Bee pollen, in theory, sounds super gross. It is the collection of the pollen that sticks to the body of bees and may also contain bee saliva. But these crunchy little balls are said to have a sweet, florally taste which can verge on ‘bittersweet’.
If the idea of chowing down on the stuff that sticks to bee’s legs, then they also come in capsule form too. And if you’re still not convinced, we speak to expert nutritionist and Egyptian Magic Skincare spokesperson Arancha Arias about the benefits of bee pollen.
It’s a natural antibacterial
Arancha tells us that bee pollen has natural antibacterial properties, which means it’s great for helping grazes, sores and burns by rejuvenating damaged skin and reducing inflammation. However, please note: you still need to consume the pollen orally - rubbing bee pollen on your open wounds will do nothing but sting.
It'll help with your Allergies
Pollen reduces the presence of histamine, which is a major part of what causes allergies such as hayfever. Taking a bee pollen supplement could help you to develop a desensitisation to whatever causes your allergic reaction. So for those who are in the throes of a hay fever nightmare, this may be the answer to your itchy, sniffly prayers. However there is an important caveat to this: if you are allergic to bee stings, you should definitely not be consuming bee pollen.
It's great for your skin
Bee pollen is amazing at helping skin conditions such as acne, Arancha says. In fact, Arancha tell us Swedish dermatologist Dr. Lars-Erik Essen swears by it for his patients. He says: “ “Bee pollen… seems to prevent premature ageing of the cells and stimulates growth of new skin tissue. It offers effective protection against dehydration and injects new life into dry cells. It smoothes away wrinkles and stimulates a life-giving blood supply to all skin cells.” So sprinkle some on your cereal and eat your way to better skin - it’s basically the dream scenario.
It's high in fibre
Bee pollen is really high in fibre, meaning that a few helpings of a week can promote a healthy digestive system. So if you’re feeling a bit blocked up, bee pollen can help you with that.
It's gluten-free (yay!)
Gluten intollis, rejoice! you can add bee pollen to your ‘safe to eat’ list. Because there’s nothing worse than finding out your favourite foods contains the only thing your body is intolerant to. (I mean, what the hell, Kikkoman? Soy sauce, seriously?!) But bee pollen in completely G-free! So you can pop these little critters all OVER your food and avoid the dreaded post pig-out bloat. Hurrah!
It can sooth your sore skin
The amino acids and vitamins in bee pollen are great for aiding the regeneration of cells, and can be used to treat skin problems such as psoriasis or eczema. So if the summer sun is irritating your skin, bee pollen will help a treat.
It can help with prostate problems
Ladies, here’s one for your boyf. Clinical studies suggest that the consumption of bee pollen is able to relieve the painful symptoms of an enlarged prostate. In helping to reduce prostate enlargement, bee pollen also reduces inflammation that will help to stop the discomforting and frequent urges to urinate. So, if you’re man is open enough with you to tell you about his ailments, you’ll know what to suggest!
It's an immune system booster
If you’ve been feeling a bit under the weather and sluggish recently, shoving some bee pollen in your gob will do you the world of good. Inside those teeny tiny nuggets is a sh*tload of antioxidants, proteins, minerals and vitamins, so they can help to promote a strong immune system and fight off any illnesses. Great at keeping you well, but bad if you want to pull a sicky - no one’s gonna believe you when you’re consuming that many vitamins!
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