Jara bee pollen is made by mixing the male seed of the Jara plant's flower blossom with the bee's digestive enzymes. A mainstay of Chinese herbal medicine, traditional health practitioners have been prescribing bee pollen for centuries because of its healing powers and nutritional benefits. Bee pollen contains a high percentage of all necessary nutrients for good health -- it has more than any other single food. Bee pollen is low in calories, high in protein and contains essential amino acids. Rich in 28 minerals, bee pollen provides over 12 vitamins, 11 carbohydrates, 11 enzymes and 14 beneficial fatty acids, according to Steve Schecter, N.D. of Smith's Bee Pollen Health Info Online.
Calories and Fat
Bee pollen contains 15.7 calories per tsp. of which 2.2 calories are from fat. It provides .25g of total fat. Bee pollen contains .17g saturated fat, which represents 1 percent daily value, or DV; and 0.03 g each of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat.
Protein
Bee pollen contains about 35 percent of calories from protein, or 1.21 g per tsp., which is 2 percent DV for protein. Containing 22 amino acids, bee pollen helps the immune system to counteract effects of radiation and chemical pollutants. The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that more than 200 forms of radioactive toxins and more than 60,000 chemical toxins are in the environment.
Vitamins and Minerals
Bee pollen contains 1 percent DV of magnesium, 4 percent DV of copper and 2 percent DV of zinc. Bee pollen also provides B vitamins, including 1 percent DV each for thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and B-6. Vitamin C content equals 4 percent DV and vitamin E content equals 1 percent DV. In addition, bee pollen contains vitamin D, folic acid, carotene, calcium, selenium, nucleic acids, lecithin and cysteine. Bee pollen is one of the few vegetable sources for vitamin B12 and due to its B vitamin complex, bee pollen is often taken to increase energy and vitality. Bee pollen is also rich in the bioflavonoid rutin, which is important for capillary strength.
Carbohydrate and Fiber
Bee pollen derives about 55 percent of its calories from carbohydrates, which amounts to 2.17g per tsp., or 1 percent DV. Bee pollen provides .385g of dietary fiber, which represents 2 percent DV, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Considerations
Bee pollen may have many health benefits including relief from hay fever, promoting youthful skin, and managing menstrual pain and irregularities. If you are allergic to bees, you should avoid bee pollen, which could worsen allergic symptoms. Some possible side effects from bee pollen include skin flushing, headache, wheezing, hives, itchy throat and dizziness. Always consult your doctor before taking bee pollen supplements.
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