most?

All-Natural & Synthetic-Free!
BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ is 100% all-natural and free of synthetics and fragrances. We were one of the only completely all-natural lines at this show. Spa show attendees appreciated our concern for the health and well-being of consumers.

From the Bees!
The attendees we met loved our incorporation of bee products like Royal Jelly, honey and bee propolis along with essential oils and natural herbs in the line. Many individuals enjoyed learning that, although BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ is a new line, we have been offering our customers these bee products as ingestible supplements for nearly 30 years! With the recent buzz on increased bee deaths as a product of the mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder, visitors to our booth appreciated that we only work with professional beekeepers who are experts at handling hives. We also support the UC Davis Honey Bee Research Facility and Brooklyn Grange Farm apiary.

The Packaging!
Attendees not only loved the aesthetics and ease of use of Spa Essentials products; they also appreciated the eco-friendly glass bottles in which each Spa Essentials skin care product is packaged. BeeAlive <3's healthy people and a healthy earth!

Meeting The Formulator!
The farm-chic look of our booth drew most people in, but what really excited visitors to our booth was meeting Petra Stone, our very own BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ formulator! Petra is a third-generation organic farmer who personally hand-crafts each and every BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ product. Her knowledge of organic farming, essential oils and herbs, combined with BeeAlive's nearly 30 years of experience with Royal Jelly and other bee products make BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ the perfect marriage! Petra is available for in-store demonstrations, employee training, at-home parties and trunk shows -- spas and wellness centers couldn't get enough of her!

We had a great time and enjoyed meeting so many friendly and fascinating people in the spas and wellness industry!

Read more about BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ products and philosophy on our website.

 

For wholesale inquires, please contact [email protected], fill out this form or call 1.800.791.0257.

 

 

BeeAlive Celebrates Earth Day 2013!

We are very excited to announce that BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ is currently on sale at Nature’s Pantry in Newburgh, NY!

 

 

Meet Petra Stone, our very own skin care formulator, at the Nature’s Pantry Earth Day Celebration Saturday, April 20! Stop by between 11 am & 3 pm to sample the products as Petra demonstrates the full line of natural skin care!

 

Harvest Your Authentic Beauty™ this Earth Day!
 

 We look forward to seeing you there!

Nature’s Pantry Newburgh

142 Rt. 17K
Newburgh, NY 12550

 

The Buzz on Honey: Is Yours Actually Honey?

In this post, we challenged you to substitute honey any time you use sugar due to its healthy mineral, amino acid and vitamin content. With a surplus of differing brands of honey on store shelves, choosing can get overwhelming -- how do you know which is best? The rule of thumb is generally that raw or minimally-filtered honey is best because the honey is able to maintain its beneficial compounds and its origin can be easily identified.

According to testing done for Food Safety News, more than three-fourths of the honey sold in U.S. grocery stores isn’t exactly what the bees produce. Often times, in fact, pollen has been filtered out of these products -- yet they are still labeled “honey.”

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration says that any product that has been ultra-filtered and no longer contains pollen is not honey. However, the government has not been strictly regulating to see which brands contain pollen, which means many of the plastic bears on your store shelves probably do not.

We’ve put together this blog post so that you will know how to decipher quality honey that still contains pollen and other beneficial enzymes from the imposters.

Ultra-filtering is a procedure where honey is heated, sometimes watered down and then forced at high pressure through extremely small filters to remove pollen. Government health officials can identify the source of honey by inspecting its pollen. The origin of honey in which the pollen has been removed cannot be determined. This is worrisome because, for years, the Chinese have ultra-filtered their honey (some containing dangerous antibiotics) to disguise its origin and illegally export to the U.S.

Testing has revealed that most honey sold by grocery chains in the U.S. is ultra-filtered. So, not only can honey’s beneficial properties be lost when it is packaged this way, but we no longer know where it’s coming from.

Richard Adee, whose 80,000 hives in multiple states produce 7 million pounds of honey each year, told Food Safety News that “honey has been valued by millions for centuries for its flavor and nutritional value and that is precisely what is completely removed by the ultra-filtration process.”

“There is only one reason to ultra-filter honey and there’s nothing good about it,” he says. “It’s no secret to anyone in the business that the only reason all the pollen is filtered out is to hide where it initially came from and the fact is that in almost all cases, that is China,” Adee added.

