What Is Bee Pollen?

As the industrious honeybee visits hundreds of flowers during its workday, it gathers the tiny seeds from the male flower and transports them to the female flower. During its pollination journeys, the honeybee also collects pollen on its legs, forming large yellow clumps which it takes back to the hive.

Properties

Bee pollen is high in protein, containing as much as 35 percent protein by volume, according to Howland Blackiston, author of "Beekeeping for Dummies." Rounding out its nutritional value, bee pollen also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, biotin and rutine, says Blackiston.

Collection

The honeybee packs some of the collected pollen into honeycomb cells to provide food for the bees in the hive. Larger clumps of pollen may fall however, and the beekeeper gathers them by putting a pollen collector at the entrance of the beehive. Bee pollen is available in health food stores but consuming it may cause side effects in some people.

Uses

Some athletes consume bee pollen to enhance their athletic performance, but Drugs.com reports that no scientific confirmation of this benefit exists. Bee pollen is also thought to speed the healing of wounds, boost the body's immunity and desensitizing allergic reactions to hay fever, reports Drugs.com. Because there is a risk of side effects from taking bee pollen, consult your doctor before starting on a bee pollen program for health.

Dosage

Follow the recommended dosage on the package, because there is no standard dosing information, according to Drugs.com. Bee Pollen is available in health food stores in jars that contain the granules, as a powder and in capsule or tablet form. Take bee pollen under a doctor's supervision.

Considerations

Bee pollen may contain harmful substances, depending upon the flowers from which the bees gather pollen. Research conducted by the Department of Entomology at Penn State tested 108 samples of bee pollen and found 46 different types of pesticide. In addition, those with allergies to airborne pollen may suffer a serious allergic reaction after taking bee pollen according to Drugs.com.