What is bee pollen made from? While flowers manufacture pollen for the purpose of reproduction, what flowers create is not exactly bee pollen yet. Then how does bee pollen come about? Keep reading for more information.
Exactly What Is Bee Pollen Made From?
Bee pollen is an interesting compound that is the result of the combined effort of flowers and bees. Flowers create pollen so that the particles will spread to other plants and propagate their species. When bees fly from flower to flower, they pick up pollen on their bodies, which is then sprinkled on other plants they visit. But this is not the only interaction bees have with pollen. In addition to getting carrying it on their bodies, they also gather the microscopic powder and take it back to their hive.
What many people don't know is that bees actually live on pollen as their primary nutrition source. When a bee visits a flower, it gathers some pollen and then mixes it with some of the nectar in its honey sacks, which are located on its legs. When they mix the powder and nectar, they create larger granules that are much easier to tote around than the original fine particles.
Once taken back to the hive, the bees continue to alter the pollen. They add enzymes to keep it from deteriorating, and then digest the pollen to turn it into honey. Honey, being already digested bee pollen, keeps for much longer and feeds the bees in the hive.
Pollen is a very nutritionally rich substance, and provides everything the bees need to survive. In fact, bees would die without pollen! As a substance, pollen contains a great deal of protein, iron, zinc, potassium, and natural sugars. It even contains a little fat to keep the bees pleasantly plump during the winter months.
What About Humans and Bee Pollen?
Now that you can answer the question, "what is bee pollen made from," how is this information useful to you? Humans can also enjoy all of the wonderful health benefits of bee pollen - taken as a powder or in pill form, it can provide humans with all sorts of nutrients, such as those described above. Bee pollen is also full of antioxidants, which are necessary for staying healthy and vibrant. Antioxidants fight free radicals, which attack your cells and cause oxidation; this can cause all sorts of health problems, such as cancer. Taking bee pollen nutritional supplements can help your body to prevent disease and even slow the aging process - bee pollen is often taken to reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles.
A Note of Allergies
Since the basic building block of bee pollen is actually plant pollen, people who suffer severe allergies may consider taking this supplement to help treat them. The theory behind this method is taking small doses will actually inoculate your body against the allergen, building up your body's defenses as they fight it off. A word of caution though: if you have severe pollen allergies, talk to your doctor or other health care provider before taking bee pollen supplements. In rare cases, consuming mass quantities of an allergen can send a person into anaphylactic shock, so make sure you and your doctor are aware of all the risks of starting a new supplement.
