Bees collect pollen as a food source for themselves, and, like honey, it can be used as a food source for us as well. High in protein, dietary fiber, trace minerals and beneficial plant compounds, bee pollen is often considered a "superfood"--a food that packs a nutritional punch in a small package.
Amino Acids
Bee pollen is between 20 and 40 percent protein, the majority of which is in the form of free amino acids, which are easily converted into energy and the building blocks of the cells. Bee pollen contains high amounts of those amino acids that are termed "essential" because the human body cannot make them itself. However, a 1997 study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that drying at high heat or for long periods of time decreased the amount of free amino acid present in bee pollen. Moreover, protein composition and quantity depends on the flowers the bees harvested the pollen from. If you take bee pollen as a nutritional supplement, make sure that it has been processed appropriately; ideally the amount of amino acid in the pollen should be quantified and stated on the label.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are compounds that help the body fight off the ravaging effects of free radicals, a toxic byproduct of metabolism. A number of plant compounds called flavonoids have been shown to exhibit strong antioxidant effects when taken internally. According to a 2009 study published in the journal Food and Chemistry Toxicology, bee pollen contains several flavonoids that have demonstrated antioxidant effects, and bee pollen reduced free radical damage when fed to mice. The type and amount of flavonoids present in bee pollen depends upon the plants the bees foraged from, however.
Allergy Relief
Bee pollen has long been used for reducing allergies, especially allergies to pollen, or hay fever. A 2009 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research determined that this effect is caused by bee pollen inhibiting a particular kind of immune cell called a mast cell, which contributes to the symptoms of an allergic reaction. However, bee pollen itself can cause anaphylactic shock, a dangerous allergic reaction, in those specifically allergic to bee products. Bee pollen should only be taken a small amount at a time until it is established that the individual is not allergic to bees and should not be taken at all by those who have a history of allergies to bee stings.
References
- "The Herb Companion": The Buzz on Bee Products.
- "The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry": Nutrient Composition and Microbiological Quality of Honeybee-Collected Pollen in Spain.
- "Food and Chemistry Toxicology": Antioxidant effects of flavonoid from Croatian Cystus incanus L. rich bee pollen.
- "Phytotherapy Research": Lipid-soluble components of honeybee-collected pollen exert antiallergic effect by inhibiting IgE-mediated mast cell activation in vivo.
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