So why then do stores prefer stocking their shelves with ultra-processed brands of honey? For one, ultra-processing extends shelf-life. Most consumers prefer clear, uncrystallized honey, as well. Unfiltered honey usually has a darker color and can appear a crystallized solid. It’s the plants and flowers where the bees forage for nectar that will determine the significant difference in the taste, aroma and color of what the bees produce. It is the processing that controls the texture. Here is a breakdown of the different varieties of honey:

Raw honey has not been filtered or pasteurized (heated to high temperatures). Often, it is creamed to make it more attractive. Raw honey will become granular very quickly, and may separate in the jar with the liquid fructose rising to the top and granular glucose sinking to the bottom.

Honey filtered with minimum heat (often labeled ‘Unpasteurized' or ‘Strained’) is minimally heated to liquify the honey in order to remove dirt, wax, bee parts, debris from the hives and other visible contaminants but leave the pollen in place. It is extracted and cleaned using an 80 micron filter. The honey is only heated to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (the temperature of the inside of a beehive on a hot day). It contains a similar nutritional value of raw honey and will granulate in two to six months depending on the type of flower the bees visited to gather the honey.

Pasteurized Honey is, unfortunately, the most common form of honey sold in stores. The honey is heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, or even higher temperatures for a shorter period of time, ultra-filtered through a 1 to 5 micron filter, and then cooled quickly. Honey that is heated above 120 degrees will have an attractive color and delicious taste and last over nine months on a store shelf without granulating, but the pollen, propolis, enzymes and antioxidants found in raw and minimally-processed honey will have been rendered useless.

Ultrafiltration, therefore, poses many potential health risks.  If honey does not contain pollen, consumers and law officials have no way of determining its origin and, thus, if it contains any harmful chemicals. New York Senator Charles Schumer is one of the more than 20 U.S. senators and members of Congress (of both parties) who have repeatedly asked the FDA to create a federal “pure honey” standard, similar to what the rest of the world has established. We hope that this can be made a priority.

Superior BeeAlive Pure & Natural Honey

BeeAlive’s naturally sweet domestic honey is minimally processed at a low temperature, in order to remove dirt, wax, bee parts, debris from the hives and other visible contaminants, resulting in pure and great-tasting honey with a mild, pleasant flavor. Raw and minimally-processed honey crystallizes quicker than ultra-processed honey, but you can remedy this by placing the glass jar in a steamer, a water bath or water-filled crock pot or a warm sunny window if you desire. All of our honey is sourced from North Dakota. We use this honey in the majority of our honey-containing BeeAlive supplements and BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ skin care products. At BeeAlive, we adhere to a strict set of standards and operating procedures to provide only the finest products to our customers. Our unwavering commitment to high-quality ingredients that produce pure, effective and beneficial formulas remains our top priority.

Feel Alive. BeeAlive. 

Sources:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/

Bee Informed: Save Our Bees

Have you heard the recent buzz on the national bee population?

Source: The New York Times

 

If you're a beekeeper like the ones in this video, it's no recent news that honeybees have been dying off at a rapid rate for the past few years due to a mysterious malady coined "Colony Collapse Disorder." If you're simply a lover of nature and bee products, such as BeeAlive supplements and skin care which wouldn't be possible without the bees, please make yourself more knowledgeable on these life-threatening issues facing our bees and how you can help.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bee pollination of U.S. crops like almonds, apples, cherries and pumpkins is responsible for an estimated $15 billion in increased crop value. In fact, about one mouthful in three in our diet directly or indirectly benefits from honey bee pollination -- our everyday lives depend on bees! Unfortunately, since 2007, colony collapse disorder, or CCD, has resulted in the loss of some 30 percent of honey bee populations among beekeepers, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Fewer bees means smaller harvests and higher food prices.

Why are the bees dying?

 

Scientists and beekeepers have been racing to find an answer to what is causing CCD. Some researchers have suggested weather and diet as a possible cause, but most fingers now are pointing at the use of pesticides as the culprit.

On March 21, 2013, beekeepers and environmentalists sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "for its failure to protect pollinators from dangerous pesticides." The environmentalists accused the EPA of turning a blind eye for years to the deliberate misuse of pesticides by farmers. The group had previously petitioned the EPA for an emergency ban on neonicotinoids, a common insecticide derived from nicotine. Neonicotinoids, although applied in smaller doses than older pesticides, are often embedded in seeds so that the plant itself carries the chemical that kills the insects that feed on it. So, unlike older pesticides which degrade quickly, neonicotinoids persist for weeks and sometimes even months. Beekeepers worry that bees carry a summer's worth of contaminated pollen to hives, which can lead to future generations of bees ingesting a steady supply of pesticides. Consumed once or twice might not be so harmful, but consumed regularly is a potential death sentence for bees.

