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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Oct 10, 2013 13:25:33 GMT 1
How about doing a bit of beekeeping right on your rooftop or in the kitchen garden? The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, is trying to promote urban apiculture as one of the components of its Urban Krishi Mela, which is being organised for the first time on October 27 and 28 on its campus. According to head of the Department of Apiculture at UAS-B N.S. Bhat, Bangalore has the ideal weather condition for beekeeping, especially in areas around the lakes. “The main requirement for beekeeping is availability of floral area (areas having flowering varieties of plants) and ideal weather condition. If pollen and nectar are available, then you can rear bees anywhere unless there are no extreme weather conditions,” he said. Green patch “There need not be a garden in your house for beekeeping. It is enough if there is a park or green patch with flowering varieties of plants or coconut palms near your house,” Prof. Bhat said, and added that even the weeds that grow on roadside in the rainy season help. “Wherever rock bees (a wild variety of bees) are there in the city, it is an indication that the particular place is ideal for beekeeping,” he said. Prof. Bhat is worried about wild bees being killed through application of chemicals in Bangalore. “Killing them affects ecology and the process of fruit setting. In fact, honey forms only one-tenth of the usefulness of bees. The most important use is that they help in fruit setting through pollination,” he said. For urban beekeeping, boxes measuring 1x1 ft could be either hanged from the wall or kept on the rooftop in shade. The terrace of a structure built on a 30x40 ft site can have two to three beekeeping boxes, according to Prof. Bhat. Honey is more popular in foreign countries such as Germany where it is consumed as food compared to India where it is mostly used for medicinal purposes. This is evident from the fact that Germany accounts for 5 kg per capita consumption of honey against India’s 5 to 10 gm, he said. Source: www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/urban-apiculture-is-the-buzzword/article5204977.ece
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Oct 10, 2013 3:26:12 GMT 1
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Oct 8, 2013 11:37:01 GMT 1
A fair in Accra selling local, organic sustainably grown produce is proving a hit among the growing middle class. There are some things about public gatherings in Ghana's capital Accra that are guaranteed. A certain amount of dust and Atlantic spray on the breeze, a sound system blaring Azonto – a local music sensation – just a bit too loud, fearless children lining up to show off their moves, and an orderly row of canopies where the hot and the tired sit down on plastic chairs and take stock. But if you looked a little closer at the fair in Ako Adjei park on Saturday, you would have found that what appeared a typical Accra event was quietly masking something quite unusual: a farmers' market. The dozen or so small-scale producers selling their wares at The Accra Green Market were busily making history as participants in Ghana's first ever fair for locally grown, sustainable, organic produce. "This is a great way to give exposure to organic, local products," says Jeffrey Mouganie, 22, founder of Moco Foods, an organic company that produces local forest honey and fiery chilli sauce, guaranteeing a traceable supply chain and hiring workers with disabilities. "The only space we usually get to market our products are at the bazaars of international schools, where we sell to a lot of expats," he says. "But we need more markets like this – the best feedback we have had for our products is from Ghanaians." Moco's Savannah Honey, on sale here for 10 Ghana cedis – approximately £3 – is being exported to the UK where it will go on sale at Harrods and Selfridges for what the producers expect to be around five times that price. Also on sale, organic mushroom wine – said to be a treatment for practically every medical condition from sclerosis to high blood pressure, asthma and "sexual weakness" – pak choi, gloriously frothy-leaved heads of broccoli, watermelon, small, knobbly carrots, and tough-skinned, tangy nectarines full of seeds and sweet-sour juice. The organisers of the market believe they are part of a new trend towards sustainable, organic and local food, which they say goes hand in hand with the growth of Ghana's new middle class. "Things in Ghana are changing – it is no longer a poor country but a middle-income country. And because of that, people are more interested in what they eat," says Edison Gbenga Abe, 29, founder of Agripro – a mobile application company that provides farmers with access to marketplaces and which organised the Accra Green Market. "In East Africa, farmers' markets are already really popular, but in West Africa, there is nothing like this. We plan to take it to different locations in Ghana, and we have had interest from Nigeria