Discovering Bee Pollen Health Benefits

Who isn’t looking for a way to improve their health these days?  We all tend to gravitate towards the low-fat and no-fat foods, the “no transfats” and “no MSG” meals, and several of us hold a year-long gym membership (which, when it comes to people like me, is very seldom used).

Forget the crash diets.  Forget the costly memberships to the fitness club.  You can improve your health today by taking advantage of bee pollen health benefits.

Who Takes Advantage of Bee Pollen Health Benefits?

More people than you may think!  Taking bee pollen to improve one’s health isn’t a new concept, either.  For thousands of years the Chinese have practiced using bee pollen to both improve health and to cure a number of ailments.  Only recently has Western medicine caught on to and begun learning about the bee pollen health benefits.

What are the Bee Pollen Health Benefits?

The bee pollen health benefits are numerous, given that bee pollen is packed with a multitude of nutrients, including:

Vitamin A

B-Complex Vitamins

Vitamin C

Vitamin D

Vitamin E

Vitamin F

Vitamin H

Vitamin K

Vitamin PP

Folic Acid

Choline

Rutin

Inositol

Calcium

Iron

Zinc

Phospherous

Potassium

Copper

Selenium

Iodine

Sulfur

Sodium

Titanium

Amino Acid

Carbohydrates

Fatty Acids

Enzymes

Fats

In total, there are 11 enzymes and co-enzymes, 11 carbohydrates, 14 fatty acids, 18 vitamins, 22 amino acids, 25 minerals and 59 trace elements.  With so many nutrients packed into these tiny granules, it is no wonder that those who take bee pollen enjoy these bee pollen health benefits:

Weight Loss and Weight Control

An increase in vitality, stamina and energy levels

A better immune system

Allergy and Asthma relief

Increased sexual drive (for men and women)

Improved digestion

Anti-aging Properties

Helps prevent cancer and other diseases

Soothes menstrual cramping

Helps speed up the wound healing process

Combats fatigue and depression

Gradually helps one build up a resistance to other airborne pollens (fewer allergies!)

How should I Begin Taking Bee Pollen?

To enjoy the bee pollen health benefits, it is important to first speak to your doctor or nutritionist about any potential side effects.  Those who have proven to be allergic to bee venom or have suffered from asthma attacks are particularly prone to having adverse reactions to bee pollen.  Anyone who has suffered from an anaphylactic shock are also at a greater risk of suffering from another shock if they take bee pollen supplements.

As with any supplement you take, the idea is to start off slowly.  Begin by taking a fifth of the recommended dosage (the recommended dosage is 1 tablespoon of raw granules or 3500mg capsules) and constantly monitor your sensitivity to bee pollen.  If you suffer from allergies, it is recommended that you begin taking the bee pollen in January if you have allergic flare ups in June.  Try to begin taking the bee pollen supplement 6 months before your expected allergic reaction.  The longer your immune system has to adapt and adjust to bee pollen the better the results.

Getting to Know Bee Pollen Allergies

Interested in taking a bee pollen supplement after hearing of all the natural health benefits you can enjoy, but not entirely sure if there may be any adverse side effects?  Though adverse side effects do seldom occur, one of the most typical reactions to bee pollen is bee pollen allergies.

What Causes Bee Pollen Allergies?

If you or someone you know has any sort of allergy (as up to 40% of the population does), you may notice that the allergies tend to spike during the spring and fall months.  This is due to an increase in mold and pollen in the atmosphere.

Allergies are more than itchy eyes and runny noses.  The reason why our bodily reactions are so harshly to these changes in the environment is because our immune system is telling our body that these things are harmful to us.  As such, it sets about “attacking” and trying to kill off these foreign substances.  Things like pet dander, dust and pollen are not necessarily harmful to us, but your immune system is “hypersensitive” to that substance and “overreacts” to it.

What are some common Bee Pollen Allergic Reactions I should be Aware Of?

If you have ever been stung by a bee or been around pollen in the past and have noticed a reaction, there is a good chance that you are allergic to bee pollen.  Some of the most common reactions include:

Hives

Rashes

Swollen/Scratchy/Itchy throat

Breathing Difficulties

Hay fever

One of the more dangerous bee pollen allergies that can occur is anaphylactic shock.  An anaphylactic shock causes your mouth and throat to swell up to the point where it is difficult or downright impossible to breath.

If you have ever suffered from anaphylactic shock, had an adverse reaction to bee venom or bee pollen, or have asthma then it is recommended that you do not take a bee pollen supplement.  Consult your doctor if you have any concerns. 

What if I’m not sure if I have an Allergy to Bee Pollen?

