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Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Bees Are Behind Our Food and Natural Medicines—And They're Disappearing
Bees are dying—and at an alarming rate. Between 2023 and 2024, US beekeepers lost an estimated Bees pollinate three-quarters of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we eat, and many of us rely on bee products for their nutrition and health-promoting gifts. If bees vanish, it's scary to think of all we stand to lose. And some say that if the bees go, we go too. Jeff Pettis, president of Apimondia—The International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations—sums up the health benefits that bees offer humans in one word: huge. Although two-thirds of our diet comes from carbohydrates—crops like rice, wheat, and corn—which are pollinated by wind rather than insects, many other important foods require bees. 'So we're not going to starve if we don't have bees. But literally, everything you can think of that's nutritious—fruits, nuts, and vegetables—all of those are, we'll call it, animal-pollinated. The vast majority of those are pollinated by honey bees or other wild bees,' he told The Epoch Times. Bees Pollinate Ryan Burris is a third-generation beekeeper and the president of the California State Beekeepers Association. He points out that many people don't realize how many fruits and vegetables we eat depend on bees for pollination. Related Stories 9/22/2023 9/15/2023 'The biggest one, obviously, for beekeepers, is almonds. And then you have things like blueberries, watermelons, and stuff you don't think about, like onions and carrots—all require pollination. There's an estimated 100 crops that require pollination,' he told the Epoch Times. Twenty thousand species of bees grace our planet, and Beyond their critical role as pollinators, bees also gift us powerful products like honey, bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly—each packed with nutritional and medicinal benefits. Honey The Ancient Egyptians may have been the world's first beekeepers. They crafted clay hives and transported them on rafts along the Nile, allowing bees to pollinate whatever flowers were in season. Bees were deeply revered, and honey was considered sacred. Throughout history, honey has played many roles—it was used in religious rituals, medicine, currency, and offerings to the gods. When archaeologists uncovered King Tutankhamun's tomb, they found a sealed jar of honey more than 2,000 years old. Because honey doesn't spoil, it was still safe to eat. Jana Schmidt is a board-certified naturopathic doctor and master herbalist who keeps bees. She says not all honey is created equal, and knowing where your honey comes from is crucial, as many store-bought varieties are synthetically made or artificial. If you want the good stuff, go for raw, local honey—ideally straight from a beekeeper. 'Darker varieties have higher antioxidants than the lighter varieties,' she noted, saying bees make the darker types in the winter months when it's cold, and they need more nutrition—which is passed to us when we eat it. She says that honey added to tea before bed can help you sleep—something she did for her children when they were little. 'It helps regulate your sleep, but it also protects the teeth from the bacteria that causes cavities, which seems crazy because it's sweet. You think, oh, that's going to cause cavities, but actually, it protects the teeth,' she told The Epoch Times. Studies have found that honey's antibacterial properties fight harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli. In addition, honey has been studied for its potential benefits against Raw honey is a potential Bees are prolific producers of a diverse array of products with numerous potential health benefits, according to experts. Bee Pollen Honeybees collect pollen from flowers and mix it with their saliva, which contains special enzymes. They then store it in comb cells inside their hives. Once the pollen is stored and processed in the hive, it is called Bee pollen. hanif66/Shutterstock 'To me, it's God's perfect multivitamin because it has every vitamin and mineral known for human nutrition. It has approximately 96 different Bee pollen offers a source of sustained energy throughout the day and not a spike like you might get from sugar or caffeine, she said. 