In the eternal quest to discover the next “superfood,”bee pollenis gaining popularity.
Bee pollen is often marketed as an effective dietary supplement that has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. You also may hear that it prevents cancer, balances hormones, improves athletic performance, promotes weight loss and reduces allergies, among many other health claims.
Some of that is true. But some is false, and some remains uncertain. If you are considering using it, do your homework and discuss with yourprimary care provider.
What is bee pollen?
Bees collect pollen from plants and pack it in little “baskets” on their back legs. The bees then fill their hive with the pollen to feed their young.
Beekeepers harvest the pollen from bees by using traps attached to the hive opening. When the bees enter the hive, a small amount of pollen is knocked off their baskets and collected in a drawer underneath the hive.
The collected pollen is then dried and packaged to be sold as granules, powder or in pill form.
Bee pollen granules should be soaked for two to three hours before consuming them. Or grind the granules into powder and mix them with food such as yogurt, smoothies or honey.
Is bee pollen nutritious?
蜂花粉含有许多营养物质。在不同植物的花粉粒中发现了200多种物质。根据蜜蜂采集花粉的植物种类不同，某些营养物质的含量也会有所不同。
All three major nutrients (carbohydrates, protein and fat) and a wide variety of additional nutrients are found in bee pollen. Some of the nutrients include:
- Vitamins B1, B2 and B6, which all help your body turn food into energy
- Copper, which is needed for many processes in the body
- Flavonoids, compounds calledantioxidants, which may decrease your risk for chronic diseases
研究是怎么说的?
大多数对蜂花粉的研究是在动物和实验室中进行的。因此，许多对人类的实际影响仍是未知的。
One study looking at how bee pollen supplementation may affect athletic performance determined that it does not seem to improve athletic performance.
At this time, there is insufficient evidence to rate the effectiveness of claims that ingesting bee pollen prevents cancer, balances hormones, promotes weight loss or reduces allergies.
In fact, consuming it can be harmful to some people.
Is bee pollen safe?
There are some safety concerns to be aware of before eating bee pollen. More research is required to determine the full effects – positive or negative.
You should be aware of scientific concerns such as these:
- A literature review published in 2015 found that consumption could cause an allergic reaction in people with bee or honey allergies.
- 建议孕妇和哺乳期妇女不要食用它，因为担心它会刺激子宫收缩。
- 1岁以下的婴儿应该避免服用，因为目前还没有研究对这一人群的安全性。
- Some evidence suggests that it may interfere with blood-thinning medications, so you shouldn’t take it if you are on this type of medication.
Bottom line
Bee pollen is an excellent source of a wide variety of nutrients. It is generally safe for most people when taken by mouth.
However, long-term use may cause serious side effects, including muscle weakness, nausea, numbness, skin rash, swelling or trouble breathing. Stop using and contact your provider if you experience such symptoms.
它还会与一些药物相互作用，所以在开始服用任何补充剂之前一定要咨询你的医生。如果你有过敏症、怀孕、哺乳或1岁以下，出于安全考虑，最好避免使用。