The Secrets of Honey Revealed

Scientists have discovered a substance in honey that is crucial for both the human health and bees.

Scientist Tobias Olofsson has discovered the importance of the lactic acid bacteria that make up the health of the bee itself and produce the healing effect of honey.

[Tobias Olofsson, Microbiologist]:
”We made this discovery. Honey actually contains millions of beneficial lactic acid bacteria that none have ever seen before. They live in symbiosis together with the honeybee in their honey stomach. They are used by the honeybee to protect their nectar that is becoming honey. It also used to protect themselves and their larva from diseases. It’s a big part of the immune system of the honeybee.”

Wild fresh honey has been used for thousands of years for its health benefits. It’s good for healing throat ailments and wounds. Mr. Olofsson believes it could be used as an antibiotic.

Since the 1970’s, scientists have found that honeybee communities have declined worldwide and they call this phenomenon “Colony Collapse Disorder”.

But in recent years they have observed a drastic increase around the world, and scientists offer different reasons. Mr. Olofsson believes that beekeepers are responsible for the situation.

[Tobias Olofsson, Microbiologist]:
”They want to increase the production, the beekeepers have between fifty to a hundred thousand beehives in United States, they want to get more money out of the business. They give them synthetic food all the time - antibiotics - three or four times a year.  We have come to an end where we can’t treat them any worse.”

Today the only way to obtain honey with the healthy lactic acid bacteria is by collecting honey in the wild, which can be dangerous, or by getting fresh honey directly from beekeepers.

Cecilia Svensson, NTD News Helsingborg, Sweden