too." Constance Korkoi Tengey, founder of Immaculate Gold Beads, Mushrooms and Snails, is typical of the kind of small-scale grower whose products the market is designed to showcase. An energetic 62-year-old who carefully dishes out mushroom sandwiches, mushroom salad and mushroom gari foto – a veggie version of a popular Ghanaian dish made from cassava tubers – Tengey began growing mushrooms in her back garden seven years ago and says sales are on the rise. "I eat a lot of mushrooms as a substitute for meat, and I've noticed that I don't gain as much weight, and it keeps me looking younger," Tengey says. "People in Ghana are becoming more health-conscious these days, they are really showing an interest in my products. It's a profitable business for me." But it's not only shoppers who are fuelling Ghana's new interest in organic food. The city's ever expanding directory of hotels, restaurants and cafes has an insatiable appetite for local products and high quality produce. "There are a lot of new eateries bringing in foreign chefs, and as a result the quality is getting higher," says Sadiq Banda, an organic grower in Accra who supplies some of the city's five-star hotels. "Chefs are always looking for the best produce, and there is a great need for more local food producers to supply them. The Ghanaian middle class is growing too, and becoming more interested in quality. But Ghanaians are still mainly interested in conspicuous consumption – they do not tend to spend money on hig-quality things unless other people can see them doing it, and fresh produce is not yet a priority." Ghana may still have some way to go in grasping the concept of organic, whole foods. Alongside the organic avocados on one stall were tins of corned beef, canned sardines and mayonnaise, where young women were zealously composing "salad" – a concoction of oily, processed products with a dash of fresh vegetable to top it off. And Ghana being Ghana, there is a strong affection for the deep-fried. My taste award went to Tengey's "Kentucky Fried Mushrooms" – not blessed with a name that conjures up all things fresh, small-scale and local, but they tasted quite simply amazing. Source: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/sep/17/ghana-first-farmers-market-accra
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Oct 8, 2013 11:08:34 GMT 1
Traditionally, honey bee research has focused on environmental stressors such as pesticides, pathogens and diseases. Now a research team led by entomologists at the University of California, Riverside has published a study that focuses on an anthropogenic pollutant: selenium (Se). The researchers found that the four main forms of Se in plants -- selenate, selenite, methylselenocysteine and selenocystine -- cause mortality and delays in development in the honey bee. "Metal pollutants like selenium contaminate soil, water, can be accumulated in plants, and can even be atmospherically deposited on the hive itself," said Kristen Hladun, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral entomologist. "Our study examined the toxic effects of selenium at multiple life stages of the honey bee in order to mimic the chronic exposure this insect may face when foraging in a contaminated area." Study results appear in the Oct. 2013 issue of the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. The honey bee is an important agricultural pollinator in the United States and throughout the world. In areas of Se contamination, honey bees may be at risk because of the biotransfer of the metal from Se-accumulating plants. Se contamination is a global problem originating from naturally contaminated soils and a multitude of anthropogenic sources including mining and industrial activities such as petroleum refining and coal-power production, as well as where agricultural runoff is collected and can concentrate selenium from the surrounding soils. Low Se concentrations are beneficial to many animals; in particular, it is a critical component of an antioxidant enzyme. Slightly higher concentrations, however, are toxic. Several insect species suffer toxic effects from feeding on Se-contaminated food. In the case of the honey bee, Se enters the body through ingestion of contaminated pollen and nectar. Organic forms of Se can alter protein conformation and cause developmental problems, and inorganic forms of Se can cause oxidative stress. "It is not clear how selenium damages the insect's internal organs, or if the bee has the ability to detoxify these compounds at all," Hladun said. "Further research is necessary to examine the cellular and physiological effects of selenium." Hladun explained that honey bees may also be more susceptible than other insects due to a lack of detoxification enzymes that other insects still possess. Further, honey bees at the larval stage are more susceptible to selenium relative to other insect species. "Mortality within the hive can reduce the number of workers and foragers overall," she said. "The forager's ability to tolerate high concentrations of selenium may act against the colony