Dr. Reese Halter — The Power of Honey and Bee Medicines and Why Bees Are Important to Our Planet — Episode 81

In Today’s Episode Dr. Reese Halter’s passion for the environment is lifelong. He is a powerful voice for the bees, the seas, wellness science, and saving nature now. Dr. Halter is a distinguished conservation biologist, an award-winning broadcaster, and prolific writer. Dr. Halter has the unique talent of making current complex environmental issues accessible and compelling to any audience. He believes that human beings are terrific problem solvers, and for every issue there are at least 3 solutions. His passion to protect our planet is contagious. In my conversation with Dr. Reese today, he gave us a science lesson about bees and all they accomplish in their short lifespans. He also talked with us about using honey and bee propolis as medicine, and whether or not it is appropriate for vegans to do so.  We ended the episode with some practical tips about what you can do to protect bees and help them as they continue to do so much to sustain our beautiful planet.   Outline of This Great Episode [1:59] You can fight climate change by eating a plant-based diet. [8:10] Deborah introduces Dr. Reese Halter. [10:23] There are at least 20,000 known types of bees on planet Earth. [12:42] How do bees make honey? [14:11] Bees are electrostatically charged which allows them to collect pollen. [15:55] We’re just beginning to understand Earth’s complexity. [17:49] Why are bees important to humans? [18:51] There are social bees and there are solitary bees. [20:35] Bees make beeswax in their abdomens. [21:13] Honey, sealed with beeswax, can keep for thousands of years. [24:22] Bee society is female-driven. [25:47] The honeybee that we know came from Northern Africa and Italy. [28:33] Honeybees accomplish an incredible amount in their short lifespans. [31:32] The queen of a hive lays approximately 1,500 eggs per day. [35:45] Honey sustains a beehive through the winter. [37:23] The queen bee is fed royal jelly rather than honey. [39:21] What is bee propolis and how do the bees use it? [42:21] A bee’s stinger contains medicine. [43:31] Honeybees communicate by dancing. [46:55] Bees even vote. [49:11] Bees are helping to further many industries. [50:38] Thank you to everyone who left us a review last week! Be sure to check out VidalSpeaks.com, where you can find my story, my favorite products, and much more! Please support this show by using the Amazon Banner on my site for all your Amazon purchases, which will pay a small commission to me with no extra cost to you. It really helps. Please also consider donating directly to keep our show going, leaving us a review, or sharing our show with a friend. All of this supports our mission. Thank you! [52:31] Should vegans eat honey or use it as medicine? [56:46] You need to be aware of where your honey comes from. [1:01:14] What is bee propolis and how can you use it as medicine? [1:02:27] Honeybees are being used for medical diagnostics. [1:06:00] Honey is not a bee secretion. [1:08:55] The poisons that are sprayed on GMO crops are killing the bees. [1:16:27] We must eat locally and seasonally. [1:19:48] What can you do personally to help the bees? [1:22:18] In Mayan culture, the top shaman would escort the souls of bees to heaven.   Connect with Today’s Guest DrReese.com   Resources Mentioned Center for Biological Diversity Earth Justice NRDC The Sierra Club