If you've scanned the aisles at your local nutrition or health-food store, you may have noticed nutritional supplements made from bee pollen. And while most people think only of honey when they consider consumable bee products, bee pollen has been used for health and nutritional purposes for decades. Proponents of bee pollen say it's very good for you; it's always best, however, to use caution with any type of nutritional supplement.
What Is It?
Bee pollen is the pollen bees collect on their legs as they fly from flower to flower gathering nectar to make honey. Bees have special sacs on their legs for the express purpose of collecting this pollen. While bees in the hive use the pollen for food, bee keepers can collect the pollen from bees' legs using special screens. Then it can be used in various nutritional supplements and health foods.
Health Benefits
Bee pollen is packed with nutrients. According to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, the nutritional make-up of bee pollen varies depending on season, region and type of plant it's harvested from, but pollen is estimated to contain up to 100 vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and other compounds that may benefit the human body. A good source of carbohydrates and protein, bee pollen has been used to increase energy, enhance athletic performance and treat or prevent allergies, says the New York University Langone Medical Center.
Caveats
Despite its many health claims, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of bee pollen on health and wellness is lacking, says the University of Utah. While its impressive nutritional profile is undisputed, there are no clear research studies supporting the use of bee pollen as a treatment for a particular medical condition or as a nutritional aid. Bee pollen proponents continue to use it, claiming that it does improve energy, health and sports performance, but more research is clearly needed to determine the accuracy of these claims.
Precautions
Consult your physician for medical approval before trying bee pollen. As is the case with all nutritional supplements, bee pollen may cause adverse reactions in some individuals. There have been some reported cases of severe allergic reactions to bee pollen, which can be deadly, says the NYU Langone Medical Center. If you have an allergy to pollen, avoid bee pollen products. Follow your doctor's advice regarding safety and dosage.
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