as a whole. Honey bees are social animals and their first line of defense against environmental stressors is the foraging bees themselves. High concentrations of Se will not kill foragers outright, so they can continue to collect contaminated pollen and nectar, which will be stored and distributed throughout the colony." Besides areas surrounding coal-fired power plants, petroleum refineries, copper refineries, and mining activities, areas around industrial plants producing glass, pigments, inks, and lubricants, can all be anthropogenic sources of Se. In the United States, the well-established toxicity of Se to wildlife and humans has resulted in this element being regulated by the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Clean Water Act. "Selenium occurs naturally in many places around the world, but it also is a byproduct of many industrial activities, and finding ways of recovering and recycling it is key to minimizing the damage to the environment," Hladun said. "Currently, researchers are exploring its use in solar energy technologies." According to Hladun, knowing which contaminants are the most important to regulate is key to minimizing the exposure of honey bee hives to contaminants. "Beekeepers can take steps to prevent bees from foraging during flowering periods of plants that have exceptional pollutant levels or to move hives away from contaminated areas," she said. "Also, better management of weedy plant species that are known to be Se-accumulators can prevent them from becoming a route of exposure." Currently the researchers are conducting experiments feeding honey bee colonies with Se-laden food. They will monitor the bees for changes in survival and behavior. In addition, they are exploring the effects of other metal pollutants (cadmium, copper, and lead in particular) that have been found in honey bee hives, especially the ones located near urban or industrial areas. Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003132249.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fplants_animals%2Flife_sciences+(ScienceDaily%3A+Plants+%26+Animals+News+--+Life+Sciences)
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Oct 7, 2013 21:41:44 GMT 1
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Sept 28, 2013 4:14:08 GMT 1
Beneficiaries of a UNDP Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grant Biodiversity Project in Handii, Fuamah District Bong County have applauded support to the training of men women in snail farming and honey production. The project is being implemented by the West Africa Initiative of Liberia (WAIOL) and is aimed at delivering global environment benefits in the GEF thematic areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, and prevention of land degradation (desertification and deforestation) and elimination of persistent organic pollutants through community-based approaches. At a recent graduation of a new batch of 43 graduates (22 females and 22 males) in Handii following a 12-month training, the District Commissioner of Handii District, Bong County Martin Kolleh thanked UNDP for support to the project. He described the project as an economic weapon, adding that the local leadership will encourage more people to develop interest as a way of sustaining their families. "The sale of honey has helped me send my children to school" says 41 year old Sando Mensah who originally comes from Grand Cape Mount County. Madame Mensah said out of her six children she has been able to enroll four of them in primary and Day Care Institutions, adding that as a result of the training, she is involved in both snails and bees farming which have helped her open a provision shop. According to Madame Mensah, with income from both activities she has also been able to roof her home with zinc. Meanwhile, the Programme Specialist of the Energy & Environment Unit at UNDP Moses Massah said the project has been highly instrumental in helping to conserve the forest, thus reducing the cutting down of trees to produce charcoal and the hunting of indigenous species. He urged the graduates to use their skills for sustainable livelihood. "The Project is not closing with you. You have been given skills to make money and to improve the lives of your children" Mr. Massah noted. The Executive Director of WAOIL Ezekiel Freeman said the activity started as a pilot project in Nimba County and was extended to Bong and Margibi counties. He called on trainees to take seriously the need to be persistent and consistent with the utilization of the skills they attained as a result of the training, describing the project as highly economical. Mr. Freeman reported that the 30,000 US dollars provided by the UNDP/GEF Small Grant Project to implement this program has yielded economic results for beneficiaries and the Organization. He said honey now being produced by trained local farmers engaged in such a venture is now being processed and sold in most supermarkets around Monrovia under the brand name "Liberia Pure Honey" and is better than the imported honey. Mr. Freeman said a processing Unit has also been established to test the quality of honey before distribution and his organization is making frantic efforts to create an international market for the product which he noted is now in huge demand given improvement in marketing. He also mentioned that one of the beneficiaries of the training who lives in Nimba Joe Gartie is one of the most successful bee keeping farmers who now has 150 bee hives and has been able to generate over 7,000 US dollars between 2012 and 2013 from the sale of honey. Source: allafrica.com/stories/201309260546.html
