Honey, Honey Bees and Nutritional Value of Bee Pollen
Honey does not get spoiled. Research shows that honey excavated from Egyptian tombs buried for thousands of years are still edible and free of harmful bacteria. What makes honey a healthy (and expensive) food? Bee Pollen.
Honey bees and their larvae feed on bee pollens. They are the pollens collected by honey bees when they collect nectars from flowers of all sorts. Bee pollens collected by worker honey bees are the best because bees’ instincts dictate that they collect such. The scent of the bee pollens must have something to do with this phenomenon.
Based on studies, Bee Pollen usually contains:
- All the essential amino acids
- A full spectrum of vitamins especially vitamins B12 and E; and significant amounts of B1, B2, B3, B5, C, and vitamin D
- Various minerals including calcium, manganese, phosphorous, iron, sodium, potassium, aluminium, magnesium and copper
- Trace elements and enzymes (including antioxidants), and co-enzymes, pigments, xanthophylls, carotenes, and sterols, phytosterols, lignans (dibenzyl butanes) isoflavones and flavonoids
- Hormone precursors (which stimulate hormone production and help anti-ageing)
- Carbohydrates and fatty acids
In addition, Bee Pollen is made up of 5-25% amino acids, up to 40% carbohydrates, 5% fatty oils and up to 35% protein. Beebread is also very rich in flavonoids and phytoeostrogens, containing more essential amino acids than meat, eggs or cheese. It supplies many of the dietary antioxidants, bioflavonoids and polyphenols that we are missing by not eating our recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. Bee Pollen is a low-calorie food containing approximately ninety calories per 25g (about two heaped tablespoons). Bee Pollen contains 15% lecithin by volume. Lecithin helps dissolve and flush fat from the body so Bee Pollen can lower low-density lipoproteins (LDL) while helping to increase the helpful high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which science says protect against cholesterol and heart disease.
Bee Pollen is especially excellent for anti-ageing. As we age, cell renewal is hindered and vitamins and minerals are needed to replace cells. Bee Pollen provides all the nutrients our bodies need to keep skin young, smooth and free of wrinkles. Bee Pollen is also an excellent energy source and is used by many athletes as a dietary supplement to improve performance naturally without any side effects. As Bee Pollen has the full-spectrum of blood building and rejuvenating properties it is also particularly beneficial for people recuperating from illness and is generally recommended for strengthening the immune system.
Bee pollen is also widely used for the alleviation of an enlarged prostate, and there is anecdotal evidence that it can help to relieve insomnia, aid digestion, improve mood and improve brittle hair and nails. Regular intake can help to protect against allergies, including mild hay fever – a case of the cause also being the cure. It can also help with conception problems by stimulating the ovaries and improving egg quality, and is also known as a natural viagra. This explains why many males in their 60’s or 70’s take bee pollen as a natural supplement – to relive their sexual prowess. 
Further, Bee Pollen can be used in pregnancy. Apparently, members of the royal family including Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, supplemented their pregnancies with bee products. The curative properties of pollen can be traced back to the Romans, Egyptians, Chinese and Russians. Both Hippocrates and Pythagoras prescribed pollen for its healing properties.
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Tags: Bee Pollen, health, Health benefits of bee pollen and honey, Honey bees, Nursing Research
my little one loves honey! i like mixing it with a freshly squeezed lemonade. i substitute sugar with honey. it just taste so good!
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jessie Reply:
August 10th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Sheng,
That concoction is truly delicious and nutritious. yum! yum!
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Ay that’s really true. I have studied about the benefits of Bee Pollen nung active pa ako sa foreverliving at gamit ng mga kids ko yan and during my college days gamit ako bee pollen tablet pag may exam and it helps me a lot.
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jessie Reply:
August 10th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Joy,
Bee Pollen is really a wonder of nature (which honey bees select for us). The only problem is, bee pollens are very expensive. The health benefits of bee pollen outweigh its price though.
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[...] Honey (high-energy food product where the word “honeymoon” was derived) [...]
try replacing sugar with honey in potato salad! good stuff.
Carpenter Bees
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jessie Reply:
March 19th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Tommy,
Thanks for the tip.
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