What Is Bee Pollen?

The Secrets of Bee Pollen Uncovered

Before you find yourself tempted to swat at that bee that has been buzzing around you this afternoon, stop and think about what that bee actually does for us.  That apple, those flowers, and even that chocolate bar you enjoyed for dessert are all thanks to bee pollen and pollination.

But that’s not all.  Not only is bee pollen the reason for so many fruits, vegetables and plantation we have outdoors, but the more we learn about bee pollen the more scientists recognize how beneficial bee pollen can be for our health.

What is in Bee Pollen?

Did you know that bee pollen actually has more than 96 nutrients in it?  Did you know that every single nutrient that is needed for us to live is contained within this finite dust?  Here’s a short list of the nutrients that can be found in bee pollen:

22 amino acids

B-Complex vitamins

Vitamin C

Folic acid

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

Enzymes

Carotene

Iron

Zinc

Calcium

Copper

Potassium

Magnesium

How can Bee Pollen Benefit Me?

Thanks to the numerous vitamins and minerals that bee pollen has to offer, taking approximately 35 grams of bee pollen every day can guarantee that your every nutritional need is being met.  When every nutritional need is being met, you are then able to enjoy the health benefits that come along with a healthier life style, such as:

Increased immunity.  Vitamins B, C, D, and E, as well as beta-carotene, calcium, selenium, proteins, magnesium, lecithin, cysteine and nucleic acids can all be found in bee pollen.  These have been proven to strengthen one’s immune system.

Become allergy-free!  Though pollen may be the cause for many of your sniffles and your red, itchy eyes, bee pollen can actually help you build up a resistance to allergens and prevent allergic reactions (such as hay fever).

Get Energized!  Many doctors and nutritionists believe that the long term use of bee pollen will also leave you with increased energy and improved endurance.

Reduce Stress.  Receiving the required amount of amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins help regulate your mood, thereby helping you cope and manage stress.  Plus, if you are feeling less fatigued and discover you have more energy, the exercise you’ll be able to take on will help you decompress and relax! 

Are there Any Side Effects I Should Know About?

If you are planning on taking bee pollen or any sort of bee pollen supplement, do be aware of any potential side effects, such as:

Coughing

Wheezing

Flushed Skin

Hives

Itchy/”Scratchy” throat

Anaphylactic shock

If you do have any history of pollen allergies, asthma, or bee sting allergies it is important to discuss the potential side effects with your health care practitioner.  Anaphylactic shock (which includes breathing problems, convulsions, and loss of consciousness) may also be a side effect.

When you do plan on taking a bee pollen supplement, do be sure to start with small doses so you can monitor your body’s reaction.  Should you notice no side effects, slowly increase the dose of bee pollen until you can be sure you do not have an allergy.

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.

Why Natural Bee Pollen is Better for Your Health

You have heard about how great bee pollen supplements are for you.  You’ve heard about how bee pollen contains all of the essential nutrients required to sustain human life.  But all because natural bee pollen may start off as having up to 97 essential nutrients packed within its fine dust doesn’t mean that the bee pollen you buy in the store necessarily offers the same amount of  benefits for your health.

It is important to recognize that not all bee pollen supplements are created equal.  Many bee pollen supplements undergo several treatments: processing, coloring, dyeing, added preservatives, heating, freezing, grinding crushing… each one of these treatments only further kills off the nutrients that are naturally contained within a natural bee pollen. Because of this, it is essential that you do seek out a natural bee pollen that has been left in its most natural state: a bee pollen granule.

Sure, you will find bee pollen tablets and pills and powders and liquids and several other commercial products that claim to have bee pollen in them.  But read the back of the package: Do you see any dyes?  Coloring?  What sort of manufacturing or processing has that so-called natural bee pollen been through?  If the bee pollen is not in a granule form and is on a store shelf, you know there must be preservatives in there.  Seek out bagged and bottled natural bee pollen granules that offer a diversity of color.

