Bee pollen is an age-old traditional remedy and \u201csuperfood\u201d. People use it for liver protection, immunity, and more, but what does the evidence say? Click to learn the potential benefits and risks of bee pollen consumption, and see if it can protect you against the coronavirus.<\/p>\n
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Bees collect parts of flower pistils, mix them with nectar and saliva, and take them to the hive to nourish their offspring. Beekeepers use special traps to separate pollen grains from bees\u2019 legs as they enter the hive \u2014 that\u2019s how we get the product known as bee pollen [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Due to its rich and diverse nutritional content, bee pollen (BP) has gained nicknames such as the “essence of flowers” or “perfectly complete food.” It widely varies in composition, and there are no two identical samples of bee pollen [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A high nutritional value, along with the presence of different bioactive compounds, has granted bee pollen the status of a \u201cfunctional food\u201d and a well-known traditional remedy. Modern science has been researching BP for a range of potential therapeutic effects [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Folks have praised the nutritional value and medicinal properties of bee pollen for millennia; the ancient Egyptians described it as the “life-giving dust.” The widespread use of pollen traps in the 19th century marked an expansion in BP popularity and scientific research [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n People have used bee pollen to treat bacterial infection, boost digestion and immunity, support the liver, and more. A wide array of BP nutrients supposedly give energy, improve athletic performance, and prevent malnutrition [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Proponents:<\/strong><\/p>\n Skeptics:<\/strong><\/p>\n In general, bee pollen abounds with macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and different bioactive components. The exact content can vary a lot, depending on the origin, climate, plant quality and condition, seasonal variations, and more [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Bee pollen roughly consists of [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n It contains different enzymes and minerals, all known vitamins, and over 20 trace elements. Vitamins include both fat-soluble (A, D, E) and water-soluble (B1<\/a>, B6, C, folic acid<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n BP has a near 1:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it an amazing balanced source of healthy fats. It\u2019s also a calorie-dense food with around 400 \u2009kcal\/100\u2009g [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n When it comes to components with medicinal properties, bee pollen is rich in polyphenols, carotenoids, and polysaccharides. Flavonoids top the list of polyphenols and include [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Scientists have identified different growth regulators, hormones, and antioxidants in BP samples. However, the presence and amount of bioactive components also vary, depending on the factors mentioned above [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The primary health effects of bee pollen include:<\/p>\n Preliminary research brings up the potential of BP to combat an array of pathogenic microbes, mostly bacteria [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nTraditional Uses<\/span><\/h3>\n
Snapshot<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Healthy Components<\/span><\/h2>\n
Nutritional Profile<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Bioactive Components<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Mechanism of Action<\/span><\/h2>\n
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