Bees are some of the most prolific producers of natural products that are of great benefit to humans. From honey, a versatile natural remedy and healthy alternative to sugar, to nutritious substances like royal jelly, bee pollen and propolis, there isn’t a bee product out there that doesn’t possess a variety of health-supporting properties.
Among these wonderful bee products, there’s one that offers considerable benefits to the human immune system: bee pollen. Made from the flower pollen diligently collected by foraging honey bees, bee pollen serves as a raw material for bee bread, the main source of food for honey bee workers and larvae. [1][2]
Research has found that bee pollen contains over 250 beneficial components, which include vitamins and minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, healthy fats and potent phytonutrients. Because almost all the essential nutrients for humans can be found in bee pollen, it is considered one of the most complete and most nutritious foods on the planet. [3]
Nutrient composition of Organic Bee Pollen
The bee pollen sold as a health supplement today isn’t just composed of pollen harvested from plant anthers. When bees collect pollen from flowers, they mix it with nectar or a substance secreted by their salivary glands. They then place this mixture in structures called corbiculae, or pollen baskets, which are located on their hind legs for transport back to their hives. [4]
Inside beehives, flightless bees dampen the collected pollen with their saliva to break it down before packing the pieces in honeycomb cells. They then coat the surface of the packed pollen with a thin layer of honey and wax, creating what is known as bee bread. Once suitably fermented, this bee bread becomes the basic protein source of the entire bee colony. Bee bread is also the source of all the nutrients found in the royal jelly produced by worker bees.
According to nutrient analysis, bee pollen is composed of 22.7% protein on average, over 10% of which is essential amino acids. These nutrients are building blocks of protein that your body cannot produce on its own. The essential amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. As noted by a study from Saudi Arabia, bee pollen could contain most, if not all, of these essential amino acids, depending on their floral sources. [5]
Bee pollen also contains about 5.1% healthy fats on average and is, in fact, a great source of essential fatty acids. Like essential amino acids, essential fats are not produced by the human body and must come from rich food sources, such as vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and bee pollen. Essential fatty acids present in bee pollen are the omega-3, linolenic acid, and the omega-6, linoleic acid. y-Linolenic acid, an omega-6 found only in a handful of sources, has also been detected in high amounts in bee pollen. [6]
Oleic acid, the predominant fat in olive oil, is also present in large amounts in bee pollen. This omega-9 fatty acid is one of the most crucial nutrients for honeybees, being a dominant fat in the bodies of larvae and adult bees, and an important nutrient for bee survival and learning. [7] According to a study published in the journal Biology (Basel), the fatty acid composition of bee pollen is influenced by season, with spring and summer bee pollen having the best ratios of healthy fats. [8]
Aside from healthy fats, bee pollen also contains plant sterols, or phytosterols, which are chemically similar to human cholesterol. Phytosterols have been found to support a healthy heart by competing with cholesterol for absorption in the small intestine. Thanks to this action, phytosterols can support healthy cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range. [9] Some important phytosterols found in bee pollen are fucosterol, B-sitosterol and campesterol. [10]
In addition to plant sterols, bee pollen boasts an abundance of health-supporting phytonutrients in the form of flavonoids like catechins, leucoanthocyanidins and phenolic acids. According to a study published in the journal Trends in Food Science & Technology, most of the flavonoids in bee pollen occur as glycosides, such as apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol derivatives and rutin. [11] Bee pollen phenolic acids include chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid. Like flavonoid glycosides, these phenolic acids are all powerful antioxidants that can protect your cells from oxidative damage.
Other potent antioxidants found in bee pollen include provitamin A (carotenoids) and vitamins C and E. Bee pollen also contains a wealth of essential nutrients, such as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 and B9, and minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium and zinc.
Organic Bee Pollen and immune health*
Bee pollen has long been used in apitherapy, a form of traditional medicine that focuses on the use of hive products for healing. Apitherapy can be traced back to ancient Chinese and Egyptian healers, as well as the ancient Romans and Greeks, who even used bee venom for medicinal purposes. [12] In apitherapy, bee pollen is often prescribed to older adults due to its nutritional benefits and its ability to support the body’s natural defenses. [13]
According to numerous studies, bee pollen owes its potent immune-supporting properties to its wealth of essential nutrients and phytonutrients. In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, researchers looked at preclinical and clinical studies involving various bee products and found that bee pollen’s beneficial components allow it to support the normal functions of immune cells, resulting in healthy immune support. [14]
Immune regulation refers to the complex mechanisms employed by your body to ensure that your immune responses don’t go overboard. [15] As noted by a study published in the journal Circulation Research, dysregulated immune responses can lead to serious health issues that can affect vital organs, such as the heart. [16] Fortunately, superfoods like bee pollen contain plenty of phytonutrients, such as antioxidant flavonoids, that are known to support normal immune cell activity. [17]
In a study published in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease, researchers reported that the flavonoids, fatty acids and phytosterols in bee pollen can provide crucial immune support. Thanks to their positive influence on immune cells, bee pollen components can also protect important organs like the brain from damage caused by out-of-control immune responses. [18]
In a separate study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, Chinese researchers highlighted the prebiotic effects of bee pollen, which also contribute to its immune-supporting benefits. They noted that bee pollen contains functional polysaccharides that can support healthy gut microbial balance. Because the state of your gut microflora directly affects your immune system, maintaining a healthy gut microbiota is an excellent way to maintain strong and healthy immune defenses. [19]
An immune system that functions optimally is not only well-regulated, but also swift to respond and deal with everyday threats. According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, supplementing with bee pollen can support your body’s normal immune responses, which is important for maintaining optimal health. The researchers attributed this benefit to the presence of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and polysaccharides in bee pollen that can support healthy immune cell proliferation. [20]
Other health benefits of Organic Bee Pollen*
With its abundance of health-supporting components, organic bee pollen is capable of providing more than just immune benefits. Here are some more amazing health benefits of supplementing with organic bee pollen:
- Supports healthy cardiovascular function – According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, bee pollen is rich in antioxidant polyphenols, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, that can support healthy arteries. [21] [22] By supporting healthy arteries and cholesterol levels already within the normal range, bee pollen can support a healthy heart.
