Bee’s vomit is a common misconception about honey, the sweet substance that bees produce from nectar. Honey is not bee vomit, but rather bee regurgitation. There is a difference between vomiting and regurgitating. Vomiting is the ejection of matter from the stomach through the mouth, usually associated with sickness. Regurgitating is the ejection of something from the esophagus, which is a tube that connects the mouth and the stomach. Bees have a special organ called the honey stomach, which is not a true stomach, but a pouch that stores nectar. Bees collect nectar from flowers using their tongue and store it in their honey stomach, where it is mixed with enzymes to start the process of making honey. When bees return to their hive, they regurgitate the nectar from their honey stomach and pass it to other bees, who further process it by reducing its moisture content. The final product is honey, which bees store in capped cells of honeycomb. Honey is not bee vomit because it does not come from their true stomach, where they digest their food. It also does not come from their mouth, where they produce saliva. It comes from their honey stomach, which is a separate organ that only stores nectar.

Essential amino acids are organic compounds that your body needs to function, but cannot make on its own. You have to get them from the foods you eat. There are nine essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are called complete proteins. These foods include animal products such as meat, eggs, poultry, fish, and dairy. Some plant foods, such as soy products (edamame and tofu), quinoa, and buckwheat, are also complete proteins. Foods that contain some but not all the essential amino acids are called incomplete proteins. These foods include grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. You can combine different incomplete proteins to get all the essential amino acids you need. For example, rice and beans, peanut butter and bread, or hummus and pita are some common combinations of incomplete proteins. Essential amino acids play many important roles in your body, such as building proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters. They can also enhance your athletic performance, reduce muscle breakdown, and improve your liver function. Therefore, it is important to eat a balanced diet that provides enough essential amino acids for your health.