Bee pollen is made of pollen, bee saliva and nectar. Those who market the substance as a supplement collect or buy it from people who gather the pollen at the entrance of the beehive. They install devices that force bees to brush the pollen off into a receptacle as they fly into the nest. Although bee pollen is not entirely a sugar, it contains simple sugars and polysaccharides. Do not take bee pollen supplements without your doctor's recommendation.
Bee Pollen Sugars
The percentage of sugar in bee pollen is 15 percent to 50 percent. The variance results from flower species that produce the substance at different levels. Bee pollen contains simple sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose. In addition, polysaccharides -- callose, pectin, cellulose and lignin -- make up to 18 percent of bee pollen's composition.
Simple Sugars
The simple sugars in bee pollen are not inherent in the substance. They come from nectar, a sweet fluid that plants produce and bees also gather. Bee pollen may be mixed with honey, which provides simple sugars. These simple sugars are devoid of nutrients, containing insignificant amounts of vitamins and minerals -- or none at all. Also called simple carbohydrates, these sugars enter your bloodstream quickly. You get a quick burst of energy. After this surge dies down, you feel sluggish. This process initiates a craving cycle in which you want to eat more of the same substances that give you fleeting vitality, says Brian Calkins, a personal trainer and co-author of a chapter on carbohydrates in "The Power of Champions." Athletes who provide anecdotal evidence that bee pollen increases their stamina and improves their performance at events may be experiencing the effects of simple sugars.
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides -- also known as complex sugars or complex carbohydrates -- have three or more sugar molecules attached to one another. They also provide dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. According to Drugs.com, bee pollen has enzymes, amino acids, minerals and vitamins. As much as 30 percent of its content is protein and 2 percent comes from fats. Your body metabolizes polysaccharides more slowly than it digests simple sugars. As a result, you receive energy at a moderate pace for an extended period of time.
Carbohydrate Intake
According to health information agency PubMed Health, your daily intake of carbohydrates should represent 40 to 60 percent of what you eat. Complex carbohydrates are the healthiest option. Although bee pollen provides these more nutritious sugars, you should vary your diet. Getting small percentages of carbohydrates from different foods throughout the day guarantees you also ingest an assortment of vitamins and minerals that bee pollen does not offer. Vegetables, legumes and whole-grain products are good sources of complex carbohydrates.
References
- Drugs.com: Bee Pollen
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Chapter 3--Pollen
- "The Power of Champions"; Simple Sugars vs. Complex Carbs; Brian Calkins; 2004
- HealthStyleFitness: "The Power of Champions" Book
- PubMed Health; Carbohydrates; David Zieve, M.D., M.H.A. et al.; June 14, 2011
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