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Sept 28, 2013 3:55:05 GMT 1
Businesses need good relationships to thrive. Before you get new customers, you need those who have known you and where you are coming from to stand by you. Patronage on one hand, you also need good relationships in order to properly finance the business. To keep your business well-financed and always liquid at all times, financial institutions play key roles. You may not have the money you need to move your business forward but you can solve the cash problems if you talk to someone. But talking to someone who doesn’t know you may not yield the desired result when you are in dire strait and earger. Consequetly, to make something happen. At best you may sound so desperate and thereby send a wrong signal to whoever you are talking to. The outcome of such desperate discussion may be disappointment and wasted time. There are several fund providers but we are going to focus on the bank in this piece. Besides the individual opportunity to apply for fund from banks, there are of recent some attempts to provide intervention funds to stimulate some sectors of the economy. The fact is that not every business that is in dire need of the money will have access to it. Many entrepreneurs will be denied the money because of poor banking relationships. Support or help works on trust: where trust is lacking it may be difficult for help to come. Financial support relies so much on trust but where your bank cannot really prove to know you, there is bound to be a snag when you sorely need the bank to be by your side. You need to prepare ahead of time so that you don’t miss opportunities when they come your way. If you are an entrepreneur or you hope to become one in future, your attitude to banks and banking should not be negative. Though some banks are excessive in their activities (like my own bank at present annoyingly charging me for unsolicited sms meant to promote its products), you cannot close your eyes to the good side and benefits derivable from the banks. I will itemise in this piece eleven reasons why you should cultivate good relationship with banks. 1) The manner of relationship you have with a bank will influence whether the bank will readily be willing to support your business ideas with fund or not. 2) If you desire to grow your business and become a reputable brand, the time is coming that you cannot conduct certain business transactions without the use of banks. 3) If you wait until you need a bank before you open an account, you may not get what you are looking for at the time you need it. The best time to start the relationship is now when it seems you don’t really need the bank. 4) You cannot run away from some financial services in real wealth creation. Only banks can render most of these financial services. 5)Banking history is key information in international business relations. The embassies need it to approve your trips while some foreign business transactions may require your bank to say something about you. 6) Banks are not charity organisations that can treat funds in their custody as if it’s meant for charity (even charity organisations will establish the genuineness of your request before acceding to it), it is how long they have known you that will determine whether they will listen to you or not. 7) Integrity is a key factor in the relationship between you, your business and the bank of your choice. If you don’t make a move to build the goodwill, you may not enjoy it when you need to. 8) A good relationship will permit your bank to allow you temporary or short term financing by allowing you to overdraw your account balance to meet emergency financial needs. You may need this special request anytime, therefore it is better you start preparing for it today. 9) You don’t really know how huge your business may be tomorrow therefore you need to put in place necessary financial relationships that may help facilitate a brighter future. 10) It pays better to service your investment activities through funds in your bank account. Let your bank account be the interface. 11) You can only get needed support to easily execute your ideas when you have a relationship that starts before you start to pursue such ideas. Only financial institution that knows you that can easily assist you. Source: www.punchng.com/am-business/11-reasons-why-you-need-to-be-friendly-with-banks/
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Sept 26, 2013 17:28:43 GMT 1
