Complete Guide to Bee Pollen and it's Health Benefits

How is bee pollen produced?

Bees collect pollen from the anthers of flowers. This is mixed with saliva and placed in tiny containers called corbiculae on the bee's hind legs.
As they pass from flower to flower this accumulates to form the small brown or yellow clumps around their legs that you may have already seen if you have had the joy of watching a bee visiting a flower.
Once the bee is loaded with pollen, they fly back to the hive, where the pollen is stored inside the honeycomb cells, before being covered with a layer of honey and wax.

What does bee pollen contain?

The main components of bee pollen are proteins and amino acids, lipids, and sugars. Minor components are vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, carotenoids, terpenes, and enzymes.
Proportions vary depending on the collection area, the flora surrounding the beehive, the flowers that are currently in bloom.
Bee pollen is made up of:

• 7,5% - 40% proteins.
• 15-50% sugars - fructose and glucose.
• 14 fatty acids, including both essential fatty acids.
• Amino acids - including isoleucine, lysine, leucine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which are all beneficial to humans.
• Vitamins - B (B1, B2, B5, B6 , B12); vitamins A, C, D, E and K; folic acid; rutin and vitamin PP (Niacin).
• 28 minerals including essential minerals calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese and selenium.
• 11 enzymes and co-enzymes.
• Phenolic compounds (including flavonoids).
• Pollen is low in fat.

What are the health benefits of pollen?

Bee pollen is highly nutritious and extremely beneficial to humans:

• Pollen can combat stress and fatigue
  Taken correctly as a supplement, pollen helps increase vital energy in cases of nervous exhaustion, fatigue, convalescence and counters chronic fatigue in the elderly. ⁽¹⁾
  Thanks to the high vitamin and mineral content it stimulates the metabolism and the Central Nervous System.
• Bee pollen can improve sports performance
  The use of pollen is widespread among athletes. Thanks to its high content of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, it helps in prolonged efforts, increases resistance, and facilitates physical recovery.
  The high protein content also helps increase muscle mass.
• Pollen fights acne and skin aging
  According to a study by the Swedish dermatologist Dr. Lars-Erik Essen, bee pollen reduces acne and counteracts the formation of wrinkles (thanks to its moisturizing effect on the cells). Whether taken orally or applied to the skin in the form of a cosmetic it helps to rejuvenate the skin and giving a healthy appearance, because it contains a high level of nucleic acids DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
• Eat pollen to reduce hair loss and strengthen nails
  Rich in amino acids, vitamins (A, B3, B8), and minerals (sulfur, iron, and zinc), bee pollen reduces hair loss and strengthens nails.
• Pollen may actually help fight allergies
  Although it may seem odd, Naturopathy recommends regular intake of small doses of pollen to alleviate and prevent pollen allergies.
• Lose weight with pollen
  Pollen can suppress the appetite and increase metabolism. The high enzyme content also aids digestion.
• Pollen strengthens the cardiovascular system
  Thanks to rutin and, flavonoids and polyunsaturated fats, pollen strengthens the circulatory system. It helps to re-balance cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and to restore the correct ratio between "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and "good" cholesterol (HDL).
• Pollen helps the immune system
  Laboratory tests have shown that prolonged intake of pollen improves the functionality of the immune system.
• Pollen intake contrasts osteoporosis
  Studies carried out in the laboratory by gynecologist Dr. Werner Salomon have shown that prolonged intake of bee pollen acts on bone density and osteoporosis during the perimenopause climacteric period.
  After 4 years of study, he was able to observe that the administration of bee pollen not only blocked the start of the osteoporosis processes but also increased bone density.
• Pollen has antibacterial properties
  Like propolis, bee pollen has natural antibiotic effects and may inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria, such as salmonella.

Bee pollen: harvesting, preparation, storage, and consumption

How is bee pollen harvested?

Beekeepers remove the excess pollen from the hive with special scraping tools positioned inside the hive itself.

In what form can I find pollen?

The pollen is usually sold in the natural state as produced by bees: small yellow or brown granules about the size of a grain of rice.

Storage

Bee pollen can be stored in its natural state for a long time without special precautions. It has even been found in fossil deposits millions of years old!
For best results store in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place.

How and when to take bee pollen

You can eat pollen raw as it is; or add it as a tasty topping to a smoothie, cereals, or yogurt. Continue taking for 1-3 months according to your requirement.
We recommend one teaspoon of pollen a day, taken away from mealtimes. This allows better digestion and absorption.

FAQ

How much pollen should I take per day?

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