Bee pollen granules

Bee pollen (Apis mellifera) refers to the pollen grains that collect on the legs of worker bees as they partake of the nectar produced by flowering plants. The pollen, which is normally mixed with saliva and reserved nectar for the purpose of feeding male drones, is transported back to the hive via specialized pockets on the rear legs of the bees. However, commercial beekeepers can successfully capture the pollen by placing a mesh screen over the entrance to the hive so that the pollen is swept off the bees as they enter. The accumulated pollen is then collected from trays that lie beneath the hive’s entrance and compressed into tablets or encapsulated.

What’s all the buzz about bee pollen? Well, aside from being the perfect food for drone bees, bee pollen is exceptionally rich in minerals, lipids, amino acids, polysaccharides, and essential fatty acids, namely alpha-linolenic acid and linolenic acid. It also consists of up to 30% protein and 55% carbohydrates that can be converted into energy. Bee pollen is also an abundant source of antioxidants, such as trans-cinnamic acid, quercetin, rutin, and myricetin. Finally, although it is a “rich” food product in terms of providing more complete protein and complex amino acids than eggs, fish, or meat, it is virtually fat-free.

Bee pollen has been promoted as a natural treatment for a variety of ailments ranging from allergies and asthma to diabetes and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While government regulations prohibit the advertisement of such health claims at this time, there is evidence to substantiate the effectiveness of this dietary supplement in promoting good health based upon what we know about its constituents. For example, trans-cinnamic acid is a precursor of the amino acid phenylalanine, which plays a role in preserving the integrity of cellular membranes as well as provide protection from UV damage and microbial invasion. Quercetin is well known for its anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Rutin improves vascular function, while myricetin is involved in the transport of low-density lipoproteins (the “bad” kind of cholesterol) out of the bloodstream and back to the liver for elimination.

Although this information suggests that bee pollen is regarded as a new super food, this isn’t the case at all. In fact, bee pollen has been used as a medicinal agent for thousands of years by various cultures around the world. For instance, several ancient Chinese medical writings illustrate the benefits of bee pollen in treating urinary-related disorders. Bee pollen was also known to the ancient Romans and Egyptians, who considered this natural substance a near cure-all. Native Americans carried a supply of bee pollen while traveling long distances on hunting expeditions to maintain strength and stamina. In more modern times, bee pollen was “rediscovered” in the 1970s by professional athletes, who claimed that supplementation enhanced physical ability and endurance.

There are no known side effects or drug interactions associated with supplementing with bee pollen. However, while reports of toxicity are extremely rare, those with a known allergy to bee venom, honey, or ragweed, should probably avoid it.