What's All The Buzz About Organic Bee Pollen?
When it comes to wellness, i'm all about working smarter- but not necessarily harder. And one way I use that approach to health and wellness is through incorporating nutrient-dense foods into my diet. This is the first blog post in a series of informative posts all about nutrient-dense foods... starting with bee pollen!
And in full transparency— the irony of this post in particular is that I don't actually eat bee pollen personally (because i’m allergic to certain bee products 🙃). But i do keep it in our home and incorporate it into snacks for my husband and daughter to take advantage of its unique nutrients.
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What is Bee Pollen?
Let’s start at the beginning… Bee pollen is a natural substance that is made by honey bees. The bees go from flower to flower collecting pollen on their fuzzy bodies and then return to the hive. There it is combined with honey, bee saliva, and other enzymes to create bee pollen granules. When researching to write this post I learned that pollen is the primary source of protein for bees!
This bee pollen has been a popular (and highly revered) substance in human history for both medicinal and nutritional purposes. Ancient Egyptians considered it a sacred food and used it in ancient rituals, Native Americans used it medicinally, and in Traditional Chinese Medicine it is used for a variety of ailments, among many other historic uses!
Today, you can find these granules at most health food stores or order from some brands online. But what are the potential health benefits of including this into your diet?
Nutrients in Bee Pollen
High-quality raw bee pollen is often called a "natural superfood" because of its nutrient content, vitamins, and minerals. Some of the main nutrient benefits are:
Rich source of vitamins, including B vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12, which are essential for energy metabolism and nervous system function
High in minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, supporting bone health, muscle function, and immune system function.
Contains amino acids, the building blocks of protein, aiding in tissue repair and muscle growth.
Provides high content of antioxidants such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and damaging oxidation
Provides carbohydrates and proteins, offering a quick energy boost and supporting muscle recovery after exercise.
Rich in fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are important for brain health and heart health.
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Potential Health Benefits of Bee Pollen
With the high nutritional value, there are health professionals that share potential health benefits. Some of the common ones included are:
increase energy and stamina (thanks to all those b vitamins and minerals!)
anti-inflammatory properties
supports wound healing process
supports the immune system
antibiotic-type properties
allergy relief- This one is always a bit ironic to me since I personally struggle with since I talk about the risk of bee pollen being a potential allergen. But for people with seasonal pollen allergies, bee products from local hives have been shown to help minimize your symptoms. Basically, those allergens are inside the bee products and you are strengthening your body's tolerance through consuming those products.
Ways to Incorporate Bee Pollen into Your Diet
There are countless ways to take advantage of the active substances in bee pollen. You can simple mix it into your favorite smoothie, add a teaspoon of pollen to yogurt or on top ice cream. I've also added it to homemade granola bars for my daughter to snack on.
Another common use is to dissolve it in water and add into drinks!
Make sure when using pollen that you are purchasing a natural product for optimal nutritional integrity. I love buying this pure organic bee pollen from amazon for my family (it’s the same company we purchase propolis throat spray from!)-- but also check with any local beekeepers to get those local benefits if possible.
Word of caution
Or actually two…
As with any kind of bee product, there are potential allergens to chat about. When I first started using bee pollen products, i noticed myself feeling nauseous, getting a headache, and overall just not feeling well. I didn't connect one and one initially, but finally realized that these were signs of allergic reactions. So for myself, I have stopped incorporating it into my foods. But my husband and daughter both love to have it in yogurt or smoothies and I love that they are able to take advantage of its wide variety of nutrients.
So with that, make sure you are cautious when first taking bee pollen. The standard recommendation is to start with just one bee pollen granule and watch for symptoms. Then as you progress, you can increase the amount you take until you are taking a full serving. Every person reacts a little bit differently to bee products, so while I have a pollen allergy, I can tolerate natural honey just fine. As with all wellness advice, look at your own symptoms and history and make an educated decision.
Another important thing to note is that bee pollen has been shown to increase bleeding when combined with blood-thinning medications. This could mean you are at risk for increased bleeding or bruising- another reason I always recommend speaking with your healthcare provider before starting something new.
As always, everything on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice. Speak to your healthcare provider to determine what is right for you and your health goals :)