The relationship between telomere length and beekeeping among Malaysians

DavidPS

Whenever I purchase honey from my local beekeeper, he is quick to remind me that honey is good for longevity. Here is some support.

The relationship between telomere length and beekeeping among Malaysians (2015)

The belief that beekeepers live longer than anyone else is present since ages. However, no research has been done to explore the longevity of life in beekeepers. Here, we investigated the telomere length in 30 male beekeepers and 30 male non-beekeepers and associated them with the longevity of life using Southern analysis of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) generated by Hinf I/Rsa I digestion of human genomic DNA using TeloTAGGG Telomere Length Assay. Interestingly, we found that the telomere length of male beekeepers was significantly longer than those of male non-beekeepers with a p value of less than 0.05, suggesting that beekeepers may have longer life compared to non-beekeepers. We further found that the consumption of bee products for a long period and frequent consumption of bee products per day are associated with telomere length. An increase of year in consuming bee products is associated with a mean increase in telomere length of 0.258 kbp. In addition, an increase in frequency of eating bee products per day was also associated with a mean increase of 2.66 kbp in telomere length. These results suggested that bee products might play some roles in telomere length maintenance.

DavidPS

Propolis as an Antiviral (2024)

Traditional medicine and nutritional supplements have long used propolis, a honeybee resin. However, recent preclinical studies have shown that propolis may have a wide range of therapeutic bioactivities, such as protecting neurons from damage, reducing inflammation, fighting cancer, and preventing the spread of viruses. There is encouraging preclinical evidence that propolis and its constituents can inhibit the growth of several viruses, including adenoviruses, influenza, respiratory tract viruses, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2. Terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids are only a few of the more than 300 chemical components found in propolis; however, the exact composition varies greatly depending on the place of origin and the flora found there. Through influencing many pathogenic and antiviral pathways, propolis and its components have shown promise as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2.

CrumblingCookie

@DavidPS
There are places where you can therapeutically inhale the air straight from a beehive. There's a filter in between, of course, so there's no stinging. If anyone keeps bees it'd be easy to attach an inhalator tube and mask (and a separated enclosure where to sit in perhaps, or a short connection through the window/exterior wall) to the beehive.
It's said to help with various pulmonic issues. Also seasonal allergies. Also rheumatoid conditions. Up to several months after a course of some inhalation sessions. Quite amazing.

DavidPS

@CrumblingCookie - i had never heard about this sort of breathing therapy. I will my beekeeper friend about it.

I look around and there appears to be a possibility of allergies.

A novel inhalation allergen present in the working environment of beekeepers (2004)

albion

@DavidPS I'd bet much of it can be attributed to Bee EMFs, not airborne particles

DavidPS

@albion -that is a good thought. There is often more than one cause,

albion

@DavidPS I wonder if that EMF company publishes Bee EMFs for people to structure their water with, I know that there are bee sounds on Youtube / Apple Music... gonna try to study to beehive sounds tonight