'I don't drink coffee or anything like that. I just take my bee pollen in the morning, and I'm good to go,' she beamed. There is growing scientific interest in bee pollen, particularly because of its antimicrobial properties, which can fight a wide variety of pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. This ability is notable because some bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Bee pollen (beebread) seems able to fight microbes without creating resistance, which some scientists believe is because it contains several different natural compounds that work synergistically. Bee pollen also supports the body's good bacteria, benefiting healthy gut microbes—behaving like a prebiotic. Schmidt adds that as a natural fertility specialist, bee pollen is her number one fertility supplement. 'If you think about it, it's the fertility for the plants. Why wouldn't it be fertility for us, too? So sometimes that's all it takes. The couple start taking bee pollen, and bam, they're fertile. So that's been pretty fun to be a part of.' Benefiting metabolic syndrome disorders Preventing obesity Combating liver disorders Cardioprotective effects Lowering uric acid Detoxifying (based on animal studies) Regulating ovarian functions Alleviating allergic reactions Improving digestion and absorption Stimulating the immune system Improving cognitive dysfunction 'It takes bees working eight hours a day, two to four weeks, to gather one teaspoon of pollen, Schmidt said. They work so hard. They visit over 2 million flowers to get one teaspoon of pollen. It's pretty amazing.' Propolis Propolis, also known as 'bee glue,' is a resinous substance bees gather from different types of plants. Bees use it as a type of construction material for the hive. It seals holes and cracks, improves structural integrity, smooths the inner surface of the hive, maintains a constant internal temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and protects the hive from the elements, predators, and pathogens. Once hardened, it helps create an antiseptic internal environment. Bee propolis. Ihor Hvozdetskyi/Shutterstock Schmidt offers a long list of propolis's benefits, particularly to the brain. These include reducing inflammation in the brain and oxidative stress, helping reduce the toxic effects of methylmercury—a highly toxic form of mercury—and aluminum in the brain, increasing synaptic efficiency, and protecting against neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. She adds that it is a great prebiotic and excellent for gut health. 'Anytime there's an infection, and you're not quite sure what it is, I usually go to propolis—it just boosts your immune system like nothing else I've ever used,' she said. Studies have revealed that this amazing substance has many applications for human health and has the following medicinal properties: Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory Antiulcer Anticancer Immunomodulatory Neuroprotective Anti-allergic Cardioprotective Antidiabetic Studies in humans and animals have shown propolis to possess powerful healing properties beneficial in multiple acute and chronic diseases—from autoimmune diseases like In a 2021 The researchers found that patients who received propolis were released from the hospital five to six days sooner, and those who received 800 mg of daily propolis had less kidney damage associated with COVID-19. Thus, the study authors concluded that propolis is a safe and effective adjunct treatment for patients with COVID-19. Royal Jelly Humans have used royal jelly as a powerful medicine for millennia. It is extremely popular and highly regarded in Royal jelly. Bin Zhu/Shutterstock Rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, royal jelly is a vital food source for bees. Today, humans use it as a dietary supplement, medicine, and ingredient in cosmetic and skincare products. Antioxidant Anti-lipidemic Antiproliferative Antimicrobial Neuroprotective Anti-inflammatory Immunomodulatory Antiaging Estrogenic activities Despite its medicinal benefits, Schmidt says that she does not recommend royal jelly because of how it is harvested, as it hurts the bees and the hive only to collect a tiny amount. 'I just don't like the practice overall ... I feel like it takes it a step beyond what we should be doing to live well with the bees,' she said. A 2023 Why Bees Are Dying We have all heard about the alarming decline in bee numbers in recent years. Pettis says the reasons that bees are dying is such huge numbers are multifaceted and complex. The first, he says, is that bees are losing their natural habitat. A significant reason for this is the rise of monoculture—when farmers plant only one kind of crop in their fields. This lack of diversity limits the flowers available for bees, making it harder for them to get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy and thrive. 