Bee Pollen – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

Bee pollen grains are sweet-tasting tiny golden granules. They are made from the nectar that bees carried to the hive after they pollinated a flower. Each pellet has over two million flower pollen grains, with a teaspoon containing over 2.5 billion grains of flower pollen.

List of known nutrients

• Carbohydrates
• Flavenol
• Lecithin
• Lycopene
• Protein
• Resveratrol
• Rutin
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
• Vitamin B9 (Folate)
• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

Neal’s Yard Remedies natural health director Susan Curtis noted that bee pollen is very healthy for the body, saying, “[It] is the richest source of vitamins in a single food. A nutrient powerhouse of 18 vitamins including a B complex, all essential amino acids, fatty acids, RNA/DNA nucleic acids, enzymes, and is at least 25 percent protein.”

Medicinal uses for bee pollen

Bee pollen can be used to bolster endurance, body definition, muscle development, recovery from fatigue, speed, and strength and agility. Coaches and athletic directors said bee pollen can help improve athletic performance. In fact, the British Sports Council said athletes who regularly ingested bee pollen showed a 50 percent improvement in their athetic ability.

Bee pollen has anti-allergy properties. It lessens histamine production, thus helping to alleviate symptoms of allergies and hayfever. For best results, take bee pollen six weeks before the hayfever starts and all throughout that season.

As a matter of fact, Denver, Colorado doctor Leo Conway said 94 percent out of his 60,000 documented allergy patients have been cured when treated with bee pollen, noting, “I believe this pollen immunization can be achieved by incorporating pollen in a food, because the only need for proof is the effectiveness of commodity throughout the digestive tract.”

Since bee pollen helps in tissue growth and repair, ingesting it can help prevent dehydration and stimulate blood supply to skin cells, thus helping prevent the instances of premature aging and providing for healthy and glowing skin. It can also be used to treat acne, blemishes, eczema, and psoriasis.

Bee pollen is said to support long life. A Russian study in 1945 analyzed key factors that contributed to the long life of 150 Russian centenarians; it was found out that lack of occupational stressors and proper diet – one that includes honey and bee products – contribute to longevity.

Bee pollen increases the speed of metabolism, helps control cravings, eradicates fat from the body, and guards it against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol.

Bee pollen has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Since bee pollen acts as a whole set of antioxidants, it contains the combination of the powers that flavenols, resveratrol, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, and E have, and counteracts the harmful effects that oxidants such as pollution and cigarette smoke have on the body.

Bee pollen is good for the liver, whose responsibility it is to get rid of toxins from the body.

Bee pollen is a natural stress-reliever, and is also used to speed up recovery from certain illnesses.

Bee pollen has antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Body systems supported by bee pollen

The protein in bee pollen helps in facilitating the growth and repair of the body including the circulatory and nervous systems. It stimulates the production of red and white blood cells. 

The presence of the flavonoid rutin helps the bee pollen optimize the processes that are performed by blood vessel walls, thus improving circulation of the blood, which does a great deal for the cardiovascular system. Scientists at the Institute of Apiculture in Taranov, Russia said: “Even if bee pollen had none of its other vital ingredients, its content of rutin alone would justify taking at least a teaspoon daily, if for no other reason than strengthening the capillaries. Pollen is extremely rich in rutin and may have the highest content of any source.”

Bee pollen is good for the female preproductive system. It helps ease symptoms of menopause and stimulate ovarian functions, thereby aiding in a healthy pregnancy.

Bee pollen is good for the immune system. According to a study from Romania, bee pollen increases the level of proteins, blood lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that kills infections, bacteria, viruses, mutated cells, metabolic waste, etc., in the body), and gamma globulins (a substance that contains antibodies) in a person’s constitution.

Ways to use bee pollen

Bee pollen can be added to yogurts, oatmeal, or smoothies. You can also use it as a face mask by mixing it with whole or coconut milk, raw honey, and mashed avocado.

However, you should not use bee pollen if you’re allergic to bees or bee stings, as you are vulnerable to the same allergic reactions – such as difficulty in breathing, itchiness, lightheadedness, and swelling – once you ingest bee pollen.

For recipes that make use of bee pollen, head over to this website.

Where to learn more

• Bee pollen superfood boosts immune system function
• Bee Pollen – A Budget Friendly Food for Health and Healing
• Bee pollen: One of the world’s most perfect superfoods
• Bee Pollen: Nature Provides An Answer for Allergies
• Bee Pollen: The Healing Superfood for Optimum Health
• Bee Pollen: A Powerful Sex Drive Enhancer

Summary

Bee pollen is a natural stress-reliever, and is also used to speed up recovery from certain illnesses.

Bee pollen is good for the female reproductive and immune systems.

Bee pollen has antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Sources include:

HuffingtonPost.co.uk

HealthLine.com

NaturalLivingIdeas.com