There are two sources that I find offer easily accessible and good quality natural bee pollen:  a bee keeper, or an online bee pollen or natural health store.  Bee keepers are wonderful as you can actually inspect the natural bee pollen right then and there and see the area the bee pollen is coming from (if you are trying to buy bee pollen that may be organic, this is a great route to take).  The drawback to a bee keeper is that the different types of flowers that a bee has collected pollen from may be lessened.  This means that the pollen you are buying may not have as many nutrients in it.

TIP:  To find a local bee keeper, check out bee keepers in your area through an Internet search or visit your Chamber of Commerce.

Buying natural bee pollen online allows you to easily compare prices, quantities and review the company to check out the quality of the natural bee pollen they are selling.  The drawback of course is that you cannot actually physically inspect what you are buying before purchasing.  Again, be sure to perform an Internet search on the company and seek out any reviews or customer complaints.  Many online natural bee pollen companies also have a customer service line you can call with any queries or concerns you may have before buying their product.

It is important to recognize that buying natural bee pollen means that it has a much shorter storage life, so buy natural bee pollen in small yet frequent quantities to ensure that you always have a fresh supply at hand.

How Bee Pollen Nutrition Supplements can Help You

Looking for a new way to get the nutrition that your body needs?  Try bee pollen nutrition supplements.  Believe it or not, bee pollen supplements are just as – if not even more – complete than that multivitamin you have been taking.  Though many may frown upon the idea of taking a bee pollen nutrition supplement, chances are those people just do not know enough about the benefits of bee pollen.

First, it’s important to know what vitamins and minerals are part of a bee pollen nutrition supplement.  Bee pollen supplements contain a variety of different vitamins, which includes:

Vitamin A

Vitamin B

Vitamin C

Vitamin D

Vitamin E

Vitamin K

When it comes to bee pollen nutrition supplements, they are also amongst the best kind of supplement to take when it comes to offering you the amounts of minerals you need each day.  Some of the minerals that can be found in a bee pollen supplement include:

Zinc

Iron

Copper

Potassium

Calcium

Manganese

Magnesium

In addition to the above vitamins and minerals, bee pollen is also loaded with antioxidants which help fight off any free radicals, which in turn reduces the risk of cancer and helps combat the signs of aging.

Though the actual composition of bee pollen varies slightly, generally all bee pollen is 24% protein, 27% carbs and 5% fat.

So what do these nutrients mean for you?  Not only do these supplements mean that you will be living a healthier lifestyle, but it also means that you will be combating illnesses better than ever.  Having a full compliment of nutrients strengthens your immune system and will keep you from falling ill.  The bee pollen nutrition contained with these supplements also helps people stave off long-term illnesses and diseases, control diabetes, and lose weight.

But that’s not all.  Did you know that taking a bee pollen supplement can also boost your sex drive AND your fertility at the same time (yes, this applies to both men and women)?  You’ll feel more energized, less depressed, and taking on a bee pollen nutrition plan will also help you fight any pollen-related allergies in the future.

Not all bee pollen supplements are as good as the other, however.  Many commercial bee pollen supplements are frozen or heat dried, which may deplete the bee pollen of the essential enzymes that help improve our health.  The form of bee pollen also makes a difference of its quality and the amount of benefits you will enjoy from it.  If a bee pollen nutrition supplement comes in a:

Capsule

Tablet

Liquid

…then it may not be as easily absorbed into the body as if you were to take it in its purest state:  a raw granule.

Raw bee pollen can be found in a couple of ways:  online or through a bee keeper.  Trying to hunt down a bee keeper may seem like a complex task, but a quick call to your local Chamber of Commerce will offer you a name or two of the closest bee keepers in your area.  Give them a ring and see if they sell raw pollen.  When online, be sure to compare prices, quantities, and quality of the products any company offers.  Once you find a company that sells bee pollen nutrition products, begin researching the product and try to find customer reviews.

NOTE:  Before starting any new bee pollen nutrition routine, be sure to discuss the supplement with your health care practitioner to learn about the benefits and potential side effects.

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.