Bee pollen is a free-flowing substance that can be white, green, yellow or brown. This product contains many valuable vitamins and microelements. Thanks to this, it brings great benefits to the body. This allows the product to be used for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. The composition is also often used in cosmetology.
Chemical composition of bee pollen
Bee pollen or pollen is a valuable substance. Insects collect it from plants and treat it with special enzymes. This product feeds the entire bee family during the winter.
In appearance, pollen resembles small balls in a shell with a diameter of 2-3 millimeters. Each of them has a unique color and taste. This is due to the fact that bees collect pollen from various honey plants.
Bee pollen is a kind of concentrate that includes proteins, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. In terms of amino acid content, the product resembles eggs, meat, and dairy products. The nutritional value of 100 grams of product is 215 kilocalories. It also contains 39 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fat and 13 grams of protein.
The beneficial components that are present in pollen include the following vitamins:
- Retinol – improves vision, increases bone strength and restores skin.
- Thiamine – improves the functions of the heart and blood vessels, as well as the digestive organs. In addition, the component helps increase appetite.
- Riboflavin – stimulates the development and restoration of cells, improves the functions of the nervous system, and takes part in metabolism.
- Niacin has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, reduces the content of bad cholesterol and helps strengthen the nervous system.
- Pantothenic acid – strengthens the immune system, normalizes brain function and helps restore metabolism.
- Folic acid – improves hematopoietic functions and protein production. Also, with the help of this substance it is possible to normalize reproductive abilities.
- Tocopherol – is responsible for the formation of red blood cells and restores normal functions of the nervous system.
- Biotin – takes part in the production of glucose, helps break down and produce amino acids and steroids.
- Flavonoids – reduce vascular permeability.
- Ascorbic acid – reduces cholesterol, takes part in the absorption of iron and calcium, helps strengthen the immune system, produces a strengthening effect, and provides protection against the influence of free radicals.
Pollen is also rich in minerals. The most valuable components of this product include the following:
- Potassium – helps restore normal acid-base balance. The substance also normalizes sodium content and improves the function of the heart and blood vessels.
- Calcium – takes part in the development of bones, improves the functioning of the nervous system, and has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels.
- Sodium - normalizes blood pressure, takes part in the synthesis of digestive enzymes, improves the condition of muscles and nerve tissues.
- Magnesium – reduces nervous excitability, takes part in the development of bone structures, normalizes carbohydrate metabolism.
- Phosphorus - restores the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, improves the condition of nerve tissue, normalizes the balance of hormones.
Useful properties for humans
Pollen is considered a very valuable beekeeping product. This is due to the rich vitamin and mineral composition of the substance. The benefits of the product are as follows:
- improvement of heart functions;
- decreased vascular permeability and increased elasticity;
- cleansing the body of bad cholesterol;
- improvement of metabolic processes in the body;
- normalization of the digestive organs;
- improvement of potency;
- increased reproductive functions;
- normalization of blood circulation in the cerebral vessels;
- strengthening local and general immunity;
- acceleration of healing processes;
- slowing down the development of certain types of malignant cells;
- increasing intellectual and physical activity;
- reducing nervousness and stress levels;
- improving sleep quality;
- reducing the influence of radiation and free radicals;
- normalization of blood pressure.
Bee pollen is also beneficial for women. It is often used in cosmetology. The substance helps smooth out wrinkles and helps reduce the symptoms of inflammation. With the help of this product you can successfully get rid of pimples and acne. Masks and creams containing the substance help slow down photoaging of the skin.
The product is also often added to hair care products. They accelerate growth processes, making strands more beautiful and soft. In addition, masks based on this beekeeping product help normalize the fat balance of the scalp and stimulate the development of hair follicles.
Areas of application
Due to the high content of useful components, bee pollen is used in a variety of areas of life.
Medicine
Honey pollen is considered an excellent remedy for the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory viral infections. This product is often used in its pure form to strengthen the immune system.
Also, with the help of pollen, it is possible to improve brain function, strengthen blood vessels and normalize the functioning of the nervous system. In addition, the beneficial properties of the substance are often used to combat damage to the digestive organs. The product helps improve the condition of diseases of the joints and bones. It can be used to recover from traumatic injuries and stress.
It is important to note that this product should be consumed in moderation. Exceeding the dosage provokes serious allergic reactions and increased stimulation of the nervous system.
Cosmetology
Flower pollen is often used in cosmetology. A variety of cosmetic products are made from it. They help smooth out wrinkles, relieve inflammation, prevent acne and significantly reduce acne. Creams and masks with the addition of bee pollen help cope with various skin defects and protect against tissue aging.
This bee product is often added to hair cosmetics. This ingredient saturates the strands with nutrients and promotes their restoration. Masks, shampoos, balms help improve hair growth processes, normalize their structure and increase volume.
Such products help make strands more shiny and give them a pleasant texture. Masks and shampoos with the addition of bee pollen help get rid of excess oily scalp. They eliminate seborrhea and restore the activity of the bulbs.
For weight loss
Quite often, bee pollen is used for weight loss. This product is considered quite nutritious, but it is successful in reducing weight. This is due to the fact that the substance helps restore normal metabolic processes. By accelerating metabolism, the product allows you to gently and safely lose weight. Pollen also helps remove excess fluid from the body. Thanks to this, a person loses weight and looks more attractive.
During pregnancy and lactation
The product is allowed to be used during pregnancy and lactation.However, you should first consult with a doctor who will tell you how to drink this remedy correctly. In general, bee pollen increases the amount of milk in a nursing woman and helps saturate it with useful substances. The product helps pregnant women replenish the lack of valuable microelements.
When playing sports
This product should be used by people who engage in strength sports. The substance contains many useful substances, and therefore serves as a source of strength and health. Use of the product during active training helps build muscles and maintain tissue health.
Contraindications and possible harm
Bee pollen is not recommended for use in the following cases:
- chronic liver pathologies;
- individual intolerance to pollen components and allergies to bee products;
- diabetes.
Preparation and storage
It makes sense to collect the product yourself if you have your own apiary with a large number of bees. As a rule, beekeepers use a special device for this purpose – a pollen catcher.
It includes 2 grates and a drip tray. The first grid acts as an obstacle. The bee flies through the bars, losing part of the pollen. The second grille is a filter. Dead insects and debris remain on it. In this case, the device allows only small pollen to pass through. The tray collects clean pollen. At the height of the season, 3-4 days are enough to fill a small tray with pollen.
It is recommended to keep the pollen in a dark place at a temperature of no more than +20 degrees. This should be done in a glass or plastic container. Before storage, pollen must be dried in an open tray under a thin protective layer of gauze. The dry mass retains its properties for 2 years.When mixing the substance with honey, the shelf life increases to 5 years.
Bee pollen is a valuable product that contains many useful components. In order for the use of the substance to produce results, it is important to strictly follow the instructions. It is strictly forbidden to exceed the dosage, as this may cause allergies.
