Why Bee Pollen is one of the most energising foods on the planet.

Pollen doesn't come from Bee's you know!

The name bee pollen is something of a misnomer as the honey bee does not have pollen as part of it's organism.  Bee pollen comes from flowers.  It is the male seed of a flower which is spread via the wind and various insects the bee being just one of them to the female reprodctive strcture of the neighbouring flowers.   This is called pollination and is required for the ongoing fertilazation of some of our most important crops.    

The honey bee in it's daily endeavours will collect nectar and pollen sometimes from various flowers; at times from one particular variety of flower.   Pollen is actually microscopic in size which the bee will store on its legs in what has been called a pollen basket.    It mixes these pollens with nectar and once fully stocked will make its way back to the hive. Upon entering the hive it will pass through a very thin mesh which is there to collect the pollen which then falls into a container below.   Approximately 50% of the pollen will remain enough to feed the bees in the hive.

The incredible nutritional properties of pollen

Bee pollen by weight is said to contain more protein then beef or eggs.  It is also a much cleaner source of protein considering that many animals are reared on GM corn and are given hormonal injections.   Bee pollen can contain over 5000 enzymes.  According to nutritionists enzymes are necessary for all bodily functions.  We need enzymes to energize us on a daily basis and eating food is one of our main sources.    According to research done by Gabriel Cousins one of the most well respected researchers on living plant foods here is a comprehensive overview,  for you to glance over,  of the nutrients that have been discovered in bee pollen:

Vitamins found in pollen:

Provitamin A
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B5 (panothenic acid)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 5 micrograms %
Vitamin B12 (cyamoco balamin)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin D - Vitamin E
Vitamin H (biotin)
Vitamin K. Choline. Inositol
Folic Acid, 5 micrograms %
Pantothenic acid 20-50

micrograms/gram
Rutin. 16 milligrams %
Rutin in beehive pollen 13%
Vitamin PP (nicotinicamide)

Minerals found in pollen:

Calcium. 1 - 15% of ash
Phosphorus 1-20% of ash
Iron, 1-12% of ash
0.01-1.3% of fresh pollen
0.6-7.1 mg % of air dried
Copper 05-08% of ash
1.1-2.1 mg % of fresh
Potassium, 20-45% of ash
Magnesium, 1-12% of ash
Manganese, 1.4% of ash, 0.75 mg %
Silica, 2-10% of ash
Sulphur, 1% of ash
Sodium - Titanium-Zinc
Iodine - Chlorine
Boron-Molydbenum

Fats & Oils: - 5%

Fatty acid (may be 5.8%)
Hexadecanol may be 0. 14% of pollen by weight.
Alpha-amino butyric acid is present in pollen fat.
Unsaponifiable fraction of pollen may be
2.6% by weight.

Carbohydrates:

Gums - Pentosans - Cellulose Sporonine
(7-57% of pollen of various species:
29% in bee collected.)
Starch (0-22% of pollen)
Total sugars (30-40%)
Sucrose or cane sugar
Levulose or fruit sugar / fructose
Glucose or grape sugar
Reducing sugars (0.1-19%)
Bee-collected: Non-reducing sugar 2.71%.
Reducing: 18.82-41.21% Mean. 25.71%

Enzymes & Co-enzymes:

Disstase
Phosphatase
Amylase
Cataiase
Saccharase
Diaphorase
Pectase
Cozymase
Cytochrome systems
Lactic dehydrogenase
Succinic dehydrogenase

It is also important to know that a nutrient is a molecule you must have.  The body cannot manufacture it; you have to ingest and eat it. If at first you fail to have it, you will not feel well.  If not for a longer time, you will begin to feel sick.  If you don't get it for too long a time you will probably end up in major decline.  

Eating pollen can be fun.

Eating pollen is easy - you can eat it staright from the spoon or have it with some fruit or yoghurt or both.  Hoewever I find the best way to make any food fun is by eating it with chocolate.   A superfood smoothie is definitely the way to go for increased energy levels nutrient intake and all round satisfaction.   To give you an idea here is one simple recipe; for this you need a blender....

1 punnet of cherries
1-2 TBSP of pollen
1-2 TBSP of cacao nibs/powder/liqour
1 small avacado
10 cashews or 2 TBSP of hemp seeds
1 TBSP of raw honey
water for desired consistency

Eating pollen this way will give you a real kick.  The chocolate and cherry combination is great and one I go back always go bcak to.   The lecithin in the pollen will help emulisfy thecontent found in the avacado and nuts/seeds.  Here you have a delisious beveridge which you can make in five minutes and drink at any time of the day.  

Some interesting research on bee pollen

Dr William Robinson carried out studies on mice which went onto be published in 1948 by the US Dept of Agruculture. The article was entitled:  “Delay in Appearance of Palpable Mammary Tumors in C3H Mice Following the Ingestion of Pollenized Food”

The study began with mice that had been bred to develop and die from tumors. Mice of this strain developed tumors ranging from ages 18 to 57 weeks, with an average appearance at age 33 weeks. Tumor incidence was 100%.   For this study the pollen used was honey bee pollen.  One group of mice were fed regular mice food only, while the group was fed mice food and a small amount of pollen.

The results of Dr Robinsons research were astonishing.  In the mice fed regular food tumors appeared as expected at an average of 31.3 weeks and tumor incidence was 100%.  In the mice fed pollen the average onset of tumors was 41.2 weeks, a delay of 9.8 weeks.  When the tests ended on the 62nd week seven of the mice in the pollen eating group were still tumor free and these were mice that were bred to die from tumors!  The other mice developed tumors and died as expected.

This is a remarkable study  which suggests that bee pollen is not only an excellent energising health food but can also be used to prolong life as well.