- Supports healthy digestive function – As mentioned earlier, bee pollen contains polysaccharides that can support a healthy gut microflora. This is a prerequisite for a healthy digestive system, which depends on good gut bacteria to break down soluble fiber in foods. [23] Experts also say that bee pollen contains plenty of enzymes that can support healthy digestion as well as optimal nutrient absorption. [24]
- Supports healthy liver function – It’s not only your arteries that benefit from the protection provided by the antioxidant polyphenols in bee pollen – your liver does, too. According to studies, the accumulation of oxidized LDL can cause significant damage to your liver and impair its function. [25] But, as reported by a study conducted by Polish researchers, bee pollen antioxidants can protect against oxidative stress – the main cause of lipid peroxidation – and help you maintain a healthy liver. [26]
- Supports healthy energy levels – According to nutritional analysis, bee pollen contains about 31% carbohydrates, which are your body’s main source of energy. [27] Bee pollen also contains B vitamins, which are needed by your body to convert carbohydrates, fats and protein from food into energy. [28] Thanks to its abundance of these nutrients, bee pollen is a great supplement to take to support healthy energy levels.
- Supports healthy post-workout recovery – As the main protein source of bees, bee pollen can provide you with plenty of protein and amino acids. You need these nutrients to repair muscle tears caused by strenuous physical activity. [29] As an added benefit, a study published in the journal Nutrients also found that bee pollen can help you build more muscle by supporting healthy protein synthesis. [30] This means that bee pollen can help physically active individuals and athletes maximize their workouts.
- Supports healthy, glowing skin – Antioxidant-rich bee pollen is great for your skin because of its protective benefits against threats and oxidative damage. The vitamin C in bee pollen can also support your body’s natural production of collagen, the protein responsible for keeping your skin smooth and firm. [31] Because collagen plays an important role in wound healing, supplementing with bee pollen can help you maintain healthy, glowing skin and support your body’s natural ability to heal. [32]
- Supports sensible weight management plans – Research shows that protein is effective at inducing satiety, which can help you avoid unhealthy snacking between meals and reduce your food intake. [33] As a protein-rich superfood, bee pollen can help you achieve reasonable weight management goals when combined with a well-balanced diet and regular exercise.
Where to get lab-verified, certified Organic Bee Pollen
Supporting a healthy immune system is one of the keys to optimal health. While eating nutritious foods and living a healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward building natural immune defenses, taking supplements that are rich in immune-supporting nutrients can help you maintain a strong immune system no matter your age.
The immune benefits of organic bee pollen have all been proven by scientific studies, which is why it is fast gaining traction as one of the best superfoods for immune support. And to help you experience these benefits, the Health Ranger Store is offering one of the cleanest bee pollen products on the market: Groovy Bee® Organic Bee Pollen.
Sourced from trusted beekeepers in Spain, Groovy Bee® Organic Bee Pollen is sustainably harvested from honey bees that forage only in pristine regions of Spain. Opting for organic, sustainably harvested bee pollen not only ensures that you get a safe product that delivers on its promises, but it also allows you to support beekeepers who wish to restore dwindling honey bee populations.
Packed with highly bioavailable nutrients and antioxidants, Groovy Bee® Organic Bee Pollen can support optimal immune health and overall wellness. It can even help boost your intake of essential nutrients. Our premium organic bee pollen contains no GMOs, fillers or harmful chemical additives. It is also non-China, certified Kosher and organic, and meticulously lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.
Support a healthy immune system by incorporating clean, lab-verified organic bee pollen into your daily routine!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.
References
[1] https://www.healthline.com
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[9] https://my.clevelandclinic.org
[11] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[12] https://www.healthline.com
[13] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[14] https://www.frontiersin.org
[15] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[16] https://www.ahajournals.org
[17] https://link.springer.com
[18] https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com
[19] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[20] https://www.mdpi.com
[21] https://www.mdpi.com
[22] https://www.frontiersin.org
[23] https://www.bmj.com
[25] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[26] https://www.mdpi.com
[27] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[29] https://healthyeating.sfgate.com
[30] https://www.mdpi.com
[31] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
[32] https://www.mdpi.com
[33] https://www.sciencedirect.com
