>Christopher Slade wrote:
 
 
>Is Stefan asserting that genetic inheritance can be altered through
nutrition?
>I thought genes could not be created, modified or destroyed unless you are
God
>or an employee of Monsanto.
 
 
 
        I am not a genetician but I believe that everything enters into a
living being can, ON LONG TERM, change its genetics.
 
        Everything in our Universe is interlinked, isn't it, dear Chris?
 
        I do not recall where I read, but relative recently some geneticians
found that certain foods can prevent the transmission of genetical diseases
from parents to the kids. I believe that our bee pollen can be included on
this list of such special foods.
 
        If a genetical disease can be prevented by nutrition, I assume that
it can be also induced.
 
        I explained in one of my last messages that many foods can induce
different types of cancers. A normal cell to turn into a cancerous cell
"needs" to have at least some of its genes disbalanced/affected, inhibated.
 
        It is also a well known fact that many types of cancers (initiated
by foods like smoked meat etc.) can be transmitted to the children,
grand-children and so on through inheritance.
 
        Am I wrong in the above assertions? Only a genetician can confirm or
infirm that, so I hope that such a specialist exist already in our "List".
 
 
>Stefan is right in that the organic movement is growing.  People are taking
>more interest in what they eat (if they have the means to - don't forget
that
>for many people the choice is to eat anything that is going or, more
likely,
>nothing at all).  We are producing luxury products for people with pockets
and
>influence to match.  We are vulnerable to fashion, hype and potential
>destruction of our markets through scare stories.
 
 
 
        Thanks for the above correct thoughts.
 
 
>Do the people who complain at the low price they get for
>their honey collect and market their wax, propolis, pollen and venom?  Have
>they tried producing "genuine organic" honey for part of their crop and
>selling it at a price to make a profit?
 
 
 
        In many parts of the world there are many beekeepers which are
getting nice profits from "organic honeys" or especially from the other very
precious bee products.
 
Again, there is an increasing market on apitherapy related products which
waits for most of you!
 
 
>It would be a productive step forward if  the interested parties stopped
>knocking each other and agreed on a series of experiments that could be
>divided up and conducted and replicated in the various educational
>establishments that subscribe to this list.
 
 
        Yes, it is an excellent idea!
 
        As far as I am concern, I want to present here my excuses to ALL
people which were offended by my last messages. My intention was not to hurt
somebody, but to warm up some, maybe, "icy" minds.
 
        I must confess also that I made my "homework" and I read some good
beekeeping books (like "The Hive and the Honey Bee", 1992). My "aggresivity"
towards refined sugar feeding has diminished a bit after I found that in
certain conditions our beloved bees preffer sugar to natural honey.
 
        However, I'm 100% sure that NEVER, a bee colony will "forage" only
floral pollen and refined sugar.
 
        Nectar will be always on their GENERAL list of prefferences, because
it is written in their genes, isn't it?
 
        Their prefference to refined sugar I see it somehow similar with the
prefference of our kids to drink "Coca-cola" or to eat in a restaurant like
"MacDonalds". It will last for awhile, but no forever...
 
        If will last "forever" big problems can arrive: diabetes, obesity,
high blood pressure, heart infarctus, strokes, caries, spasmophilia,
osteoporosis, parasitoses, cancers etc., etc., etc.
 
        Yes, I know, the bees have other physiological models. I agree but
they have the same type of cells as we do. The only difference is related to
their cellular different functionality.
 
        ANY living cell on Earth needs a proper diet. Proper diet means
quality and quantity.
        Quality means also VARIABILITY.
 
        Refined sugar is only a very POOR FOOD, from THIS point of view,
even if it gives relative good energy.
 
        We love our bees isn't it, so why shall we keep them for such long
times under-nourished properly.
 
        Yes, I know, you will say:  "We feed our bees only with small
amounts of sugar and only for short periods of time".
 
        Is this correct always?
 
        Many of you told us that you feed sugar to your bees in Fall, in
Winter AND in Spring. This goes to a possible total of 6-8 months!!! Isn't
it a bit too much my friends?
 
 
        Kind regards,
 
Stefan Stangaciu.