'Roundup Ready crops, like corn, soybeans, all these—they create very sterile fields so there are no weeds—and a lot of those weeds are really good for bees,' he said. Pettis says the second reason is pesticide exposure and the third is pests and diseases affecting bees. He says they all combine in different ways to affect bees and reduce their numbers, making beekeeping more challenging. 'We've had a number of exotic things come into the U.S.—two parasitic mites, and then the beetle from Africa, and now we have some invasive hornets coming in from Asia. It's just one thing after another,' he said. 'It's really hard to survive when you have all these stressors lining up, one right behind the other.' Some readers may be wondering about colony collapse disorder. 'I was actually very involved in Mites, particularly the varroa mite—which is aptly named Varroa destructor—have become an enormous challenge for beekeepers. 'The varroa mite—Varroa destructor—is the main killer of honey bees because they feed on the bee as it's growing,' Burris said. These tiny parasitic mites feed on bee fat and blood, which bees need for energy and a healthy immune system. They also spread viruses, particularly the deformed wing virus, which causes bees to be born with shriveled wings that will never fly. Burris adds that federal and state regulators do not want honeybees on public lands as they fear they may hurt native pollinators, though he notes they don't have evidence to support those concerns. He says they're arguing about food supply and demand problems without considering that native pollinators and honey bees have different feeding habits. 'They're not taking into account the size of the honeybee, the size of a native pollinator, the size of their tongues, and how they extract nectar—how they obtain pollen,' he said. Pesticides, which include insecticides and herbicides, are also detrimental to bees. 'Roundup and other weed killers that contain glyphosate are incredibly harmful to our bodies, but also the bees,' Schmidt said. A relatively recent class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, or neonics, are the world's most widely used insecticides and possibly one of the most deadly. They work by making every part of the treated plant toxic while poisoning the soil, surrounding water, and wildlife. They affect the bees' nervous system, interfering with their ability to learn, remember, and navigate, meaning many exposed bees can't find their way back to the hive and eventually die. Since their introduction in the last two decades, neonicotinoids' widespread use has made U.S. agriculture increasingly destructive to insect life. Neonicotinoids are responsible for 92 percent of this increase in danger to insects. These deadly insecticides don't just kill bees. Neonics are linked to losses of birds and fish and birth defects in white-tailed deer. Increasing evidence has also shown that neonics affect human health, especially children. One How We Can Help Bees Thankfully, there are things we can all do to help bees and support these essential pollinators. Plant native flowers and trees, especially ones that bloom through summer, as bees need food from spring through fall. Buy local honey, and honey made 100 percent in the United States to support U.S. beekeepers. Avoid using insecticides or pesticides around your yard and use natural methods instead. Schmidt says using vinegar and water with a bit of salt kills weeds without harming anything else. Allow an area of your yard or garden to be overgrown or less cut back to provide food and nesting habitats for bees. Plant a bee garden with native flowers to attract bees and other pollinators. Create a bee watering station with filtered water using a deep plate with pebbles or marbles near flowering plants to give bees a safe place to drink. Create a bee house you can hang in your yard to give bees a place to live. Keep hives away from sources of wifi radiation and EMFs, which adversely affect bees. If you notice a swarm of bees on your property, contact a local beekeeping association, university agriculture department, or local beekeeper to collect them, not an exterminator. Encourage state legislators to support laws that support and protect bees. Spread awareness about bees and how we can support them. Schmidt reveres the tiny pollinators that provide us with so much. 'You know, we use the term beekeeping, but I really feel like they keep us—like they know what to do, we just need to provide a nice habitat for them, and they do all the work—they just give and give.'