Almonds are referenced in virtually every news report about bees. The overall tone of media references to the almond industry as it relates to bee health decline is neutral, but the sheer size and reliance on pollination of the almond industry is driving interest in the subject. Further, recent news articles in publications such as Time magazine, largely reference the Report on the National Stakeholders Conference on Honey Bee Health held in Oct. 2012. In short, that report separated the issues impacting the overall health of bees into four main categories: 1) nutrition, 2) pesticides, 3) parasites/pathogens and 4) genetics/ biology/ breeding. Investment in Honey Bee Health As a matter of fact, the Almond Board has invested nearly $1.3 million in honey bee health research since 1995 in these four areas. During the last several years, the primary focus of this research has been healthy hives, which includes improving honey bee nutrition, effective management of bee pests and diseases, improving honey bee breeding stock, and assessing impacts of pesticides used on almonds. The Almond Board of California, in collaboration with Project Apis m., USDA, the University of California, beekeeper organizations and other groups, has and is supporting research and has developed best management practices in these categories for growers and beekeepers alike. Among recently and currently funded research projects and collaboration: • Improving genetic diversity in honey bees to enhance resistance to pests and diseases, and transferring that technology to bee breeders for integration into commercial breeding stock. • Cooperating with Project Apis m. and others to encourage almond growers to provide blooming plants or “bee pasture” adjacent to almond acreage as overwintering food sources for honey bees prior to almond bloom. This promotes the health and survival of overwintering bees and thereby improves pollination. • Participating in a USDA grant advancing “Integrated Crop Pollination.” This approach integrates honey bees, other managed pollinators like the blue orchard bee, and “bee pasture” for almond pollination. • Development of a new online learning program through the UC Cooperative Extension to provide growers, beekeepers and apiary inspectors easily accessible, standardized information about honey bee biology, recommended colony strength evaluation practices and important honey bee diseases, pests and parasites. The online program can be accessed through the University of California ANR Online Learning website at ucanr.edu/colonystrength. • Developing tools to control Varroa mites and other bee pests • Understanding the potential impact of pesticides used in almonds on honey bee development • Developing in-hive supplemental diets for bees, which are used when natural pollen sources are at a low ebb • Supporting outreach or “technology transfer teams” that have implemented diagnostic and integrated pest management (IPM) programs for beekeeping operations resulting in better control of beehive pests with fewer chemicals. Pollination service is the second-largest expense for almond growers, with pricing currently running about $150 per hive, depending on market conditions. The number of commercially kept hives has stayed fairly stable for almost two decades; however, there are increased overwintering losses and beekeepers spend more money to rebuild apiaries and ensure there are enough bees for almond pollination. Overwintering hive losses, which have averaged 30 percent over the last seven years (compared to about 15 percent previously), have a direct impact on the cost of hives to almond growers. Source: westernfarmpress.com/tree-nuts/no-time-back-down-pollination-bmps
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Sept 17, 2013 23:17:57 GMT 1
Good day, We can help you to secure ready market for your original honey. Have honey to sell? E-mail: info@thethyglobalexport.com.ng We shall be willing to assist you. You could also learn more about Honey Export by attending our Foodstuff Export Training.See: detail at: www.foodstuffexportinnigeria.com Thank you. Ismail AbdulAzeez.
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Aug 10, 2013 13:23:57 GMT 1
A widely used chemical used to fight plant disease is hurting honeybees in an unexpected way, according to new research. As Megan McGrath reports, it may be contributing to the widespread loss of honeybees that pollinate many fruits, vegetables, nuts and other crops. Honeybee hives in the United States and elsewhere are dying, and researchers like Dennis VanEngelsdorp at the University of Maryland are trying to understand why. “The number of colonies that die every winter has been one in three. So on average 30 percent of the colonies have died every winter over the last six winters. And that’s an astronomical number.” VanEngelsdorp's research team examined the pollen that honeybees carried to their hives, and found that it was contaminated with high doses of 35 different pesticides. They also found that eating certain fungicides made bees more susceptible to infection by Nosema, a deadly microbe. But fungicides are essential