BEE POLLEN: 15 PROPERTIES FOR HEALTH - NUTRITION - 2024

The p olen bee or ragweed is a mixture of nectar, enzymes, wax, secretions and pollen of flowers. It is produced by worker bees and is used as a food source for the hive. Because it is composed of simple sugars, minerals, vitamins, and proteins, it is a highly nutritious food.

Bee pollen is recognized as a therapeutic product because it contains groups of chemical compounds used for medicinal purposes. In its composition there are about 250 substances, including amino acids, lipids, vitamins, macro- and micronutrients, and flavonoids.

The health properties of bee pollen are multiple: it is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, protects the liver, stimulates the immune system, improves muscle mass, prevents infections, improves heart function, has antidepressant properties and others that I will explain below..

How do bees produce pollen?

Bees collect pollen from plants and mix it with a small dose of secretion from their salivary glands or nectar. They then place it in baskets that are located on the tibia of its hind legs called pollen loads.

After collecting the pollen, they take it to the hive, where they pack it into the cells of the honeycomb. The surface of the pollen they collected is then covered with a thin layer of honey and wax, creating 'bee bread'.

Bee bread undergoes anaerobic fermentation and is protected by the appearance of lactic acid. The bee bread serves as the basic protein source of the bee colony.

How is it available?

Bee pollen is available in many health food stores. You can find bee pollen in dietary supplements, as well as skin products.

It can be purchased pre-ground or in granules to be added to smoothies, yogurt, cottage cheese, cereals, baked goods and salads. Or they are infused in hot water for 3 hours to make it liquid.

Chemical composition

• 30% digestible carbohydrates.
• 26% sugars (mainly fructose and glucose).
• 23% protein (including 10 percent of essential amino acids).
• 5% lipids (including essential fatty acids).
• 2% phenolic compounds (including flavonoids).
• 1.6% minerals (including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, silicon, and selenium).
• 0.6% water soluble vitamins and acids (including B1, B2, B6 and C).
• 0.1% of fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, E, and D).

Health benefits of bee pollen

1- It is an antioxidant

The antioxidant properties were measured in a study conducted in 2005, and the researchers found that it has remarkable activity. In fact they suggested that the inhibitory activities of bee pollen were similar to those found in fermented foods such as fish sauce, natto, miso, cheese and vinegar.

Studies reveal that the enzymatic hydrolysates in bee bread are beneficial not only for incorporation into healthy food diets, but also for patients subjected to various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.

Thus, the results of another study carried out by the University of Los Andes, Venezuela, suggest that the ethanol extract of bee pollen has a powerful antioxidant activity comparable to that of human plasma, probably due to the content of total polyphenols.

This finding is important because it means that bee pollen can not only be considered as a dietary supplement, but also as a functional food.

2- Ideal as an anti-inflammatory

In a study from Gazi University, Turkey, researchers concluded that bee pollen possesses anti-inflammatory qualities. In turn, another study from the Nagaragawa Research Center, Japan, suggests that the ethanol extract of bee pollen is a powerful anti-inflammatory.

3- It is a liver protector

In an investigation that aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of bee pollen, the results showed that it protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress, promoting the healing of liver damage induced by CCl4 toxicity. This suggests that it can be used as a safe alternative to silibinin in the treatment of liver damage.

4- Serves as a dietary supplement

In an experiment with newborn rabbits, one group was fed a bee pollen supplement and another was not. The results showed a significant increase in the growth and survival rate of the group that consumed the bee pollen.

Also scientists from the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland, recommend bee pollen as a dietary supplement.

5- Stimulates the immune system

Bee pollen has antimicrobial and antiviral properties, according to a joint study by universities in Portugal and Spain, which evaluated the biological assets of eight types of commercial bee pollen. All samples exhibited antimicrobial activity.

On the other hand, researchers from the University of Juntendo, Japan, conducted experiments in which they showed that bee pollen has anti-allergic action, due to its ability to inhibit the activation of mast cells, which play an important role in the early and late stages of allergic reactions.