The best way to introduce any new routine to a dietary regime is to start off slow.  Bee pollen supplements are available in small dose forms so you can begin by taking, for example, half a tablet to one tablet at a time.  If you are taking a granule form of bee pollen, then start off with just a few granules.  Gradually increase the amount you are taking every 2-3 days until you have reached the desired dosage of one teaspoon a day. Continually monitor your body for any reactions.

I’ve heard Bee Pollen can actually help my Allergies – is this true?

Yes, bee pollen supplements can help you get rid of your allergies entirely.  It is a food that is dense in nutrients, which has astounding positive effects on our immune system.  Bee pollen also contains “bioflavonoid quercetin”, a chemical which stops the release of histamines in our bodies.  The inhibition of histamines means that you may not suffer any of those nasty allergic reactions to allergens at all – particularly airborne allergens.

What You need to Know about Bee Pollen Side Effects

Before introducing any sort of new food or chemical into your body, it is always best to do a bit of homework and find out just exactly how that item is going to affect your overall well being.  If you are thinking of or are already taking a bee pollen supplement, it is important familiarize yourself with both the good and the potentially bad bee pollen side effects you may experience. 

The Good Bee Pollen Side Effects

The benefits of bee pollen supplements are astounding.  First, let’s look at the vast amount of nutrients that are contained within bee pollen.

Vitamins:  Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 Thiamin, Vitamin B2 Riboflavin, Vitamin B3 Nancin, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6 Pyridoxin, Vitamin B12, Pantotheic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin F, Vitamin H, Vitamin K, Vitamin PP, Choline, Inositol, Folic acid, and Rutin.

Mineral Content:  Titanium, Silica, Boron, Selenium, Molybdenum, Manganese, Magnesium, Chlorine, Sodium, Sulfur, Zinc, Iodine, Copper, Iron, Potassium, Phosphorus, and Calcium.

Other nutrients:  Carbohydrates, Amino acid, Fatty acids, Fats, Enzymes and Co-Enzymes.

Bee pollen has a lot to boast about.  It contains 11 enzymes and co-enzymes, 11 carbohydrates, 14 fatty acids, 22 amino acids, 18 vitamins, 25 minerals and is 25% proteins.  Not only that, but it also has up to 59 trace elements and minerals that are not contained in most vitamin and mineral dietary supplements today.

Now to the good side effects.  Apart from your health improving substantially, you will find that:

You have an increased libido (the sex drive will improve in both men AND women)

You will age better and stay youthful longer

You will have an increase in energy levels

You will have an increased metabolism (which, of course, can help one lose weight a lot faster!)

You will see a decrease in your cholesterol levels

If you are a man, bee pollen will help you prevent a number of prostrate problems

If you are a woman, you will notice your menstrual symptoms decrease in intensity or completely disappear

You can actually cure your allergies to airborne allergens by taking what is often considered an airborne allergen – bee pollen!

There are studies that also have some inclination to suggesting that bee pollen can help treat and even cure asthma, liver diseases, kidney diseases, and some forms of heart disease.

The Bad Bee Pollen Side Effects

With any “good”, there’s always a flipside to the coin.  First and foremost, if you have ever had a bad reaction to bee pollen or bee venom (such as a bee sting) in the past, be particularly wary if you choose to use a bee pollen supplement.  Be sure to discuss its usage thoroughly with your doctor before starting to take it.

Those with asthma should also use extreme caution and discuss taking a bee pollen supplement of any kind with their doctor.  If you have suffered from an anaphylactic shock before (the swelling of the throat to the point you cannot breathe, convulsions and loss of consciousness) then it is recommend that you do NOT supplement your diet with bee pollen.

Whether or not you have suffered from any bad bee pollen side effects, it is always a good idea to use caution and begin taking bee pollen supplements in small doses to start off with.  This will help you determine whether or not you will suffer from bad bee pollen side effects, or if you will be able to enjoy the vast amount of wonderful bee pollen side effects that this super food has to offer.

Get Healthy with Fresh Bee Pollen

FACT: Fresh bee pollen is one of the most nutrient-rich foods that has ever been discovered.

FACT:  Fresh bee pollen has been used for centuries for both health and medicinal purposes.

FACT:  Almost anyone can enjoy fresh bee pollen!

Fresh bee pollen is the rawest form of bee pollen that you can possibly find.  But just how do we end up with bee pollen that is available for human consumption?

First, we have to understand where bee pollen comes from.  As we know, bees travel from flower to flower, gathering nectar to bring back to the hive. There can be hundreds or thousands of bees per hive.  As the bees seek out the very best nectar in these flowering plants, they are also actively seeking out the highest quality of bee pollen (which are called entomophile pollen grains, a pollen grain with a greater nutrient content than other type of pollen).  Bees collect fresh bee pollen on their legs, which they then usually bring back to the hive and use as a protein source.  Pollen also brushes off of the bees as they fly, which helps fertilize and propagate the growth of plants.