to US agriculture, according to pesticide industry researcher Mike Leggett, with CropLife America. "Fungicides are used, and have been used, pretty broadly, for centuries, for protection of plants from plant disease,” he said. He also points out that many of the other pesticides VanEngelsdorp found in the pollen actually made the bees less likely to be infected with Nosema. “I think it’s interesting research that adds to the body of research that’s available, but I’m not really sure that the conclusions reached were… you know, well-supported,” said Leggett. Maryland farmer and beekeeper Keith Ohlinger has watched his bees die every winter. Researchers are investigating the effects of a variety of factors, including pesticides, diseases and malnutrition. Many people, including Ohlinger, think widespread bee death is caused by many different stresses at once. “What I felt it was, was a compilation of a lot of little things. I didn’t feel that there was probably one smoking gun. But there’s a division there, some people feel that it is just one thing,” said Ohlinger. Ohlinger does feel sure that pesticides are a part of the problem. “Maybe I’m just not educated enough, I don’t know, but my view is, if you can take a bath in it, it’s probably safe. And I don’t know many of the things that they’re putting out right now that anybody would come out of a bath in for any length of time and go, ‘Wow, that was great, I feel much better!’ You know?” Honeybees are essential to agriculture. This makes the search for an answer to the bee die-off especially urgent for VanEngelsdorp's team. “One in every three bites of food we eat are directly or indirectly pollinated by honeybees. So without honeybees, we wouldn’t have that variety in our diet,” said VanEngelsdorp. Even as a third of the country's food supply depends on honeybees, a third of those bees continue to die each winter. Source: www.voanews.com/content/fungicide--for-plants-may-hurt-honeybees/1727174.html
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Aug 1, 2013 6:44:35 GMT 1
For centuries, pollen and its sweet product, honey, have provided nourishment for many life forms. Honey is as much in demand today as it was in the ancient times. The Holy Quran says: "And thy Lord has inspired the bee, saying, 'Make thou houses in the hills and the trees and in the trellises which they build...' There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying hues. Therein is a cure for a people who reflect." (16:69-70) Americans consume about 3 million pounds of honey a year. It takes more than 550 bees visiting 2.5 million flowers to create one pound of honey. A bee makes about 154 trips to a flower for one teaspoon of honey and about 20,000 trips to bring in one pound. In other words, about 160,000 bee-hours go into producing a pound of honey. Honey is mentioned in the Talmud and the Bible, as well as in the records of ancient China, Greece, and Rome. Bee carvings have been found on the temple walls of ancient Egyptians. Indeed, references to honey and its healing powers are found in ancient papyri dating back to 5000 BC. Bee pollen then and now is described by some as "a life-giving dust." Although the bee has not been deified by the ancient Egyptians, it was worshipped as a source of eternal life. The tomb of the ancient Egyptian king Ramses III (1198-1167 BC) has bee designs in it. In most Egyptian funeral vaults, bees are shown in all phases of honey gathering. Hindu writings dating back from around 1500 BC also contain references to pollen and honey, as Hindus believed that eating these substances would enable them to maintain good health in both body and mind. In fact, Krishna, the Hindu deity, has been depicted as a bee. In Asia, pollen and honey were used for medicinal purposes and were part of a regular diet. Honey was also used as a poultice on wounds. In the region of Attica in ancient Greece, there were 20,000 hives to which people traveled great distances to benefit from the pollen and honey, believing that it improved their health and helped them recover from illness. Ancient Roman records also talk about the benefit of honey. Welsh and Celtic folklore has abundant references to the sweet substance. At one point in their history, the Welsh paid their taxes in measures of honey. In the Bible, Solomon says, "My son, eat thou honey for it is good." (Proverbs 24: 13) Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, wrote, "Honey and pollen cause warmth, clean sores and ulcers, soften hard ulcers of lips, heal carbuncles and running sores." Indeed, before modern prescription medicine, pollen and honey found their way into many folk remedies. Several spoonfuls a day acted as an internal disinfectant and as a way to maintain regularity. Many a people used honey as a dressing for open wounds and burns. Today, it is still used as a natural alternative. Singers take two teaspoons in warm milk to soothe their throats. A mixture of herb tea, honey, and a wedge of lemon relieves sore throats from colds. At bedtime, a combination of two tablespoons of honey, one