Floral Bee Pollen and Its Properties

Bee pollen is the second, after honey, the most renowned product stemming from the relentless labor of these insects. The substance required for its production are the male reproduction cells of flowers, which are commonly known as pollen. Collector bees, as the name suggests, are responsible for its collection and subsequent formation of characteristic balls containing close to 100 thousand pollen grains. In this form, the pollen undergoes special conservation, which means mixing it with various ingredients, such as honey or some medicinal plants, which can be called a wildflower or a monk. It is then fermented, which is the result of the previous process. The fully conserved pollen is called Perga, which is collected by beekeepers using special collectors. After freezing, it serves as a dietary supplement.

The exact composition of the biological and chemical content of pollen is difficult to determine due to its complex composition, which includes about 300 different compounds. However, the most important is the impressive amount of free amino acids, which make up about 12% of the total content of pollen. These include arginine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, and valine. It is believed that pollen contains up to 32 different free amino acids. In addition, pollen also contains macroelements, including fatty acids. In terms of sugars, the main components are fructose, glucose, and maltose. Regarding lipids, 12 different fatty acids have been identified, including arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and palmitic acid. Pollen is also rich in microelements, containing more than 40 different elements, including zinc, magnesium, potassium, iron, and calcium. Pollen also contains a wide variety of vitamin compounds, both water-soluble and fat-soluble. The water-soluble vitamins include thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3/PP), and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). It is also worth mentioning that pollen contains a wide variety of enzymes, phytohormones, and organic acids that provide additional support for the human body.

A wide range of nutrients determines the widespread use of bee pollen in medicine. First and foremost, it is important to note the abundance of nutrients that allow for the supplementation of the daily diet. Bee pollen is successfully used as an appetite enhancer and metabolism controller. This, in turn, allows for an additional boost in cholesterol resistance and condition of the whole body, especially in people with weakened regenerative mechanisms, elderly people, and physically active people. The aforementioned assistance in metabolic work enables the reduction of chronic and severe constipation, the inhibition of diarrhea, and is an auxiliary in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer disease. Bee pollen is also an excellent remedy for detoxification and cleansing the body of unnecessary secondary metabolites. Long-term and systematic supplementation with this remedy facilitates the removal of toxic compounds from the liver and protects it from their harmful effects. Bee pollen is often used as a supportive remedy in the treatment of alcoholic disease and as a supplement in replenishing deficiencies. Bee pollen also has a therapeutic effect on the nervous system. As evidence of this, one can point to the reduction of nervousness, the improvement of mental condition, and the improvement of neuronal blood supply. The latter property allows for the improvement of logical thinking and concentration processes. Supplements containing bee pollen are recommended for people struggling with problems of a cardiological nature. As evidence of this, one can point to the strong anti-atherosclerotic effect, which is primarily manifested by the normalization of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and the inhibition of the platelet aggregation process. Doctors often use pollen as an auxiliary in the treatment of hypertension, post-stroke states, and peripheral circulation disorders. It is also assumed that the use of bee pollen causes an increase in the hemoglobin content in the blood and an increase in the production of erythrocytes. Other equally important therapeutic properties of bee pollen include: – normalization of blood sugar levels by increasing insulin secretion; – inhibition of the initial stages and limitation of relapses of prostate diseases; – support in the treatment of internal inflammations; – improvement of skin nutrition; – antibacterial and antifungal action; – improvement of visual acuity; – alleviation of symptoms and course of some allergies, such as asthma or hay fever.

Regardless of whether the powder we have purchased is in the form of supplements (usually available as capsules) or naturally collected pellets, it is completely safe to use. Adults taking bee pollen for prophylactic and health-promoting purposes should take a daily dose of 20 to even 40 g. In severe conditions, this dose can be increased without the slightest risk to our health. The powder should be taken up to 30 minutes before a planned meal. Additional reinforcement of the powder's properties can be achieved by combining supplementation with the consumption of honey. Therefore, it is worth considering whether everyone can use bee pollen. An exception are individuals who are allergic to honey. In this case, pollen supplementation can lead to the development of a series of unwanted symptoms, such as headaches, diarrhea, runny nose, nausea, skin changes related to hives, and even inflammation of the conjunctiva.