The newest study that shows adults need less than 10,000 steps a day to stay on top of their health; the neighbourhood aunty who insists her ghar ke nuskhe (home remedies) are all one needs. These are all answers to that one question human beings struggle with: How does one stay healthy? One staple response that has stood the test of time is a balanced diet. Turns out, it is not limited to human beings. A recent study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, noted that eight species of wild bumblebees “strategically visit different flowers to balance their intake of protein, fat and carbohydrates”.
The research, conducted over eight years in the Colorado Rockies, shows that bees do not collect pollen at random. Different pollens carry different compositions of macronutrients — some are packed with protein, “like a steak”, others are more “like a salad”. What enables bees to get the nutrients they need is a “remarkable collective intelligence”. Colonies of bees work together, with the larger-bodied ones consuming pollen high in protein and bees with shorter tongues seeking pollen richer in carbohydrates and fats. A similar study on elephants’ dietary habits, published in the Royal Society Open Science, showed how they, too, have a varied diet, informed by nutritional, psychological and social needs.
Today, spoiled for choice, with contradictory advice coming from a hundred different quarters, the path to a healthy life has become needlessly complicated. Smart watches, smarter diets, and an endless scroll in search for the smartest solution have left human beings more confused than ever before. But the answer could be rather simple: A balanced diet, rest and exercise. Oh, and one piece of advice: When in doubt, follow the bees.
