I've had this stuff on top of a delicious vegan shake before, but I never really knew what it was all about. While visiting our downtown farmer's market this weekend, I came across a bag of the stuff. The local bee keeper told me about some of the benefits of honey and the pollen, so I figured I'd give it a try.
Bee pollen has been considered a 'superfood' for many years, and even spoken about in ancient Chinese and Egyptian texts. To find out what I learned about in my research, and an easy recipe to incorporate bee pollen into your diet, click Read More!
According to the package, 'This substance contains a wide spectrum of vitamins, hormones, carbohydrates, 22 amino acids, 27 mineral salts, thousands of enzymes and co-enzymes, and more. It is also one of the few vegetable sources rich in vitamin B12.' Now I know you shouldn't believe everything you read, but I was pretty sold at this point. I decided to do a little more research on the other claims people make about it.
So how is bee pollen made? "The pollen collects on the legs of honeybees as they move from flower to flower looking for nectar. The bees secrete nectar and special enzymes into the flower pollen to create what we know as “bee pollen”. The pollen is usually collected by placing a special device at the entrance of beehives that brushes it from the hind legs of the bees into a collection vessel." I'm sure in the long run, this could be damaging to the pollination of flowers and plants. That's the only negative I can figure about the harvesting process.
To sum it all up... supposedly bee pollen will:
Short term; increase energy, stamina and endurance... as well as a general increase in a 'feeling of well-being.'
Longer term; 'help alleviate many different health problems, slow down the aging process, and improve your quality of life.'
What does the scientific research say? There is a tremendous volume of research explaining the benefits of different uses of honey and honey products. Here are three studies explaining some benefits of the pollen. 1. 'In a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of 60 men, researchers from the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, found pollen extract was an effective treatment for prostate enlargement and prostatitis.' 2. 'In another study, mice with lung cancer survived almost twice as long when treated with pollen extracts compared with untreated controls. Pollen increased the effectiveness of chemotherapy when given simultaneously. Unlike chemotherapy, pollen didn't attack tumors but stimulated immunity.' 3. 'In a third study, rats were exposed to solvent vapors, simulating industrial exposure. This elevated their liver enzymes, indicating diminished detoxification capabilities. Liver damage was significant in the control rats, damage that was nearly prevented in rats given pollen.' It has also been attributed to lowering seasonal allergies.
All quotes taken from the two links below. You can read more about the health bee pollen here and scientific studies here. I'll keep you guys updated on my personal experience.
Homemade raw 'yogurt' with bee pollen and granola
I came up with this recipe as a quick way to integrate some raw food and the bee pollen into my diet at breakfast time. Makes 2 servings.
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened soymilk or almond milk (this is only raw if the milk is homemade)
1/2 avocado
1/2 banana
3-4 strawberries
2 tsp raw agave or honey (if you eat honey)
dash of cinnamon
Directions:
Toss all ingredients into a blender. Blend for a solid minute or two, so all ingredients are creamy and well blended. If needed, add additional sweetener for personal taste.
Place in a bowl and top with 1/4-1/2 granola and 1 Tbsp bee pollen. Eat and enjoy! <33
Nutritional Facts: (yogurt only, per serving)
Calories: 152
Fat: 9.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 47mg
Carbs: 14.4g
Sugar: 5.3g
Dietary Fiber: 5g
Protein: 5g
Vitamin A: 7%, Calcium: 16%, Vitamin C: 30%, Iron: 5
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