Bee pollen is a fine powder made from the stamen of flowers and plants. Bee pollen is used as a supplement for its therapeutic and nutritional benefits and contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals. However, taking bee pollen as a food or supplement has risks associated with it. Talk to your physician before taking any new supplements such as bee pollen.
Allergy
According to the Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, some people are allergic to ingested pollen with allergic reactions ranging from mild to fatal. An allergic reaction to bee pollen may have symptoms of wheezing, rash and general discomfort. If you have asthma or are susceptible to allergies, avoid ingesting bee pollen, because you are more likely to have a bad reaction than non-allergy sufferers.
Anaphylactic Shock
In people who are severely allergic to bee pollen, the risk of anaphylactic shock is greatly increased. Anaphylactic shock is an acute allergic response that involves a type of respiratory paralysis and, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center, may be life threatening -- usually occurring in people with known allergies to pollen. If you know you are allergic to pollen, you should never intentionally ingest bee pollen.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Ingesting bee pollen may cause gastrointestinal distress such as upset stomach or vomiting, according to Allina Hospitals and Clinics. Bee pollen may also cause additional gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.
Contamination
According to Steven Barrett, M.D., bees are subjected to chemical and bacterial agents from the environment, and contaminants can be introduced during processing. Bee pollen can be contaminated with harmful chemicals like pesticides. According to Dr. Barrett, a Montana company in 1995 had to recall thousands of bottles of a bee pollen/royal jelly/propolis mix due to contamination with lead.
Additional Risks
According to the Natural Standard, other risks that may occur from taking bee pollen include anorexia, asthma, erythema, hay fever, liver inflammation, light-headedness, pruritus, sensitivity to light and swelling. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience an adverse reaction after ingesting bee pollen.
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