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bradley Walsh thought he was ‘going to prove the pyramids were built by aliens'
Bradley Walsh says he thought he was 'going to prove' that the pyramids in Egypt were built by aliens before investigating the conspiracy theory as part of a new show. The presenter, 64, known for The Chase and Gladiators, has always been interested in the tomb structures at Giza since he was child as his teacher was the great-niece of Howard Carter, who found Tutankhamun's tomb. As part of the Sky History programme Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code, he travelled to the country after hearing 'this rumour that the pyramids weren't built by Ancient Egyptians at all', and 'they were built by a race that had either died out prior to 4,500 years ago, or they were built by someone or something else'. Walsh added: 'Prior to arriving in Egypt, I'm thinking: this is going be great, I'm going to prove this is the aliens. ' People say I'm a conspiracy theorist. I'm not. All I did was say: 'It could be this,' and I needed to find out what is the truth.' Walsh said that, being there, 'you then realise it's very difficult to take on board that anyone else other than 'the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids''. 'The great thing about the Great Pyramid is they started building the pyramids about 150 years prior to that one,' he said. 'My expert guides, Meredith and Arto, showed me where the beginnings of the pyramids were about 150 years prior to the Grand Pyramid. 'If you went there, you see the evolution of the pyramids – one's wonky, one's drooping on one side, it's all trial and error.' Walsh also appeared to suggest that being inside the Great Pyramid made him stop believing that it could generate electricity. He said: 'Being so deep inside the pyramid, I was expecting a lot of noise. I've maintained that I think the Great Pyramid is some kind of power plant in its own right.' Walsh also said that it was 'mind-blowing being there', and finding out that the final ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, died closer to the modern era than the beginning of the Ancient Egypt. He said: 'You can go online and get a load of speculative information from people that have never even been there, they've got it from a book or somewhere else online, and you know how dangerous the web can be in terms of misinformation. 'Well, if you are interested in the pyramids, hopefully people will watch this and go and see it for themselves. I hope they do because it certainly broadens the mind – it also narrows it, to a certain extent, in that you can see all the real information laid out in front of you.' The Great Pyramid of Giza was built more than 4,600 years ago to house Khufu, a king from Egypt's 4th dynasty. The Egyptian Government has previously invited people who do not believe their ancestors built the pyramids to the north-east African country to learn the story of the impressive structures. In 2020, the then-minister of international co-operation Rania al-Mashat told South African businessman Elon Musk that she is 'waiting for' him to visit the pyramids after he wrote on X: 'Aliens built the pyramids (obviously).' Ms al-Mashat also said: 'I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. 'Mr Musk, we are waiting for you.' Tech billionaire Mr Musk, who bought Twitter/X in 2022, later pointed to a 'sensible summary for how' the structures were built, which explained that archaeological evidence shows that there were villages made to house workers constructing the pyramids, and went into detail about the human evidence. Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code airs on March 18 at 9pm on Sky History.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bradley Walsh thought he was ‘going to prove the pyramids were built by aliens'
Bradley Walsh says he thought he was 'going to prove' that the pyramids in Egypt were built by aliens before investigating the conspiracy theory as part of a new show. The presenter, 64, known for The Chase and Gladiators, has always been interested in the tomb structures at Giza since he was child as his teacher was the great-niece of Howard Carter, who found Tutankhamun's tomb. As part of the Sky History programme Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code, he travelled to the country after hearing 'this rumour that the pyramids weren't built by Ancient Egyptians at all', and 'they were built by a race that had either died out prior to 4,500 years ago, or they were built by someone or something else'. Walsh added: 'Prior to arriving in Egypt, I'm thinking: this is going be great, I'm going to prove this is the aliens. 'People say I'm a conspiracy theorist. I'm not. All I did was say: 'It could be this,' and I needed to find out what is the truth.' Walsh said that, being there, 'you then realise it's very difficult to take on board that anyone else other than 'the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids''. 'The great thing about the Great Pyramid is they started building the pyramids about 150 years prior to that one,' he said. 'My expert guides, Meredith and Arto, showed me where the beginnings of the pyramids were about 150 years prior to the Grand Pyramid. 