It is well known that bee products such as honey, royal jelly and bee propolis have many health benefits. These hive products have a permanent place in our kitchen as well as in our home medicine cabinet. It is therefore not surprising that bee pollen is also an excellent food supplement.

Bee pollen: the surprising superfood

Bee pollen is not the same as pollen. Pollen is the male seed of flowering plants and is necessary to fertilize the plant for reproduction. Bee pollen is a ball or pellet of pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, wax and bee secretions created by the workers. This mixture is used as the main food for the young bees.

Bee pollen is one of the few completely nutritious foods. It contains almost all the nutrients necessary for human health, including:

• Proteins and amino acids
• Fats and fatty acids
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Carbohydrates
• Enzymes
• Antioxidants

According to Dr. Mercola, bee pollen cannot be synthesized in the laboratory. When presented with synthetic bee pollen, the bees cannot survive. This means that there is something in the pollen that we do not know, despite the latest technology to test its composition.

Benefits of bee pollen

Because pollen is a whole food containing all the nutrients necessary for human life, it is often used as a dietary supplement to reduce allergy symptoms, correct nutrient deficiencies, reduce inflammation and even promote weight loss.

Nutrition and weight loss

Although there is not much clear research on its effects on weight, there is some that supports its use for malnutrition.

In a 2014 study on rats, bee pollen was helpful in preventing and reversing malnutrition. It even helps to improve muscle mass (compared to increasing nutrients in food alone). Clearly, it is an excellent tool for dealing with the myriad of nutrient deficiencies.

But it also has many other advantages.

Anti-inflammatory

It is well known that inflammation is a common factor in many diseases. Increasing antioxidant activity can help reduce inflammation and reverse some signs of disease. Bee pollen can be used as an antioxidant to fight inflammation and improve disease symptoms. One study found that bee pollen has free radical scavenging capabilities similar to those of vitamin E. She also found that bee pollen was useful for patients with diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. diabetes And cancer.

The researchers also found that bee pollen mixed with honey had a significant anti-inflammatory effect on mice with toxic liver damage from acetaminophen use. Honey alone did not have the same effect, suggesting that bee pollen has specific anti-inflammatory properties.

Inflammation can cause swelling that stimulates the nerves and causes pain. It would therefore be logical that bee pollen is also a remedy for pain.

Antimicrobial

Honey and other bee products are known to be antimicrobial and antibacterial. This is why raw honey can be used on wounds to treat and prevent infections. It turns out that bees pollen is also antimicrobial. When scientists evaluated six commercially available bee pollen products, all six had antimicrobial properties. This study also revealed that bee pollen is antimutagenic (against genetic mutations), antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Possibly anti-cancer

One of the most interesting aspects of this bee product is its relationship with cancer. A 1948 study used mice bred to develop tumors (each mouse would eventually develop tumors). Those that did not receive bee pollen developed tumors and died within the expected time frame. Those who received bee pollen did not develop tumors within the expected time frame and some were tumor-free at the end of the experiment.

However, more research is needed to determine how it might work against cancer. This study examines the possibility of anti-cancer properties of bee products in general. Research concludes that some bee products may have anti-cancer properties, but further research is needed.

Can help fight allergies

Bee pollen is another bee product that can help with allergies. Researchers concluded in 2008 that bee pollen can inhibit the activation of mast cells, which play a role in allergic reactions.

Stimulates healthy hormones

An unexpected health benefit of bee pollen is that it promotes hormonal health. A study in rats found that bee pollen helped regulate ovarian function. Rats that consumed more pollen had increased production of steroid hormones, such as progesterone.

Another study found that consumption of chrysin (an antioxidant found in bee pollen) may have a beneficial effect on male fertility.

Finally, according to a 2015 study, bee pollen can also relieve menopausal symptoms. In this study, women with breast cancer who were taking antihormonal drugs showed a reduction in menopausal symptoms after taking pollen or honey.

How to get bee pollen in your diet?

Bee pollen is such an amazing food and contains so many beneficial compounds that it's not surprising that it has many uses.

Dietary supplement

The nutritional profile of this superfood makes it an excellent choice for filling nutrient gaps. Using it as a supplement (with the help of a health care professional) can help you:

• Hormonal balance
• Inflammation
• Allergies
• Infection
• Nutritional deficiencies

There is no set dosage for bee pollen, but 1-2 teaspoons is a good starting point. You can eat it raw or add it to your food or hot water.

On the topical level

It can also be used for wound healing. Its antimicrobial nature helps heal wounds and prevent infections. Bee pollen can be used for :

• Healing
• Skin irritations
• Skin rashes (such as eczema)

Use the pollen in the same way you would use any other healing ointment.

Is bee pollen safe?

For most people, bee pollen is safe and has no side effects when consumed for short periods. Pregnant and nursing women should not consume it. One reason is that it is believed that bee pollen can stimulate the uterus. Some people are allergic to it (or to pollen in general), so it should not be used. If you are concerned, check with your health care provider.

Where to get bee pollen?

There is concern that bee pollen is not harvested sustainably. As is the case with many supplements and natural health products. It is important to find a source that harvests bee pollen sustainably and takes care of it. Find a local beekeeper who can explain (or show you) how they harvest the product. For example, having plenty of forage near the hive helps reduce the bees' workload.

Have you ever experienced the health benefits of bee pollen? What was your experience?

Sources:

Salles, J., Cardinault, N., Patrac, V., Berry, A., Giraudet, C., Collin, M., . Walrand, S. (2014). It improves muscle protein and energy metabolism in malnourished old rats by interfering with the Mtor signaling pathway and mitochondrial activity. Nutrients, 6(12), 5500-5516. doi:10.3390/nu6125500

Nagai, T., Nagashima, T., Suzuki, N., & Inoue, R. (2005). Antioxidant Activity and Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibition by Enzymatic Hydrolysates from Bee Bread. Zeitschrift Für Naturforschung C, 60(1-2), 133-138. doi:10.1515/znc-2005-1-224

Akkol, E. K., Orhan, D. D., Gürbüz, I., & Yesilada, E. (2010). In vivo evaluation of the activity of a "honey bee pollen mixture" formulation. Pharmaceutical Biology, 48(3), 253-259. doi:10.3109/13880200903085482

De-Melo, A. A., & Almeida-Muradian, L. B. (2017). Chemical composition of bee pollen. Beekeeping products - Chemical and biological properties, 221-259. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-59689-1_11

Pascoal, A., Rodrigues, S., Teixeira, A., Feás, X., & Estevinho, L. M. (2014). Biological activities of commercial bee pollens: Antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 63, 233-239. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2013.11.010