VITAMIN AND MINERAL

SUPPLEMENTED HONEYS
Presented By: Hossein Yeganehrad
www.caspianapiaries.com

In humans, Calcium and Iron deficiencies are problems of global proportions. Women in particular can suffer
severe mineral loss both postpartum and post menopause.
Dietary supplements have their drawbacks, both in poor absorption and efficacy as well as adverse side effects.
Bee products present a unique nutrient delivery system. Once bees have metabolized nutrients into honey, they
become completely absorbable by our digestive system. By supplementing the diet of the honeybees with the
desired vitamins or minerals, we can create a more efficient and effective mineral supplement for people. These
supplement honeys are completely natural and entirely absorbed once consumed.
Building on three generations of beekeeping, Caspian Apiaries is an innovator in beehive management, colony
manipulation and disease control.
In this presentation we discuss the results of our attempts to design and produce honeys to alleviate common
nutrient deficiencies in humans. We elaborate on the production of fruit honey, vegetable honey, vitamin
honey, mineral honey and calcium honey. We also discuss our method of colony management, ensuring
efficient nutrient throughput from raw ingredients to finished honey.
We discuss three problems that have arisen when producing these types of honey, and explore several possible
solutions. The first problem arises when colonies use this extra food to supplement their brood, effectively
storing less of the desired nutrients in the honey. The second problem is that honeybees cannot digest certain
ingredients, especially fruits, in large amounts. The third problem we have encountered is an unpleasant flavor
of certain supplemented honeys, such as those supplemented with vitamin B.
We discuss a technique we have developed to encourage the bees to consume more of these difficult
ingredients, without negatively affecting the hive.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 Producing calcium & Iron Honey requires a

strong honeybee colony

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

Causes of Iron, Calcium Deficiency

Calcium, iron and potassium are important nutritional
elements of a balanced, healthy diet. Calcium is a
mineral important in the development, growth and
healing of bones.
Iron is important in the function of red blood cells,
the cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
Potassium is important for the proper functioning of
muscles, nerves, and the heart. Deficiencies in any of
these elements can cause serious health
consequences.
The majority of calcium in the body is stored in bone.
The body moves calcium out of bone as needed to
keep a steady level in the bloodstream.
Common causes of calcium deficiency include
decreased parathyroid hormone(the hormone in
charge of maintaining normal calcium levels) and
vitamin D deficiency.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

Calcium and iron deficiencies are common

problems for majority of the population
Especially true for women who have recently given
birth

Calcium, iron, and potassium are important

nutritional elements for a balanced, healthy diet
Calcium is a mineral important for the development,
growth, and healing of bones
Iron is important for the function of red blood cells,
the cells that carry oxygen throughout the body
Potassium is important for the proper functioning of
muscles, nerves, and the heart.
By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

The majority of calcium in the body is stored

in bones. The body moves calcium out of the
bones, when needed, to keep a steady level in
the bloodstream.
Common causes of calcium deficiency include:
Decreased parathyroid hormone
Hormone in charge of maintaining normal calcium
levels

Vitamin D deficiency
By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

Many people take calcium and iron

supplements to help restore nutrition
However, consuming direct calcium and iron
supplements are associated with a few
problems:
Many consumers experience pain while taking
iron supplements
Pure calcium is difficult for the body to absorb

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

In 980 June 1037 Avicenna (Ibn Sn (

) )was the first person to mix medication
containing honey to administer to his
patients

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

Honey is one of only products that is absorbed

by our metabolism 100%
As a result of the ingredient contained in the
honey will be absorbed 100% as well.
The bees can be used to process these
ingredients same as nectar or syrup.
The body will absorb the ingredients
contained in honey.
By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

As described in the chart above, by adding iron and

calcium to bee feedings and allowing at least 3 days
for bees to process the honey (honey sample #1), the
levels of calcium and iron supplements in the honey
increases by a significant amount compared to the
other samples.
By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

The advantage of using bee products to attain

these nutrients:
Honey is completely absorbent by our digestive
system
By adding calcium and iron into honey, which is then
fed to and processed by the bees, it can be directly
absorbed

There is no leftover residue that cannot be

absorbed

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

There are 2 different methods of

production:
Production during honey flow
Production after honey flow

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 The ideal condition to reduce the brood

production in strong colonies, but it is not
practical in larger scale.
A strong operation is the solution for mass
production.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

Rubbing feeding Calcium & Iron honey

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 There is an opportunity to fill up the feeders

with a mixture of calcium and iron (50% water
& 50% honey)
When bees store this mixture with nectar it
will increase the level of calcium & iron
At the end of honey flow, honey can be
extracted.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 This is the most efficient method of

production because after honey flow, it is
possible to get much more accurate dosages
of calcium & iron in the honey
Consumption of this mixture will not take as
much time.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 It is difficult to mix Iron & Calcium with water.

This process requires at least 20 minutes of
mixing with room temperature water.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 Vitamin C is not difficult to be dissolved in

water
Vitamin D is much more difficult to dissolve in
water and therefore it requires more time (
over 30 minutes)
To absorb Iron, our bodies require vitamin C
and to absorb calcium our bodies require
vitamin D
By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 It is important to add Vitamin C & D with the

mixture of Calcium & Iron honey
Adding vitamin C to the solutions, will create
aggressive behavior within the bee colonies

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 We recommend adding Potassium to Iron &

Calcium Honey
Since potassium is both an electrolyte and a
mineral, it will help keep the the water and
electrolyte balance of the body
It also plays an important role in nerve &
muscle function.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 Adding Vitamin B to Calcium and Iron Honey

is NOT recommended because it will change
the flavor of honey with makes it more
difficult to consume.
Unless it is necessary to help prevent certain
conditions with vitamin B deficiencies in
clients.

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

 Direct consumption of Iron has be known to

create stomach pain and constipation.
This method (using pills) will absorb only a low
level of Iron in the body
By consuming Iron Honey, there is no pain, no
constipation, and it will be absorbed 100%
Also consuming calcium, will reduce the deficiency

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

The number of brood frames have to be

reduced
The colony chosen has to be strong (more
than 10 frame populations)
After the last feedings, at least 3 days is
needed for the bees to process the honey
Before extraction of honey, the moisture of
the honey has to be measured
17%-20%
By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

Success Rate:
Majority of clients with calcium and iron deficiencies, who use
this product, saw more than 70% improvements in less than a
month.
The normal iron level for women ranges from 3-7g haemoglobin
per deciliter of blood. The level of iron can increase up to 9-15g
in four weeks consumption of Calcium and Iron honey

No side-effects:
No signs of constipation or dry stool was reported
Most iron supplements in the market cause constipation or
dry stool
By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012

Success Rate:
The normal iron level for women ranges from 3-7g
haemoglobin per deciliter of blood. The level of iron can
increase up to 9-15g in four weeks consumption of Calcium
and Iron honey

No side-effects:
No signs of constipation or dry stool was reported
Most iron supplements in the market cause
constipation or dry stool

By Hossein Yeganeh Oct. 2012