Bee Pollen Supplements
Bee pollen supplements can be purchased in a variety of different formats. Below is a description of how to take them. However, personally, I am not convinced by the reported health benefits of bee pollen. Personally, I think there is insufficient evidence - unlike honey, where there is specific evidence for particular health and hygiene benefits, such as its efficacy against MRSA.
However, if you are still interested in bee pollen, here is a description of some of the formats available.
Do consult your medical practitioner before taking bee pollen supplements if you are taking medication, or need to be cautious about what you eat.
Please note: The Food and Drug Administration has warned that some bee pollen products may be adulterated with unapproved drugs including sibutramine and phenolphthalein. Please use ensure you only purchase from a reputable supplier.
Organic formats are available.
Formats: How To Take Bee Pollen Supplements
If you decide to take bee
pollen, always read the instructions and labelling information. If you
have an allergy to pollens or bee products, it is better not to take bee
pollen supplements.
How To Take Fresh Raw Bee Pollen
Bee pollen can be removed
directly from the bee hive, and eaten immediately, as it is, or spread
on crackers, biscuits or toast. It can also be eaten with salads or
with fruit. Fresh pollen does not keep unless frozen.
Fresh Frozen Pollen
If
you are not a beekeeper, it is nevertheless possible to purchase fresh
frozen pollen, such as Percie du Sert Bee Pollen. The pollen is
packed with nitrogen in sealed containers and frozen. It is advocated
that freezing rather than drying the pollen, ensures fewer of the
beneficial ingredients in pollen are lost.
Both dried and
processed bee pollen may have lost some of the nutritional properties of
fresh, raw bee pollen. Percie du Sert, who promotes fresh, frozen
pollen, and who is the author of The Healing Powers Of Pollen states, “We
now know that drying pollen into crunchy little granules destroys most
of the active ingredients….An unfortunate controversy stems from the
fact that the effects of pollen on the intestinal flora are still used
to promote sales of dried pollen even though these properties have been
lost in the drying process.”
Nevertheless, dried pollen is perhaps a convenient format, although taste is also altered.
How To Take Bee Pollen Granules - Dehydrated (or Dried Bee Pollen)
Dried pollen granules can be purchased and taken at convenience. They can be ground into powder and added to other raw foods.
Bee Pollen Tablets & Capsules
A
convenient way to take bee pollen. However, other ingredients may have
been added, so that you are not eating pure bee pollen. Check the list
of ingredients. For
example, among the list of ingredients for bee pollen tablets, and added
to the bee pollen powder, I have found: Bulking Agent (Microcrystalline
Cellulose), Anti-Caking Agents (Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Calcium
Silicate, Magnesium Stearate), Emulsifier (Acacia Gum), Sodium
Carboxymethylcellulose. Bee pollen capsules may also contain Gelatin
and magnesium stearate.
Not that there is necessarily anything
wrong with these ingredients at all, and many people take tablets and
gel formats of other health supplements in any case.
Alcohol Liquid with Bee Pollen Supplements
Liquids
are absorbed more quickly into the body. Some preparations offer
liquid ingredients that are meant to be beneficial, and with bee pollen
grains added.
How To Take Bee Pollen In Drinks
You can add bee pollen granules ground further into powder to home made shakes and smoothies.
However,
it is possible to purchase bee pollen in powdered format and combined
with other ingredients and nutrients, specifically to be made into
drinks. These are often aimed at the sports/fitness supplement market.
Combinations
Bee pollen supplements may also be combined with other bee products, such as honey, propolis and royal jelly. Bee pollen may also be combined with herbs and other supplements.
However, you may first like to read the following of my pages (clicking on these links opens a new window) before trying them out:
Bee Pollen Nutrition
This page compares bee pollen nutritional content with every day foods.
Health Benefits of Bee Pollen
This page looks at some of the claims made about the effects of bee
pollen on health, from effect on athletic performance to claims about
eye sight.
Bee pollen & Weight Loss
If you are considering taking bee pollen for weight loss, then I definitely recommend you read this first.