Bee pollen is a blend of bee saliva, nectar and pollen. Those who harvest the substance either get it from inside the hive or they set up a collection device outside the beehive. As the insect flies in, it rubs its back legs against the apparatus, shedding the pollen it gathered into a container. Bee pollen contains carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and protein. Talk to your doctor before taking bee pollen.
Bee Pollen Protein
Bee pollen is around 20 percent protein on average, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It also notes that protein in pollen can be as low as 7.5 percent and as high as above 40 percent depending on the plant species that produces it.
About Proteins
Everything in your body -- cells, tissue and organs -- has proteins as part of its composition. But they are not permanent building blocks. Proteins regularly get dismantled and eliminated, then replaced with new ones. That is why it is important to include foods that provide proteins in your daily diet.
Daily Protein Intake
Adult women require 46 g or protein daily and men need 56 g, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children's recommended daily intake ranges from 13 g to 52 g depending on the child's age and sex. One teaspoon of bee pollen provides 1.21 g protein, or about 2 percent of an adult man's recommended daily protein intake.
Bee Pollen Concerns
Bee pollen is a protein source, but if you are allergic to flower pollen or bee venom, your immune system may reject this food. That intolerance leads to an allergic reaction that can include severe breathing problems, liver inflammation and even death. In 2010, the journal "Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis" reported that one man developed kidney failure, including the inability to urinate, after taking bee pollen for over five months. The same patient also experienced breathing problems and lack of appetite. He gained 44 lbs. from water retention.
References
- Drugs.com: Bee Pollen
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Chapter 3--Pollen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protein
- FitDay: Nutrition Information for: Bee Pollen
- "Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis"; A Case Report of Acute Renal Failure Associated With Bee Pollen Contained in Nutritional Supplements; Tsuchida Akiyasu et al.; February 2010
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