At the end of each chromosome, or cell is a DNA structure called Telomere. As our cells divide, the telomeres get shorter and shortening of telomeres over time, contributes to age related diseases. Dr. Andrew Valdez, St Thomas’ Hospital, London published research in 2005 showing that telomeres are shortened by about 27 kbp per year and that smoking a pack of cigarettes per day led to an additional 18% decrease of telomere length per year.

This 2015 study by Dr. Nasir et.al. (University Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia) compared the telomere length in 30 male beekeepers and 30 male non-beekeepers. Malaysia is famous for its wildflower Tualang Honey produced from beehives in the tall, majestic Tualang Tree. Dr. Nasir concluded that people who did not eat honey every day had telomere shortening. Beekeepers who ate honey every day did not have telomere shortening; instead, eating honey increased their telomere length by about 0.258 kbp per year. Beekeepers who ate several bee products per day increased their telomere lengths by an average of 2.66 kbp per year.

The Malaysian Wildflower Tualang Honey by East Honey and Herb Enterprise won the 2022 London International Honey Awards.

Tualang Honey: A Decade of Neurological Research is a 2021 study by Dr. Azman et.al. from the same University Sains Malaysia. In this paper Dr. Azman summarized 10 years of research on the memory enhancing, pain-relieving, stress-relieving, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects of Tualang Honey.

Malaysia is also famous for its Kelulut Honey (from stingless bees). Next week we will discuss the benefits of Kelulut Honey.