Propolis is a substance made by mixing its own saliva and enzymes with resin-like substances extracted by bees through various plants. It is known that 100 kinds of various ingredients such as various minerals, vitamins, amino acids, organic acids, flavonoids, and terpenes have various health-promoting effects that benefit our body. Propolis has a long history as it was recorded that it was used as a preservative and folk medicine in Egypt in about 300 BC, and even today, propolis extract is widely used as a raw material for various health functional foods and medicines for treatment. The type of propolis varies depending on which tree the bees collect sap. Brown propolis, the most widely known, is classified as the first generation, and green propolis extracted from the bacillus tree is classified as the second generation. And red propolis, which is classified as the third generation, refers to propolis collected from the dalvasia tree, a legume that grows wild in the northeastern region of Brazil. Since the dalvia tree to be harvested is a rare tree, red propolis is also recognized for its scarcity value because it can be collected only in small amounts. Now, let’s take a look at the main effects of red propolis one by one.
Main effects of red propolis
1. Improving immunity
Immunity, which activates and defends immune cells against various foreign antigens, is an essential part of health care. Red propolis has a high content of flavonoids, a powerful antioxidant. It is said that the amount of it contains three times more than that of brown propolis. This abundant amount of flavonoids is excellent in protecting our body from free radicals that damage cells and cause oxidation. In particular, as these free radicals act as the main culprit for disturbing the immune system, the excellent antioxidant power of red propolis works well to enhance immunity. It is reported that the excellent antioxidant power of red propolis is much superior to that of berries such as blueberries and acai berries.
2. Inhibits inflammation
When inflammation, the body’s natural immune response, increases excessively, it acts as a risk factor that increases the risk of various chronic diseases and metabolic diseases. Red Propolis contains abundant anti-inflammatory ingredients such as neovestitol and bestetol, so it can be expected to have a good effect in suppressing excessive inflammation and preventing related inflammatory diseases.
3. Oral Health
Red propolis is also said to be excellent in helping to improve the overall health of the oral cavity. It is excellent in helping oral health and prevention of tooth decay by inhibiting the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity and killing the bacteria that cause tooth decay by the excellent antibacterial action of neovestitol and besterol, which are excellent anti-inflammatory substances mentioned above. do. In addition, the excellent antibacterial action of red propolis is good for preventing stomatitis, a disease that causes inflammation in the oral mucosa and around the mouth due to various causes such as bacteria and viruses.
4. Prevention of adult diseases
Excessive free radicals destroy cells and DNA, and cause oxidative stress, causing inflammation in blood vessels. Red propolis is said to help prevent various vascular-related adult diseases such as arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure by inducing an increase in active enzymes in the body by SOD, an antioxidant enzyme abundant in red propolis. In addition, the increase in these active enzymes in the body is involved in regulating blood sugar and suppressing the production of toxic substances, so it can help prevent diabetes and reduce the risk of cancer.
Red Propolis Side Effects
There are various health benefits obtained from red propolis intake, but there are also side effects to be aware of. Because red propolis is collected from bees, people with allergies to bees or honey need to be careful when ingesting it. In addition, it is recommended that nursing mothers or infants under 30 months of age decide whether to consume it after consulting a specialist.