6- Improves muscle mass

According to the Human Nutrition Unit of Auvergne, France, fresh bee pollen contains nutrients of interest to malnourished people, so according to their conclusions, it can help improve muscle mass and metabolism.

7- Prevents infections and relieves pain

The application of pollen cream helps to improve blood circulation in the vessels and moisturizes the skin. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic action of flavonoids in bee pollen helps to relieve pain and prevent platelet aggregation.

Pollen also helps prevent infection due to its antimicrobial activity, which allows a wound or burn to heal quickly (31st International Apicultural Congress Apimondia, 1987).

8- Protect the heart

Although more studies are needed to confirm this, researchers at Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, conducted a 1998 study in which they confirmed the cardioprotective properties of bee pollen.

9- Protects the liver from alcohol

A study carried out by the Department of Urology and Andrology of the Osaka Juso Ciudadanos Municipal Hospital, Japan, in which seventy-nine patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) participated, treated with bee pollen extract, concluded that it had a slight beneficial effect on the variables of prostate volume and urination.

Another study suggests something even riskier, which is that it considers bee pollen a promising candidate for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

11- It has antidepressant properties

According to Wójcicki J. in 1989, the bee pollen administered together with antidepressants allows the reduction of the dose and improves the general state in a short period of time.

Furthermore, long-term use of pollen, even in small doses, is presumed to allow gradual improvement in mood, restores the desire to live, and strengthens the physical organism.

12- Relieves symptoms of menopause

Hot flashes, night sweats, pain during intercourse, hair loss, forgetfulness, depression, and difficulty initiating and / or staying asleep are common problems in menopausal women.

A recent study showed that pollen and extract mixtures, as well as bee pollen, can alleviate menopausal symptoms. Other research confirms that bee pollen is a natural option for menopausal women with breast cancer.

13- It has an energizing effect

Due to its nutritional profile, bee pollen supplies a type of energy that, although not that of an adrenaline rush like that of a cup of black coffee, is a gradual sensation of increased vitality with a long duration.

14- Help with premenstrual syndrome

In 2002, a study of 29 women suggested that bee pollen might alleviate some of the symptoms of PMS.

15- It is a perfect sweetener

Bee pollen is an excellent natural alternative to sweeten foods and drinks. They can be added to yogurt, cereals, and baked goods, making them ideal for smoothies, shakes, smoothies, cookies, and more.

What is the recommended dosage?

There is no clinical evidence to guide us on what dose of bee pollen to consume. Some recommend adults to start with 1 teaspoon in the morning, half an hour before breakfast.

Is Bee Pollen Safe?

Bee pollen appears to be safe, but if you are allergic to pollen it can cause a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing, hives, swelling, and anaphylaxis.

Bee pollen is also apparently not safe for pregnant or nursing women. On the other hand, it can cause increased bleeding if taken with certain blood thinners such as warfarin.

Products labeled bee pollen that promise to help you lose weight or change the shape of your body can actually harm you, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

They have been found to contain hidden and potentially dangerous ingredients that can be harmful to people suffering from conditions such as irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and bipolar disorders (a brain disorder that causes unusual mood swings).

The FDA recently warned consumers to stop using one of these pollen products called Zi Xiu Tang Bee, because it contains at least one potentially harmful ingredient that is not listed on the product label. Consumers can also consult the FDA website for a list of products previously tested and found to contain undeclared drug ingredients.

There are authors who argue that there is not enough scientific evidence to prove the benefit of bee pollen for health.

Check with your doctor before taking bee pollen.

Interesting data

• According to the latest national data, a colony of bees gives from one to seven kilograms of pollen per year. Every day, the amount of pollen collected in a bee colony is 50 to 250 grams.
• There are special devices or pollen traps. The bees have to fight their way through the traps to enter the hive, and they lose some of the pollen basket, so they are sent back to collect more.
• The color of the pollen varies, ranging from bright yellow to black.
• Bees normally collect pollen from the same plant, but sometimes they collect pollen from many different plant species.
• Pollen grains depend on the plant species: they differ in shape, color, size, and weight.