Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, wax and bee secretions, not to be confused with bee venom, honey or royal jelly.
Foraging honey bees collect pollen from plants and transport it to the beehive, where it’s stored and used as food for the colony. And, as research is beginning to reveal, bee pollen is not only a nourishing food for bees; it’s a great food for humans as well.
NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS
Bee pollen boasts an impressive nutritional profile. It contains over 250 biologically active substances, including proteins, carbs, lipids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants. Its granules consist of approximately:
Carbs: 40%
Protein: 35%
Water: 4–10%
Fats: 5%
Other substances, including vitamins, minerals, antibiotics and antioxidants: 5–15%
The pollen’s nutritional content, however, depends on the plant source and season collected. For instance, studies have shown that bee pollen collected from pine plants has approximately 7% protein, while pollen collected from date palm packs closer to 35% protein.
In addition, bee pollen harvested during springtime has a significantly different amino acid composition than pollen collected during the summer. By aligning with the seasonal harvests, as Ayurveda prescribes, consumers receive the protein building blocks and enzymes they need for each season of the year.
OVERALL HEALTH BENEFITS
Bee pollen delivers innumerable health benefits. Animal and test tube studies have validated some of them. While more testing on humans is required, if even half of the benefits attributed to this sweet supplement are proven scientifically, bee pollen is a worthwhile addition to every adult human’s diet.
Bee pollen contains a wide variety of antioxidants, which may protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals that are linked to chronic diseases, including cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Bee pollen may help lower heart disease risk factors such as “bad” LDL cholesterol and lipid oxidation.
Bee pollen may boost liver function and protect the liver from harmful substances.
Bee pollen antioxidants may have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce the severity and onset of allergies, promoting wound healing, reducing prostate inflammation and pain, and killing several harmful bacteria. Its antimicrobial properties may also prevent wound infections.
Bee pollen, particularly from local farmers, can actually help desensitize allergy sufferers to pollen when taken on a regular basis before allergy season begins. Note that it does not help with other non-pollen allergies. Ask your doctor before beginning treatment.
Bee pollen, administered alongside antidepressants, enables the lowering of doses and improves overall patient condition in a short period of time. Due to this fact, there are fewer cases of drug addictions or occurrences of side effects. Owing to its nutritional and tonic properties, as well as improvement of blood supply to nervous tissue, pollen boosts mental capacity and strengthens the nervous system weakened by stress or overworking.
Bee pollen may enhance the absorption and utilization of nutrients like iron, calcium and phosphorus. Proper nutrient absorption and balance helps regulate the body’s metabolism and supports longevity.