It is farmers market season in the Midwest, finally! I love the outdoor farmers market. I love meandering through the various stalls, discovering new products, and rediscovering others. One of my favorite things is local honey. Last year, at one of the farmers stalls, I happened upon bee pollen at one of my favorite honey farm stalls. It just so happens that this humble looking granulated bee product is a super food! Bee pollen is full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, micro and macro nutrients, protein, flavonoids, and 22 essential amino acids. A lot of amazing things stuffed into a small granule!
What the Heck is Bee Pollen?
When Bees are going from flower to flower they collect pollen on their legs in things called “pollen sacks”. They then take this pollen back to their hive to feed the young bees.
To harvest bee pollen for human consumption, the bee keeper attaches a comb looking apparatus to the hive entrance. As the bees enter the hive, the pollen is knocked from their legs into a bin below. From there the beekeeper will harvest and process the bee pollen.
Nutritional makeup of Bee Pollen is:
- Protein 21.2 %
- Carbohydrates 48.5%
- Fiber 14.2%
- Fatty Acids 9.9%
- Flavonoids 2%
- Minerals 1.6% (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, silicon and selenium)
- Water Soluble Vitamins 0.6% (B1, B2, B6 and C)
- Fat Soluble Vitamins 0.1% (vitamins A, E and D)
Bee Pollen and You
Bee pollen is a small, yet mighty nutritional supplement. As crazy as it many seem, the small pellets of bee pollen harness many nutrients our bodies can actively use.
Research has shown that daily consumption of small amounts of bee pollen can help keep our bodies running in tip top shape.
Inflammation Reduction
Inflammation can secretly, or not so secretly, undermine our physical and mental health. Lucky for us bee pollen shows great promise as an anti-inflammatory agent. Researchers found bee pollen given to mice greatly reduced the swelling of an inflamed paw.
Another study found that bee pollen can help reverse liver damage, inflammations, and liver toxicity.
Researchers have also touted its ability to fight inflammation as being comparable to non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications like naproxen, analgin, phenylbutazone, or indomethacin.
Bee pollen could be a great addition to an anti-inflammatory diet.
Reducing Stress and Depression
There are times that inflammation and depression are found together, and then there are times that depression stands alone as the main ailment. Either way, bee pollen has been shown to improve depression in a short amount of time. Research done on bee pollen found that when it was taken with antidepressants, it helped that patients so much that doctors were able to lower the antidepressant doses!
When it comes to stress, bee pollen has been shown to strengthen stressed out nervous systems by improving blood supply. The improved blood supply also helps to increase energy and our mental sharpness!
Immune System Strengthened
As you can see above bee pollen has been shown to reduce inflammation, stress, depression, and increase energy. I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I tell you that bee pollen strengthens the immune system.
Various studies have found that mice and rabbits given bee pollen had healthier pregnancies, healthier off spring, and the mice and rabbits lived longer. Other research has shown that bee pollen maybe strengthening our immune system by having antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Staphylococcus aureus shows a particular dislike for bee pollen.
Fermented Food, Yuck!
I feel a little uncool these days. I do not like kombucha, sauerkraut, or any of the must have fermented foods, really. If you are like me, fear not, bee pollen to the rescue!
Bee pollen is a great source of free radical fighting antioxidants. In tests, bee pollen antioxidants have been found to be comparable to those in fermented foods. Whether you like or do not like fermented foods, bee pollen can be a less smelly alternative for your antioxidant fix.
Where to Get it, What to do with it
Ask questions and choose from a reputable source. A farmer’s market or health food store are places to find bee pollen easily.
It is important that bee pollen is pesticide free and that the hive has not been treated with any chemicals.
It’s common to find bee pollen in granule form, which I have, or ground. Either way, most people mix the bee pollen in yogurt, smoothies, cereal, cottage cheese, ect. Although there are some people who do not mind taking it alone.
Ingestion
Once you’ve decided that bee pollen is a supplement that can be added to your diet, it is important to start small. Bee pollen is not a supplement where bigger is better. The farmer who sold bee pollen to me, suggested that I start with a few grains of pollen 3 times a day, then gradually work my way up to 1 teaspoon, 3 times a day.
Side Effects
Bee pollen, though natural, is a supplement. As such, it’s important to talk to your Doctor or homeopath before getting started.
** If you are allergic to wasps or bees DO NOT take bee pollen. If you have certain tree allergies, it could cause a reaction.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction would be:
- Itching
- Swelling
- Lightheadedness
- Trouble breathing
It probably goes with out saying, if you have a reaction discontinue using bee pollen, call your doctor, or emergency services ASAP!
The Take Away
Research shows that bee pollen has a lot going for it. It’s a super food for humans with 22 essential amino acids, antioxidants, lots of vitamins and minerals. It has been found to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. It can help decrease allergies, depression, liver toxins, and increase energy.
Personally, one of my favorite things about bee pollen is that it can replace fermented foods! Even if I’m in the nutrition minority camp on this one, I’m excited about not needing to drink or eat anything fermented. My taste buds are gleeful!
I just recently bought my bee pollen. As of writing this post, I have been taking it for about 7 days. My hopes are that it clears up my decreased sense of taste. I do feel like I may have more energy despite some late nights. It also doesn’t hurt that I will be getting free radical fighting antioxidants, even though I will be able to see or feel those results.
As of this post, I haven’t had any allergic reactions, which is great.
I will make sure to update this at a later time with a follow up on bee pollen and my health.
And You
Have any of you experimented with bee pollen before? Did you notice an increase in your health, energy, or anything else?
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