'If you went there, you see the evolution of the pyramids – one's wonky, one's drooping on one side, it's all trial and error.' Walsh also appeared to suggest that being inside the Great Pyramid made him stop believing that it could generate electricity. He said: 'Being so deep inside the pyramid, I was expecting a lot of noise. I've maintained that I think the Great Pyramid is some kind of power plant in its own right.' Walsh also said that it was 'mind-blowing being there', and finding out that the final ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, died closer to the modern era than the beginning of the Ancient Egypt. He said: 'You can go online and get a load of speculative information from people that have never even been there, they've got it from a book or somewhere else online, and you know how dangerous the web can be in terms of misinformation. 'Well, if you are interested in the pyramids, hopefully people will watch this and go and see it for themselves. I hope they do because it certainly broadens the mind – it also narrows it, to a certain extent, in that you can see all the real information laid out in front of you.' The Great Pyramid of Giza was built more than 4,600 years ago to house Khufu, a king from Egypt's 4th dynasty. The Egyptian Government has previously invited people who do not believe their ancestors built the pyramids to the north-east African country to learn the story of the impressive structures. In 2020, the then-minister of international co-operation Rania al-Mashat told South African businessman Elon Musk that she is 'waiting for' him to visit the pyramids after he wrote on X: 'Aliens built the pyramids (obviously).' Ms al-Mashat also said: 'I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. 'Mr Musk, we are waiting for you.' Tech billionaire Mr Musk, who bought Twitter/X in 2022, later pointed to a 'sensible summary for how' the structures were built, which explained that archaeological evidence shows that there were villages made to house workers constructing the pyramids, and went into detail about the human evidence. Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code airs on March 18 at 9pm on Sky History.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bradley Walsh: ‘I thought I'd prove the pyramids were built by aliens in new TV show'
Bradley Walsh has said he thought he was 'going to prove' the Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens in his new television show. The presenter, 64, known for The Chase and Gladiators, is the face of Sky History programme Bradley Walsh: Egypt 's Cosmic Code. For the series, he travelled to the country to investigate 'this rumour that the pyramids weren't built by Ancient Egyptians at all.' He told PA that he wanted to investigate whether: 'They were built by a race that had either died out prior to 4,500 years ago, or they were built by someone or something else'. Walsh added: 'Prior to arriving in Egypt, I'm thinking: this is going be great, I'm going to prove this is the aliens. 'People say I'm a conspiracy theorist. I'm not. All I did was say: 'It could be this,' and I needed to find out what is the truth.' Walsh said that being there, 'you then realise it's very difficult to take on board that anyone else other than 'the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids''. 'The great thing about the Great Pyramid is they started building the pyramids about 150 years prior to that one,' he said. 'My expert guides, Meredith and Arto, showed me where the beginnings of the pyramids were about 150 years prior to the Grand Pyramid. 'If you went there, you see the evolution of the pyramids – one's wonky, one's drooping on one side, it's all trial and error.' Walsh also appeared to suggest that being inside the Great Pyramid made him stop believing that it could generate electricity. He said: 'Being so deep inside the pyramid, I was expecting a lot of noise. I've maintained that I think the Great Pyramid is some kind of power plant in its own right.' Walsh also said that it was 'mind-blowing being there', and finding out that the final ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, died closer to the modern era than the beginning of Ancient Egypt. He said: 'You can go online and get a load of speculative information from people that have never even been there, they've got it from a book or somewhere else online, and you know how dangerous the web can be in terms of misinformation. 'Well, if you are interested in the pyramids, hopefully, people will watch this and go and see it for themselves. I hope they do because it certainly broadens the mind – it also narrows it, to a certain extent, in that you can see all the real information laid out in front of you.' Walsh signed up for the show thanks to a life-long interest in the tomb structures at Giza. He was inspired by his teacher - who was the great-niece of Howard Carter, who found Tutankhamun's tomb. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built more than 4,600 years ago to house Khufu, a king from Egypt's 4th dynasty. The Egyptian Government has previously invited people who do not believe their ancestors built the pyramids to the north-east African country to learn the story of the impressive structures. In 2020, the then-minister of international cooperation, Rania al-Mashat told South African businessman Elon Musk that she is 'waiting for' him to visit the pyramids after he wrote on X: 'Aliens built the pyramids (obviously).' Ms al-Mashat also said: 'I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. 'Mr Musk, we are waiting for you.' Tech billionaire Mr Musk, who bought Twitter/X in 2022, later pointed to a 'sensible summary for how' the structures were built, which explained that archaeological evidence shows that there were villages made to house workers constructing the pyramids, and went into detail about the human evidence.