 

In fact, studies have deduced that pesticides cause negative brain effects in bees. A study in Nature Communications found that within 20 minutes of exposure to neonicotinoids and coumaphos, another kind of pesticide, neurons in the major learning center of bee brains stopped firing. Another study in the Journal of Experimental Biology concluded that bees exposed to these pesticides were slower to learn -- or completely forgot -- important associations between floral scent and food rewards. According to Science Today, "these findings provide a possible underlying cellular mechanism for the observed disruption and altered foraging behavior seen in bees during CCD."

 

The European Union has proposed to ban the use of neonicotinoids on crops frequented by bees, which have been touted the cause of mass honeybee deaths in Germany and France. Unfortunately, beekeepers' worries don't end there; the growing use of herbicides and fungicides, too, pose harmful risks to bees -- and yet each of these substances has been certified.

   

So... how can you help?

 

If you enjoy the many fruits of bees' labor, the buzz on bees' impending fate is just too loud to ignore. Since policymakers have yet to make bee safety a top priority, there are many simple actions we can all take to help slow down, and hopefully reverse, honeybee decline.

1. Protect Bees from Pesticides. Instead of using pesticides, which kill beneficial pollinators and natural enemies that curb common pests, explore organic ways to grow healthy plants, like using compost for soil and controlling pests with homemade solutions and "biocontrols" such as ladybugs.
2. Provide Food for Bees. To ensure your backyard bees have food throughout the year, consider clustered plantings with staggered blooming times in the late summer and fall. Remember to take care of and water your garden -- when your plants thrive, bees thrive!
3. Provide Water for Bees. Rivers, ponds, an irrigation system, a rainwater collection system, small-scale garden water features or any shallow water source are more than adequate water for bees, without creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes!
4. Provide Shelter for Bees. Every area of your lawn doesn't have to be perfectly manicured at all times -- bees prefer to build their nests on undisturbed, untilled land and dead trees or plants.
5. Plant Trees for Bees. Planting trees helps preserve the environment, which provides a safe habitat for wildlife, including insects. Gather with a group of friends to plan your tree-planting activity!
6. Go Green. By opting for eco-friendly alternatives, you are helping preserve the environment. Green initiatives are quite simple -- for starters, dispose of waste properly; recycle reusable materials; and compost biodegradable wastes in your garden!
7. Spread the Word! When you do, governments respond more quickly. So, tell your friends and family about environmental initiatives to prevent against further damage and bee deaths. Write articles and blog posts. Let your voice be heard to promote positive change.

At present, you might not directly feel the effects of colony collapse disorder. However, if bee deaths continue to rise, it will eventually generate negative effects on the food chain -- negatively affecting all of us.

 

Bee Informed. Save Our Bees!

 

 

 

Sources:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/1911/beekeepers-and-public-interest-groups-sue-epa-over-bee-toxic-pesticides
http://www.calacademy.org/sciencetoday/saving-bees/5510547/
http://www.honeybeehaven.org/content/take-pledge?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=socmed&utm_content=HBH&utm_campaign=pledge&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=socmed&utm_content=food&utm_campaign=bees
http://www.earthtimes.org/green-blogs/green-living/bee-death-simple-prevention-efforts-you-do-06-Apr-13/



Happy SPA-versary to BeeAlive Spa Essentials!

On April 1, 2012, we launched all-natural BeeAlive Spa Essentials™. After one year since its debut, it's time to celebrate the skin care line that helps all individuals harvest their authentic beauty both inside and out.

The Story:

Rose Balletta, BeeAlive President Jason's wife, became more passionate about natural ingredients when she was pregnant with triplets. While pregnant, Rose became more aware of what she was putting in her body. While focused on eating whole foods to provide vital nutrients for herself and her babies, Rose began to realize: Shouldn't I be treating my skin, the biggest organ of our bodies, with the same respect? She began to research the ingredients in her current skin care products and realized many of those chemicals had harmful effects to which she did not want to expose her newborns.

By coincidence, or perhaps fate, Rose received natural skin care products, formulated by local third-generation organic farmer Petra Stone, as a gift from a dear friend. Rose loved the way Petra used essential oils and natural herbs in her skin care, which not only smelled wonderful and made her skin feel amazing, but assured her that she was not exposing her body or her children to harmful chemicals.