When it comes to bee pollen supplements for human consumption, the fresh bee pollen is collected outside of the bee hive before the bees disappear inside.  Fresh bee pollen can contain any where from 3 to 20% water content, so it is important that the water is carefully removed so as to leave the fragile elements of the fresh bee pollen undisturbed.  This helps ensure that you are truly enjoying as many health benefits from the bee pollen as possible.

There are three common methods of drying fresh bee pollen:  freeze drying, heat drying, and air drying.  Freeze and heat drying are the methods that are used to dry fresh bee pollen most often as it is quick and easy.  The drawback, however, is that both freezing and heating up the bee pollen granules may very well be destroying the natural healthy enzymes, thus reducing the benefits of the pollen supplement.  Air drying, on the other hand, is certainly most preferred as this form of drying fresh bee pollen leaves the pollen undisturbed.  Air drying will take a longer amount of time, but the scope of health benefits that you will get from an air dried bee pollen supplement are insurmountable.

The packaging and the form of bee pollen also affects the integrity of the nutrients.  Fresh bee pollen which is allowed to air dry in its granule state and is consumed as such is the best way to gain the most health benefits.  A good idea is to soak the granules in water or juice to help break down the harder outer shell so your body can best absorb the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and other important enzymes that are in a bee pollen supplement.

Many health food stores carry these air dried bee pollen supplements.  If you are looking for a raw and more organic fresh bee pollen to dry yourself, visit your local bee keeper and query about prices and availability.

Why Honey Bee Pollen is Good for You

Wondering what the “buzz” about honey bee pollen is all about?  Pollen is more than just an irritating dust that causes several people to suffer from mild to severe allergic reactions each spring.  Honey bee pollen is a “super food” that contains all of the nutrients we need to sustain our lives.  It is natural and safe for most people to take on a daily basis.  So just where can we find this honey bee pollen?

Where to Find Honey Bee Pollen

You can find honey bee pollen in a number of places these days.  You can purchase commercial bee pollen from almost any health food store.  Commercial honey bee pollen is often freeze- or heat dried so that its shelf-life is extended.  It is argued, however, that both the freeze and heat drying process of honey bee pollen kills off many of the beneficial enzymes, though very little research that proves or disproves this occurs

TIP:  If you are seeking a commercial brand of honey bee pollen, be sure that the company you purchase it from is a GMP (pharmaceutical good manufacturing practice) compliant facility.  These facilities must comply to the highest manufacturing standards.

Another option is to find a local bee keeper who offers bee pollen (you can locate a bee keeper by contacting your chamber of commerce).  Their honey bee pollen is 100% natural, though bear in mind that it needs to be refrigerated and bought in small quantities as bee pollen can “go bad” fairly quickly.  

TIP:  If you choose to visit a local bee keeper to check out their honey bee pollen, be sure that the pollen they offer has a variety of colors.  This ensures that you are receiving the maximum amount of nutrients from the pollen.

The most convenient way of purchasing honey bee pollen is to do so over the Internet.  Buying honey bee pollen over the internet allows you to compare prices, quantities, and the type of pollen you are interested in (i.e. raw pollen, freeze dried pollen or heat dried pollen).

What Forms can I Find Honey Bee Pollen In?

Honey bee pollen comes in an amazing amount of forms for you to use.  This includes:

Capsule

Tablets

Lotions and Creams

Liquid 

Powder

Granules

You can even find honey bee pollen in many natural honey products, including natural unpasteurized honey itself.

How can I Get the Most from my Bee Pollen Supplement?

To gain the most nutritional benefits from your honey bee pollen, buy it raw and in a granule form.  It is more costly this way, but the raw granules definitely offer the most nutrients at the best absorption rate possible.

To ensure that your body does absorb as much of the honey bee pollen as possible, take the granules and soak them in juice or water for up to 12 hours (the longer, the better).  This soak will break down the shell that you will find encasing the honey bee pollen which in turn allows you to absorb close to 90% of pollen (as opposed to the 7% that would be absorbed otherwise).

What You need to Know about Bees Pollen

When we think of a honey bee’s pollen, we tend to think of buzzing insects and flowers.  We think of allergies and runny noses and endless sneezes.  As bee’s pollen is explored and dissected further, we are also finding that bees pollen is incredibly healthy and good for us too.

Where does a Bee’s Pollen come from?

A bee’s pollen comes from the ever so tiny male seed particle that you can find on almost every flower blossom around the world.  It is a dusty substance that collects on a bee’s legs as they buzz to every different flower blossom.  As it is collected, the bees produce enzymes which are then infused into that pollen.

