Bee Pollen – Natures Most Natural Medicine and Complete Food Source
There is a lot of buzz about bees at the moment. It is said that once the bees disappear then we humans have only four years left to live on planet earth. No bees, no pollination. No pollination, no food for us. We all need to do our hardest to save them.
We found an informative article from Lululemon about 5 Reasons to Keep Bee Pollen In Your Freezer.
Bee Pollen may well save your health; easing your allergies, eczema, anti-aging, boosting your immune system and more.
5 reasons you need bee pollen in your freezer
Bee pollen contains all the nutrients necessary for human survival. Often referred to as nature’s most complete food, it tastes like flowers, smooths wrinkles and increases sexuality–no wonder Victoria Beckham is into it (and so are we).
It’s loaded with protein (20-30 per cent), antioxidants, all 22 amino acids, vitamins (including B-complex), enzymes, calcium, zinc, iron and folic acid. Each granule contains 2,000,000 flower pollen grains.
It’s the food bees create to feed their young: a combination of nectar, pollen and saliva. It takes one bee the equivalent of an entire working month to produce a daily dose of pollen (1 tsp). Interesting fact: bee pollen can’t be reproduced in a laboratory–when researchers tried to feed bees man-made pollen, the bees died even though all the known nutrients were present.
Here’s why we’re adding it to our smoothies and salads every day:
1. Rid yourself of seasonal allergies. Don’t want to look like you’ve been crying all summer long? Get rid of your itchy, watery eyes, by adding some locally harvested bee pollen to your diet. Yes, the very thing that causes allergies, can also prevent them, by building up a tolerance to the pollens in the air (for the best results, buy your pollen locally).
Bee pollen contains quercetin, a flavanoid which is known for its ability to minimize or neutralize histamine responses. It also contains lots of antioxidants that may have an anti-inflammatory effect on the tissues of lungs, preventing asthma attacks. As a long-time victim of seasonal allergies and hay-fever (I’m usually pretty itchy, teary-eyed and all around miserable this time of year) after a month of adding 1 tsp to my morning smoothie there’s a definite improvement–I’ve tossed the Reactin and Aerius aside.
2. Clear up skin imperfections. Not heading to the Blue Lagoon anytime soon? We’ve got a cure for psoriasis and eczema that’s much closer to home. The amino acids and vitamins in bee pollen protect the skin and help regenerate cells–topical products containing bee pollen have also proven effective in slowing down the aging process.
Do this: Mix 1 tbsp of pollen with 1 tbsp of pure shea butter. Apply the mixture to your skin, leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water–watch your skin go from dull and lifeless to glowing and vibrant!3. Set that protein powder aside. Bee pollen is arguably one of nature’s most nourishing foods, and is a natural source of protein.
One teaspoon contains more amino acids than eggs or cheese of equal weight and is more rich in protein than any animal product (an ideal supplement for all you vegetarians!)4. Give your immune system a boost. By ridding your body of dangerous toxins and chemicals, bee pollen boosts your immune system.
Do this: Add 1 tsp each of bee pollen, raw honey, turmeric, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, grated ginger, to 1 cup of water and blend.
Note: Bee pollen also stimulates the metabolism which promotes weight loss.5. Beat that mid-day slump. We all get that mid-afternoon energy drop, which is usually when we grab a coffee or reach for a sweet treat to perk us up. Pull out your jar of bee pollen instead. By warding off fatigue and enhancing stamina, the carbs, protein and vitamin B in bee pollen make it a natural energizer (it tastes great in a green smoothie or in a glass of orange juice).
The best place to find bee pollen is at a local beekeeper. If you cannot find one, then a good health shop should provide you with what you need.
It is vital that you choose high quality pollen (no pesticides used) and get the purest and the best. NewZealand honey are amongst some of the purest you can buy.
Please note Bee pollen can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. If you are allergic to bees, it’s not the super food for you. Before you start taking it place one or two granules of pollen on the tip of your tongue. If you’re allergic you’ll have a reaction within minutes. A runny nose, itchy eyes, nose or throat, shortness of breath, hives or swelling will indicate an allergy to bee pollen. Talk to your doctor before introducing any new foods into your diet.
Source: lululemon.co.uk