CairoScene
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
SceneTimeTraveller: Ancient Archaeological Discoveries in Egypt
Exploring Egypt's timeless treasures through side-by-side images of ancient discoveries and their modern-day beauty. Egypt is home to some of the world's most fascinating archaeological treasures, from magnificent tombs and temples to ancient artwork that has endured for millennia. These sites offer a rare window into the lives of the pharaohs, their gods, and the mysteries of the afterlife. In this list, we take you on a visual journey, presenting one image from the moment these incredible discoveries were first uncovered, alongside a modern-day view of how they stand today. Tomb of Khaemwaset Khaemwaset, a lesser-known son of Ramesses III, was laid to rest in a tomb adorned with vibrant, well-preserved scenes. Although much of his life and death remains shrouded in mystery, his tomb offers a glimpse into his world. It follows a linear layout, with vivid depictions of Ramesses III introducing his son to the gods, along with passages from the Book of the Dead. The entrance features a vestibule with an astronomical ceiling, showing Ramesses III in full ceremonial attire, while Khaemwaset is depicted in a tunic, sporting the sidelock of youth, symbolising his age. Inside, the tomb's walls are filled with colourful scenes of Khaemwaset and his father in worship, honouring gods like Ptah, Thoth, Anubis, and Ra-Horakhty. A striking image within the tomb shows a lion-headed "Lord of Fear," armed with a knife, standing as a guardian to protect Khaemwaset in the afterlife. Temple of Montu Originally constructed during the Middle Kingdom, this temple was dedicated to Montu, the falcon-headed warrior god of Thebes, revered as a symbol of military power and divine kingship. Over the centuries, the temple underwent significant renovations, particularly under Amenhotep III, and was further expanded and modified during the Greco-Roman period. Despite the passage of time, the site still retains its ancient dock and boasts well-preserved reliefs, inscriptions, and a sacred lake. Beneath the waters, archaeologists have uncovered pottery and artifacts dating back to the temple's earliest construction phases. Karnak Temple Referred to as Ipet-Sut ('The Most Select of Places') by the Ancient Egyptians, the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor evolved over 1,000 years, primarily between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties. Built between 2055 BC and 100 AD, it was the largest and most significant religious site in ancient Egypt, dedicated to the Theban triad: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. At its heart stands the Temple of Amun-Ra, the largest religious building ever constructed. The complex's most iconic feature, the Great Hypostyle Hall, boasts 134 massive columns, built under Seti I. Though Karnak's influence waned after Memphis rose to prominence, later rulers repurposed sections of it. Despite this, it remains one of the most awe-inspiring monuments of the ancient world. Luxor Temple Grande Colonade The Colonnade of Amenhotep III stands as one of Luxor Temple's most impressive features, with seven pairs of towering papyrus columns rising 52 feet (16 meters) high. Their open-flower capitals still uphold the massive architrave blocks above, showcasing the grandeur of ancient Egyptian architecture. The colonnade's walls display reliefs inscribed with the names of various pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Seti I, Ramesses II, and Seti II. Originally, Tutankhamun adorned the eastern walls, but his successor, Horemheb, later erased his name and claimed the space for himself—a practice common in Egypt's royal history. Tomb of Sethos 📍Valley of the Kings, Luxor Discovered in 1817 by Giovanni Belzoni, the Tomb of Sethos I (KV17) is one of the most magnificent and well-preserved in the Valley of the Kings. Stretching 137 meters, it is the necropolis's longest and deepest tomb, adorned with vibrant paintings, intricate hieroglyphs, and funerary texts like the Book of the Dead and Book of Gates . The burial chamber's astronomical ceiling represents Sethos I's divine journey, while the tomb as a whole showcases the artistry and beliefs of the New Kingdom. Despite damage from looting and environmental factors, it remains a stunning testament to ancient Egyptian craftsmanship.