To collect the pollen for human consumption, bee keepers will create a grate that they then place over the hive or honeycomb. The grate will “brush” the bees pollen from their legs and can then be collected by the bee keeper several times a week.  The bee’s pollen is typically stored in a frozen state until it is ready for human consumption.

What is In Bees Pollen?

Would you believe that there are over 96 nutrients in that dusty substance?  Or how about how bees pollen actually has each and every nutrient that we as human beings need to survive?  Bee’s pollen is becoming all the rage since it is a natural supplement that human beings can take that guarantees that we are meeting our daily nutritional needs.

Bee’s pollen is made up of 3.5% ash, 48.5% carbohydrates, 9.9% fatty acids, 14.2% fiber and 21.2% protein – all nutrients that are essential to our health, and in healthy quantities.  In addition to this, you will also find:

Retinol (vitamin A)

Thiamine (vitamin B1)

Riboflavin (vitamin B2)

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)

Pantothenic Acid (part of the B-complex vitamins)

Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C)

Tocopherol (vitamin E)

Nicotinic Acid (nicotinamide)

NOTE:  The best way to ensure that you are receiving all nutrients from bees pollen is to mix the bees pollen supplement you are taking.  Plan on taking not only a local bees pollen supplement (such as if you went to a bee keeper to obtain your bees pollen supplement), but also a bees pollen from another part of the continent or area of the world.

What Can Bees Pollen Do for Me?

Apart from bee’s pollen helping keep us in tip top shape, you can enjoy these other benefits from a bee pollen supplement too:

Weight Control

Reduced cholesterol

Resistance to allergies

Increased energy

Increased fertility for both men and women

Restoration of sexual desire 

Relieves a number of prostrate issues

Alleviates menstrual cramps

Alleviates headaches (migraines in particular)

Quickens the healing of wounds

Gets the digestive tract back ON track

Helps cure depression and chronic fatigue

Before taking a bees pollen supplement, be sure to discuss the benefits and potential side effects (such as a flair up of allergies or asthma) with a nutritionist, natural health practitioner or with your doctor for further information.

Bee Honey Pollen

Why Bee Honey Pollen is Better than your Multivitamin

When you are looking at the back of a multivitamin package, what are you looking for?  Vitamins?  Minerals?  Protein and calcium?  Manufactured multivitamins are undoubtedly beneficial for our health, but if you are seeking a healthier and an even better absorbed supplement to meet your daily nutritional requirements, you may want to try bee honey pollen supplements.

Is there a difference between honey bees and bees?

Yes!  There are approximately twenty-thousand known species of bees, only 7 of which are honey bees (with an estimated 44 subspecies of these bees).  There is evidence that honey bees and bee honey pollen have existed for over 14 million years thanks to an unearthed bee specimen in Nevada.

What makes bee honey pollen so special is that in recent years, there has been a notable decline in the honey bee populations. Some believe that it is due to changes in agricultural practice, while others seem to believe that the decline has something to do with the recent climate changes.  What ever the reason, honey bee pollen is growing in demand as the honey bees themselves disappear.

How do we get Bee Honey Pollen?

Honey bees gather nectar from flowering plants.  As they travel from blossom to blossom they collect pollen in their “pollen basket”.  From there, the pollen is carried back to the hive and is usually used as food.

When collecting bee honey pollen for human consumption, a specially created grate is placed in front of the honey comb or hive so that the bee pollen basket is “emptied” into a contraption which can then be collected by the bee keeper.  Bee keepers tend to collect the pollen every couple of days.

How can I take a Bee Pollen Supplement?

There are a number of ways:  As a pill, a powder, or you can have bee honey pollen infused directly into your honey! Having bee honey pollen on a daily basis will give you a full dietary compliment of:

Vitamins and minerals

Proteins

Phytochemical nutrients

How should I begin taking a Bee Pollen Supplement?

When you start your bee honey pollen supplement regime, it’s important that you start off slowly.  This will allow you to observe your body for any poor side effects, such as an allergic reaction.

Introducing bee honey pollen to your system may best be done by starting with taking a few of the pollen granules per day.  After a few days with no adverse side effects, increase the dosage slowly until you work up to a teaspoon of bee pollen a day.  If you would like to start by taking bee honey pollen in the honey form, start off by taking half a teaspoon a day and gradually work up to a tablespoon or two of honey per day.

Is there anything I should know about before taking Bee Honey Pollen?

If you have had any sort of allergic reaction to bee stings/bee venom in the past, be particularly wary if you plan to start a bee honey pollen nutritional regime. Those who have asthma or who have suffered from anaphylactic shock should be especially careful if taking a bee pollen supplement.  Be sure to discuss supplementing your diet with bee honey pollen before you begin so that you are aware of all of the potential side effects and how they may affect you.