Home / Health & Fitness / Supplements

Bee Pollen Supplement

By: Kevin Agrawal
Submitted: 2008-08-05 15:55:44
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher |

Rating:

 

Bee wise! Don’t swat the bee that stings! Recent research is creating quite a buzz revealing three naturally-produced products by bees gifted with healing benefits for many of today’s health concerns. Bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis have been used by the ancient Chinese and in the Middle East for about 3,000 years.

What is Bee Pollen?
Bee pollen is a flower's male reproductive element. As bees fly from blossom to blossom, retrieving nectar and pollen, bee pollen gets collected on their legs. "Pollen traps" set by beekeepers collect the tiny balls of pollen from the bees' legs.
Bee pollen consists of approximately 55 percent carbohydrate, 35 percent protein, 2 percent fatty acids and 3 percent minerals and vitamins—in variable amounts depending on the plant source.

Bee Pollen – Packed with Antioxidant Power!
Bee pollen is packed with antioxidants called flavonoids—myricetin, quercetin, rutin, and trans-cinnamic acid.
Myricetin helps white blood cells remove the "bad" LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine, beneficial for allergies. Rutin helps as a remedy for varicose veins. Rutin helps protects veins throughout the body and studies have supported the theory that it may help prevent other health problems as well. The body uses trans-cinnamic acid to make its own antibiotics, and this trans-cinnamic acid also powers the detoxifying processes of the liver.

Bee Pollen May Help to Improve Skin
Studies have indicated that Bee pollen may rejuvenate unhealthy or aging skin. Dr. Lars-Erik Essen, a dermatologist in Halsinborg, Sweden, says: “Through transcutaneous nutrition, bee pollen exerts a profound biological effect. It seems to prevent premature aging of the cells and stimulates growth of new human tissues. It offers protection against dehydration and injects new life into dry cells. The skin becomes younger looking, less vulnerable to wrinkles, smoother, and healthier with the use of honeybee pollen.”

Bee Pollen Helps to Increase Energy, Vitality and Stamina.
Bee pollen increases athletic performance. James Higgins, owner of the Hillsboro, Ohio-based Higgins' Apiary and treasurer of the American Apitherapy Society says, "Bee pollen is used by Olympic athletes all over the world. Many say it gives them more energy and better performance.”

Other Benefits
Bee pollen has shown benefits to health in a number of ways including supporting the immune system, endurance, helping to fortify intestinal strength, and assisting to desensitize the body to certain pollen allergies. Because of its high antioxidant content it helps support the body and combat free radical driven health issues.

What is Royal Jelly?
Royal Jelly is a thick, milky secretion produced by worker bees to feed bees during the first three days of life as larvae. Only the Queen Bee continues to receive the jelly throughout her life. As a result, she grows to be 50 percent larger than other female bees and lives two to five years, as opposed to the ordinary bee's lifespan of six weeks.
Royal Jelly contains a powerful antibacterial protein called royalisin. Rich in amino acids, royalisin is effective against "Gram-positive" bacteria, which include staph and strep species (Fujiwara S, Journal of Biological Chemistry, July 5,1990;265:11333-7).

What is Propolis?
Propolis is a waxy, resinous sap which bees collect from the buds of trees and plants to use as a sterile sealant for their hives. It contains more than 150 compounds, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and flavonoids. Propolis helps to fight bacteria, viruses and fungi and recent research shows it may be responsible for making the beehive the most sterile place in the animal kingdom.

Many of the benefits of propolis come from its components, flavonoids and ethanols, which function as antioxidant free-radical scavengers. Phenols (antioxidants) in propolis function similarly to vitamin E, as reported in a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Jan. 1994;21:9-13). Other research also describes propolis to show anti-inflammatory properties and that it could also prevent blood clots (Drugs Under Experimental & Clinical Research, 1993; 19:197-203).

In the light of today’s nutrient-deficient diets, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis are being popularly used to close the nutritional gap. Since these substances are not found in any other food we need to take this as a supplement. You should check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Bee products are not recommended for people with asthma.

Notice:
Any bee product can provoke an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual. If you experience any type of reaction we recommend you discontinue use of this product and consult a physician.


Disclaimer
Despite the confidence and optimism expressed bythe researchers, and the weight of evidence gathered from numerous studies, according to FDA standards, the findings expressed here should still be considered as inconclusive and further studies must be done before a positive health claim can be made. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. New Vitality is a health supplements company. It develops supplement products which are carefully formulated under the guidance of an elite panel comprised of renowned doctors, nutritionists, chemists and researchers. Whether you want a nutritional supplement, pet health supplement, a personal care product or a health care product, New Vitality is a one-stop shop for all needs.

Article source: Expert Articles