teaspoon of pollen and two teaspoons of apple-cider vinegar in 8 ounces of freshly boiled water will provide a natural sleeping aid. A tablespoon of honey sprinkled with pollen will provide a digestive aid and also act to calm an upset stomach. Honey is a natural, super-sweet alternative, and it is also safe. Bacteria cannot live in pure honey, and it can be kept indefinitely without spoilage. Pure honey may granulate with age, but its food value remains unchanged. Various honeys taste differently, depending on the source. Clover honey tastes like clover and citrus honey has the scent of citrus. There are about a dozen honeys on the market. Raw honey will be found in health food stores. Major honey producers will process their honey first before sale. Gentle heating and filtering will extend shelf life, prevent granulation, and remove pollen and inert matter that finds its way into the hives. Honey is usually available in several different forms. The most common is jar honey, followed by chunk honey, which is honey still trapped in the wax comb. Creamed honey is buttery spread sold in refrigerated cases, and is not widely available. The bee makes the wax comb to store honey, and commercial beekeepers save the bee some work by removing the combs, cutting the wax cap, spinning the honey out by centrifugal force. The empty combs are returned to the hive where the bees refill them. The arduous effort of the bees alone should give everyone a great appreciation for these creatures. Honey is God's blessing. If you have not tasted honey in a while, now is the perfect time to try it. Source: www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/wellness/honey-gods-blessing
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Jul 28, 2013 21:45:53 GMT 1
Bee pollen facts As far back as 2735 BC there were accounts of the health promoting effects of bee pollen. The Bible, Talmud, Torah, and Koran all praise the healing properties of bee pollen and other products of beehives. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, spoke of the healing power of bee pollen and prescribed it to patients. For early humans pollen from beehives was considered a delicacy and often eaten with bee larvae and eggs. Bee Pollen Benefits: A Primitive Delicacy In the past decade, science has discovered that bee pollen contains a miracle concentration of nearly all the known nutrients. Bee pollen is gathered with a special device placed at the entrance of the hives designed to brush the material from the bees hind legs. Bee pollen is a popular nutritional supplement that builds the immune system and provides energy for the entire body. It is high in B-complex and vitamins A, C, D, and E. It also contains lecithin, beta-carotene, selenium. This combination of elements make bee pollen an excellent source of antioxidants. Research studies and clinical tests have demonstrated that bee pollen has an immunizing effect, enhances vitality, and can counteract the effects of radiation and chemical toxins. Bee pollen has been called nature’s perfect food. It contains the micro nutrients of every plant from which bees collect pollen, in combination with digestive enzymes from the bees. Bee pollen speeds healing, revitalizes the body’s many systems, and helps protect the cells in our body from free radical damage – a major cause of cancer. It helps those who bruise easily, due to its rutin content, helps strengthen the heart, helps fight anemia, and helps to regulate high blood pressure by regulating blood flow. Bee pollen is said to have been the secret “ambrosia” eaten by the ancient gods to acquire eternal youth. Scientists realize that bee pollen does contain healing properties that create a feeling of rejuvenation within the body. New scientific discoveries reveal how bee pollen has been able to extend the life span as well as heal ailments. Bee pollen is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and has proven beneficial for nausea, sleep disorders, and urinary and rectal disorders following radiation treatment. Athletes often use bee pollen to help increase their strength, endurance, energy and speed. Bee pollen aids the body in recovering from exercise, returning breathing and heart rate to normal, and improves endurance for repeat exertion. It provides energy, stamina and strength as well as improving mental and physical reactions. Additionally, bee pollen also has an effect on mental capabilities. Bee pollen can relieve brain fatigue and improve alertness. This can increase your capacity for intense concentration and enable longer periods of work without becoming tired. Bee pollen supplements can replace the nutrients that stress takes from our bodies. Many people with allergies have found relief by taking bee pollen supplements. It reduces the production of histamine which can cause allergic responses such as hay fever. It can strengthen the respiratory system and provide protein that can help the body build a natural defense shield against allergic responses. Bee pollen has an effect on blood pressure and sexual function. People who suffer from low blood pressure can be subject to deficiencies in the sex glands. Pollen increases blood pressure especially when taken with kelp and may increase hormone levels and sexual strength. Weight loss also may occur because lecithin, an ingredient in bee pollen, increases the speed calories are burned and stabilizes poor metabolism. To summarize, there are many reasons to take bee pollen supplements because it contains almost everything your body needs, including almost all known minerals, trace elements, enzymes and amino acids, B-complex and vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as lecithin, beta-carotene, and selenium. THE BUZZ ON BEE POLLEN 1.Many athletes use bee pollen as an energy booster. 