What Are the Benefits of Taking Bee Pollen?

Bee pollen is the male dust-sized seed located on the end of the stamen of flower blooms. The ancient Egyptians and Chinese recognized bee pollen as a medicine and its use was advocated by the Greek physician Hippocrates. Bee pollen cannot be synthesized in a laboratory because scientists do not know what all of the ingredients are; the bees have a few secrets of their own.

The Role of Bees

• Worker bees collect pollen from flowers by scraping the pollen loose from the stamen with her jaws and legs. Bees then mix the gathered pollen with honey and store it in their pollen baskets. When the baskets are full, the pollen forms a tiny golden capsule. It is taken back to the hive to feed the young bees. During flight, pollen-laden bees constantly brush themselves clean, leaving a dusting of pollen wherever they fly and pollinating most of the plant life on the planet.

Uses

• The benefits of bee pollen are extensive and evolving research continues to uncover new benefits as time goes on. Dr. Joseph Mercola of the National Health Center attributes the following to bee pollen: it corrects the chemical imbalance in overweight individuals, causing them to shed excess pounds; guards against seasonal allergies, asthma and cancer; increases energy, stamina and mental clarity; improves prostate health; clears skin blemishes; boosts immune function; aids digestion; lowers blood lipids; balances blood composition; enhances sexual function and reverses the signs and symptoms of aging. Athletes take bee pollen to improve their physical performance.

Nutrition

• Bee pollen is the most nutritionally complete food on the planet, containing all of the essential life sustaining elements that humans need to survive. According to the Guide to Bee Pollen Health, bee pollen contains 50 percent carbohydrates, 35 percent protein, three percent vitamins and minerals, two percent fatty acids and five percent remains the secret ingredient of bees, including digestive enzymes. Bee pollen contains antioxidants, flavinoids, rutin, 22 amino acids and is exceptionally high in B vitamins.

Considerations

• There are no known side effects of bee pollen. However, those with allergies to bees and pregnant and nursing women should avoid it. Prior to adding a bee pollen supplement to your diet, ensure that you will not have an allergic reaction by taking very small amounts, 1 tsp. per day, until you know you are safe. Heating bee pollen kills beneficial enzymes.

Research

• William Robinson published perhaps the most important piece of research on the benefits of bee pollen in 1948. Robinson bred mice to develop fatal cancerous tumors. They averaged 33 weeks with a 100 percent incidence of tumor development. Of the mice fed bee pollen, those that developed tumors developed them 9.8 weeks later, and some did not develop tumors at all.