Health Benefits Of Bee Pollen

"Bee pollen" is actually pollen from flowers that is collected from bees as they enter the hive or is harvested by other means. Pollen granules stick to the bees' legs and other body parts as they help themselves to nectar (the precursor of honey) inside the flowers. Pollen products are marketed through health-food stores, multilevel distributors, drugstores, mail-order advertising, and the Internet.

Honeybees collect pollen for their own nutritional purposes because Bee Pollen is incredibly nutrient dense. Bee Pollen provides the honeybee with all of the nutrients that it needs for growth and development.

Bee Pollen is approximately 25% protein and very low in fat and sodium. It contains many minerals and vitamins - notably potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, maganese, copper and the B vitamins.

Bee pollen can be taken as a dietary supplement to maintain good health, aid recuperation after an illness, and rejuvenate general health and well being. Pollen can be used as a nutritional supplement for women, pregnant and breastfeeding. Research indicates that bee pollen can aid the treatment of chronic prostatitis; reducing inflammation, discomfort and the pathology of benign prostatitis.

Bee pollen is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and stimulates immunological responses. It has proved beneficial for nausea, sleep disorders, and urinary and rectal disorders following radiation treatment.

With reference to bee pollen's value for humans, the FDA debunks some claims made by many promoters: (1) pollen is not a giant germ killer in which bacteria do not exist; it is rapidly attacked by bacteria, yeast and other fungi, (2) pollen cannot be called nature's most perfect food; it isn't even perfect for bees which require supplementary carbohydrates (nectar or honey) to survive, (3) pollen doesn't retard aging by peoples in the Caucasus region of Soviet Georgia; a study of eating habits there doesn't even mention pollen, (4) pollen is not the richest source of protein known to science; the major constituent of pollen is carbohydrate, not protein, and the (5) bee pollen does not relieve allergy, asthma and hay fever; no scientific studies support this. On the contrary, persons eating pollen must be on the lookout for potential allergic reactions, (6) pollen improves athletic performance; extensive study at Louisiana State University reveals no significant improvement in either training or performance.

Known Hazards: Bee pollen and royal jelly should be regarded as potentially dangerous because they cause allergic reactions. People allergic to specific pollens have developed asthma, hives, and anaphylactic shock after ingesting pollen or royal jelly.

Many Americans whose diets are not nutritionally balanced may be persuaded that some "perfect" food or product will make up for all their nutritional shortcomings. Various food products-- such as bee pollen, over-the-counter herbal remedies, and wheat germ capsules--are promoted as sure-fire cures for various diseases. Though usually not harmful, neither have these products been proven beneficial.

In 1992, an Arizona company and its owners agreed to pay $200,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission charges of falsely claiming that bee pollen products could produce weight loss, permanently alleviate allergies, reverse the aging process, and cure, prevent, or alleviate impotence or sexual dysfunction. They were also charged with falsely stating that bee-pollen products cannot result in an allergic reaction. Some of the false claims were made in "infomercials" that were misrepresented as news or documentary programs, even though they were paid ads. One such program ("TV Insiders") featured an interview "by satellite" with "Dr. Gary Null . . . the authority on health and nutrition." Null said that the human body ages because it doesn't produce enough enzymes, and that "you can't get any better food than bee pollen" because it is "loaded" with enzymes and contains a nutrient that "can help the inside of your body prevent the capillaries from aging." Records from the Union Institute state that Null "graduated " on August 31, 1989, which, according to an FTC document, was at least three months after broadcasting of the infomercial began. However, Null was not charged with wrongdoing.

  • Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, and Propolis. Stephen Barrett, M.D. Quackwatch

Discuss It!

IndyInAsia said:

Maybe you had better see: http://www.alternativescentral.com/beepollen.htm

JMinUSA said:

Good article...no fluff and plenty of information.

Nina said:

goods articles

cee0316 said:

these pills does not work,i took 2 bottle of these pills and have yet to lose a lb

docke said:

I dont know much about pollen but its probably not something magical that you just eat and lose pounds...to do that you need to exericise AND eat less calories both.Food cant burn calories by itself