2.One grain of pollen that contains three cells can have between 100,000 and 5,000,000 pollen spores, and a single spore by itself is capable of reproducing an entire species. 3.Bee pollen contains every one of the 22 elements that make up the human system, and many more. 4.It has been said that bee pollen is the most complete natural nutrient that exists. 5.In addition to bee pollen having a reputation for boosting performance, it is also thought to promote a more rapid rate of recovery after periods of physical exertion. 6.Though not a proven claim, many people believe that bee pollen promotes weight loss by speeding the process by which sugar is converted into energy. 7.One experiment revealed that mice fed nothing but bee pollen were able to survive and produce healthy offspring. 8.Bee pollen is often used as a source of additional nutrition during pregnancy. 9.Bee pollen in its original form is difficult for the human body to digest. 10.Bee pollen has not been successfully duplicated. Bees go from plant to plant collecting pollen. They know the difference between healthy and unhealthy granules and rarely pick up bad pollen. The pollen itself is a powder made in the stamens of flowers and plants and male DNA is carried to female plant parts in the pollen. After bees obtain pollen they mix it with nectar from the plants and their own saliva. This is the process that results in bee pollen. In addition to claims that bee pollen helps us to lose weight, there is also evidence that bee pollen, as a rich nutrient mix, actually serves to promote weight gain. The final answer on which is the true result of bee pollen has not been delivered yet. Though packed with nutrients, bee pollen is difficult to digest and must be processed after it is obtained. A popular device for obtaining bee pollen was to put a kind of wire mesh on the entrance to beehives. This served to scrape the bee pollen from worker bees when they came home with a batch of it to deliver. Though known to be very nutritious, bee pollen itself is not a required nutrient with specific amounts individuals should take. Usually bee pollen is taken as a supplement as a matter of personal preference. Source: www.tele-management.ca/2013/07/bee-pollen-benefits-a-primitive-delicacy/
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Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Jul 22, 2013 22:14:39 GMT 1
Poisonous pesticide, killer zombie bees, deadly plagues. Sounds like the premise to a cheesy horror film, right? According to scientists, these are a few of the reasons bees are mysteriously vanishing around the world. This problem came to light around 2006, when the term “colony collapse disorder” was coined to describe the sudden decrease in honeybee colonies in North America. Beekeepers across the Atlantic also reported dramatic losses. Bees may be known for stinging people and producing honey, but they also play a vital role in our food supply by pollinating the plants we eat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that since 2010 one-third to one-fifth of our honeybee colonies have disappeared. Consider the impact on our food supply if one-third to one-fifth of our fruit and vegetable plants were not pollinated. How to Help The solution could quite literally be in your own backyard. •Become a Beekeeper: Urban and backyard beekeeping is on the rise, gaining ground in the unlikeliest of places. At the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Washington state, prisoners learn to maintain colonies as part of the Sustainability in Prisons Project. Here is a guide to starting a backyard colony. •Plant a Bee-Friendly Garden: Not ready to host a hive? Help host bees while beautifying your outdoor space by incorporating native plants. In the Pacific Northwest, these include trillium, wood sorrel, thrift and tiger lily. •Adopt a Garden: Seattle artist Sarah Bergmann is the mastermind behind The Pollinator Pathway, a project to transform streetside planting strips into mini gardens providing food and habitat to bees and other pollinators. Local citizens can participate by tending a garden or contributing to the project through donations. Consider this concept in your community. Source: blog.seattlepi.com/naturalmedicine/2013/07/22/bees-are-disappearing-you-can-help-them-return/
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