That was when Rose had her "Aha!" moment: partner with Petra to formulate a natural skin care line based on BeeAlive's years of experience with Royal Jelly and bee products and Petra's knowledge of essential oils and herbs.

At BeeAlive, we care deeply about our customers and strive to produce top-quality products that allow individuals to help their bodies help themselves. This has been our mission since 1984, and, three generations later, continues to be our driving force.

And let's not forget nature! We are so thankful that the environment provides us with many beneficial resources that play a crucial role in the balance of life. At BeeAlive, we are very careful about the ecological footprint we leave behind and try to protect the bounty that has been left behind by nature, and, of course, the bees. This is crucial for the sustainability of life for future generations.

So, the launch of a new skin care line at BeeAlive, to be named Spa Essentials, was a no-brainer. Rose and Petra combined passion with generations of wisdom and experience to harvest a pure, synthetic-free skin care line for all individuals to rejuvenate their skin and help counteract visible signs of aging.

Petra, also a mother of a five-year old, is proud of the line. She said: “We know that vitamins and nutrients are best utilized by our bodies in a whole form, or as they are in nature. So why not apply that concept to your skin care routine? That’s exactly what we have done with BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ line. We use rose hips to brighten the skin, antioxidants that come from elderberries to protect it, sage and comfrey to restore, chamomile and calendula to reduce the appearance of redness, and the list goes on and on. What I’m most passionate about telling people is that we don’t use harsh chemicals, which can be abrasive. Nature provides us with everything we need to have smooth and glowing skin. BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ strives to provide all women with a luxurious spa experience at home while remaining pure and authentic so that you can feel beautiful both inside and out.”

The Philosophy:

The delicate plant extracts found in BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ can help transform the skin's condition from within and smell fantastic, despite using absolutely no synthetic fragrances in the products. In formulating the products, Rose and Petra developed a unique process they coined the "herbal-apiary simplex," which combines the nourishing powers of bee products with herbs and essential oils using generations of herbal and apiary, or bee, traditions.

 

 

Spa Essentials' delicate formulas are hand-crafted, gently infusing the intense nourishing properties of Royal Jelly, honey, propolis and bee pollen with the soothing qualities of natural herbs and essential oils. In the same way that bees utilize the pollen of plants to sustain the abundance of nature, we strive to recreate these dynamics in the BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ philosophy of skin care.

Core Principles:
1. In BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ skin care products, we use minimally processed plant-based ingredients whenever possible. We believe that the best skin care starts in nature and that the whole is better than isolated parts. For this reason, instead of using Vitamin C created in a lab, we make a gentle extraction of rosehips.

 2. Nurture the delicate ecosystem of your skin by using only gentle products that nourish it, never stripping it of its natural, protective oils. We don’t need to use harsh chemicals and abrasives that provide only temporary results. Our philosophy is that nature provides us with everything we need to achieve glowing, healthy skin.

3. Our skin and bodies are in a constant state of regeneration. Our skin relies on the circulation of blood and oxygen to bring new skin cells to the surface and get rid of the old cells that have lost their vibrancy. Exercise, being outside in cold, brisk air and getting massages are all ways of invigorating circulation. Having good circulation increases the rate of cell turnover, and gives you a healthy glow. BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ contain herbs and essential oils designed to stimulate the skin’s surface to invigorate and brighten skin’s appearance.

At BeeAlive, we are proud to offer the only skin care line in which you can find together all the benefits of bee products, herbs and essential oils, as nature has provided them for us, holistically. We know that nature has provided us with everything we need to achieve smooth and glowing skin. When you nurture your skin with these natural products, you can help your skin radiate a visible glow and Harvest Your Authentic Beauty™. Now THAT'S something to celebrate!

Additional questions? Click Here to Read BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ Skin Care FAQs

Click Here To Browse BeeAlive Spa Essentials™ Products

Celebrate with Us!

To celebrate the spa-versary of BeeAlive Spa Essentials™, we are currently offering a "Beautifully Brilliant" package, which includes three of our hand-crafted customer favorites, the Foaming Honey Cleanser, Honey Masque and Royal Jelly Serum (now you know why we call it "Beautifully Brilliant!"). This is your chance to get a sweet deal on products that help you balance, brighten and hydrate your skin -- a wonderful gift for Mother's Day, the bride-to-be or yourself! Offer is for a limited time only. Visit us on the web or call one of our friendly call center representatives at 1-800-543-BEES (2337) to learn more!