I had asked on my Facebook page what are some foods that you would like to learn more about. One of you suggested Bee Pollen. I admit I have not read up on bee pollen at all; and it was something that I wanted to learn more about! I thought this would be a good post – I really learned a lot and I hope you do too!
NOTE – Bee Pollen is not suitable for a strict vegan lifestyle. While this blog is a good resource for vegan recipes, I treat it like a nutrition blog and will post information that is not vegan or vegetarian. I have a wide range of readers and I feel it is my job to share information that is suitable for ALL of my readers.
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bee pollen
n. mixture of flower pollen, honeybee digestive juices, and nectar. Has been used therapeutically for asthma, allergic conditions, im-potence, bleeding stomach ulcers, altitude sickness, as a dietary supple-ment has been used for cancer, high cholesterol, and cardiac conditions. Should not be used if allergic to pollen or by diabetic patients who are using insulin or hypoglycemic medications.
Jonas: Mosby’s Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (c) 2005, Elsevier.
Bee pollen is known to be a Superfood; although most of us do not take any amount of bee pollen supplement. People have been using bee pollen for thousands of years and it was the early Egyptians and Chinese civilizations that first discovered the rewards from ingesting bee pollen.
Bee pollen has been shown to help people:
- lose weight
- increase energy, vitality and stamina
- enhance the immune system
- relieve allergy and asthma symptoms
- improve sexual function
- correct digestion problems
- slow the aging process
- prevent cancer and other diseases
But in most cases and studies, individuals that take bee pollen notice an increase of energy and physical endurance. Athletes have taken bee pollen for many years to naturally achieve their physical goals.
So, what is it?
It’s the dust-sized seed found on the stamen of all flower blossoms. The pollen collects on the legs of honeybees as they move from flower to flower looking for nectar. The bees secrete nectar and special enzymes into the flower pollen to create what we know as “bee pollen”. The pollen is usually collected by placing a special device at the entrance of beehives that brushes it from the hind legs of the bees into a collection vessel.
What’s in it?
What will it do for me?
When you first start taking bee pollen you may feel a significant increase in your energy right away, definitely within a week or so. Over time the consistent use of pollen will improve your energy, stamina, and endurance. You’ll also probably notice a greater feeling of general well-being. Over the long-term, regular consumption of bee pollen will help alleviate many different health problems, slow down the aging process, and improve your quality of life.
How do I take Bee Pollen?
Bee pollen is available in powdered forms, granules, tablets and capsules. Capsules usually contain other bee hive products such as royal jelly, propolis and honey. Pollens that come from multiple sources contain more nutrients than single source pollens. Because of the negative effects of air pollution the highest-quality bee pollens comes from extremely clean natural environments.
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I was looking around online and noticed that it is available in capsules and powder/granules. I read that it has a sweet and nutty flavor, but it depends on what kind of plants the pollen was collected from. You can put the pollen granules on salads and in shakes or simply take it in pill form.
I would love to hear from my readers who have taken Bee Pollen – how did it make you feel? Are you continuing to use it?
And before taking any supplements, especially Bee Pollen, please read the allergy warnings – especially those that are allergic to bee stings!
The Clean Eating Mama 