Nature's complete protein source

Despite the "back to nature" and "organic food" movements and the many books and articles on bee pollen published over the last 17 years, there are still some people who aren't sure exactly what bee pollen is. Pollen is the male sperm of flowers: the pollen grains are formed on the stamens as tiny grains. Fertilization of the plant occurs when the pollen grains are brushed or blown onto the female stigma of the flower. The pollen grains grow pollen tubes through the stigma and style of the flower and down to the ovule(s), or the female "egg(s)" of the flower. There, fertilization takes place and the seed(s) are formed. Many flowering plants, including many of our food plants, such as trees, strawberries and vegetables are dependent on bees distributing the pollen for pollination.

Bees use pollen as a protein source and flower nectar as a carbohydrate (energy) source. During the pollen collection the bees become covered with grains and transfer pollen from one flower to another. To collect the pollen for use, the honeybee scrapes it from her body with her jaws and bristles (pollen combs) on her front legs and presses it into her "pollen baskets", located on the sides of her rear legs. People and animals as well as bees can benefit from eating bee pollen. A 1961 French study analyzed bee pollen and found it to contain 18 amino acids, vitamins, minerals and hormones. The pollen was fed to mice and demonstrated that pollen is a complete food that it is possible to let several generations be born without the least sign of distress while nourishing them exclusively on bee pollen. Bee pollen contains all the essential elements for life. The percentage of revivifying and rejuvenating elements in bee pollen is remarkable, far exceeding those present in brewer's yeast and wheat germ. Bee pollen corrects the failings due to deficient or unbalanced nutrition, common in the customs of our present day civilization on consuming incomplete foods, often with added chemical ingredients, which expose us to physiological problems as various as they are numerous.

Many other studies have reported the bee pollen is a complete food and contains many elements that products of animal origin do not possess. Bee pollen is richer in proteins than any animal source. It contains more amino acids than beef, eggs or cheese of equal weight. It has also been reported that bee pollen is the finest, most perfect food. It is a giant germ killer in which bacteria simply cannot exist. The health restoring properties of honeybee pollen has been proven time and time again. Honeybee pollen not only builds up strength and energy in the body, but also gives increased resistance to infection. Other experiments reported that bee pollen contains antibiotic factors affective against E. Coli, Proteus and salmonella organisms.

Pollen nutritional studies on people have noticed: an increase in healthy red and white blood cells. A reduction of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood has also been reported. Along with a lessening of nausea during chemotherapy; relief of menstrual and menopausal symptoms; decrease in chronic prostrate inflammation; increase of alertness and reduction of antisocial behavior in troubled teenagers and relief of asthma and allergy symptoms. When in season, I harvest my bee pollen daily using a pollen trap that knocks a percentage of the pollen off the bee's legs. I then store it in a freezer so that I may offer the freshest pollen available. Upon receiving pollen, you need to store it in a freezer. It will keep for one year or longer with no nutritional loss. Very few people are allergic to bee pollen. Therefore, it is suggested that people start taking small amounts of bee pollen and gradually increase the amount until they are taking 2 tablespoons daily. If slight allergic symptoms occur, temporarily decrease the amount taken, Soon the symptoms will disappear. However as with all new foods that you may sample, consult a physician if severe symptoms occur.

The following is one of our favorite recipes Honeybee Pollen Candy

1/2 cup of bee pollen granules
2 tablespoons of carob powder
2 tablespoons of water
3 tablespoons of totally raw honey
1/2 cup of crunchy peanut butter

Put the bee pollen granules in a mixing bowl. Dissolve the powered carob in the water and stir into the bee pollen. Add the raw honey and mix. Add the peanut butter and mix thoroughly. Using a melon baller, form little balls from the mixture. Store the candy balls, which will remain soft, in the refrigerator. Yield - 18 balls.