Bee pollen is highly praised for its amazing nutritional value, for its ability to boost the immune system, to fight certain diseases and to improve the overall health and quality of life. It can even be used alongside weight loss programs.
What is pollen?
Pollens are male gametes of plants, used for reproduction. Bees collect pollen grains and bring them back to the hives to feed their young. Bee pollen is pollen collected by bees and brought back to their hives where it is used as food, especially for the young.
Bee pollen contains 40 percent of protein, which is a very high content. Other than protein, it is rich in vitamins A, C, D, E and of B complex vitamins. It contains 22 different amino acids, as well as polyunsaturated fats. Bee pollen is a valuable source of antioxidants, thanks to its high content of carotenoids and bioflavonoids. All that, coupled with more than 5000 enzymes and co-enzymes, makes bee pollen one of the most valuable super-foods available in nature.
Health benefits of bee pollen
Many people use bee pollen to strengthen their immune system, especially during late fall, winter and early spring, when common cold and flu are frequent and common. Vitamins, minerals like calcium and magnesium, nucleic acids and polyunsaturated fats work together to improve many of the basic body functions and to keep the body strong, healthy and energized.
Bee pollen can also be used for desensitization from allergies. It contains small amounts of allergens from the locally grown plants, which lowers the body’s sensitivity and reduces the chance of pollen allergies. However, this only works if the pollen comes from the local area.
Metabolism strengthening
Some experts claim that bee pollen can be used in the battle against obesity. It restores the chemical balance that, in some people, leads to weight gain, and it also speeds up the metabolism. In addition, the lecithins present in bee pollen grains help dissolve and eliminate fat cells from the body.
In men, bee pollen reduces the chance of prostate cancer while in women it improves the reproductive health and relieves the symptoms of PMS.
Side effects of bee pollen
Even though bee pollen is very healthy and beneficial, it does have certain side effects. The major one is related to allergic reactions. The consumption of bee pollen can sometimes trigger an allergic reaction in people who have asthma or who are sensitive to bee stings. The severity of the reaction can be mild or severe, which varies from person to person.
Another downside of bee pollen is that it absorbs environmental pollutants from the air. This means that pollen gathered from the areas close to large industrial zones may actually contain toxins.
Your thoughts on this
Loading...