The Buzz on Bee Pollen — 6 Things You Need to Know

From scientists, to dieticians, to athletes, there’s an awful lot of buzzing going on about the benefits of bee pollen. But is it right for you?

If you’re thinking about starting your own bee pollen regimen, there are 6 things you need to know first:

1. You can use it inside and out..
…of your body, that is! Bee pollen can be used as a dietary supplement, or it can be used in skin products like creams and lotions.
When it’s used as a dietary supplement, bee pollen has been said to help boost your overall health, help you get over an illness faster, and even as a diet tool!
How is all of that possible?
Bee pollen is considered a “super food” because it contains carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals – in short, everything you need to have a healthy, well-balanced system! [More about bee pollen benefits]
When it’s used as part of your skin care routine, bee pollen helps nourish your skin so that it looks smoother and brighter. Since it contains so many nutrients, bee pollen can prevent premature aging and even help get rid of some of the wrinkles and age spots that you’re already dealing with!

2. Colder is better
The key to getting the most out of bee pollen to make sure that yours is processed without any heat. Without getting into the complex scientific explanation behind it, all you need to know is that the hotter bee pollen gets, the more nutrients are damaged!
If you want to get even more out of your bee pollen, take it one step further and store yours in the fridge….unless it’s in capsule form, where it should stay fresh for as long as the date printed on the bottle…as long as it’s been processed properly, without the use of heat!

3. It’s not for everyone
If you start to sneeze and wheeze whenever there’s pollen in the air, this may not be the right remedy for you. By ingesting or rubbing bee pollen on your skin, you can cause an allergic reaction – so remember that before you try it! That said, under controlled conditions, I.E under the supervision of your doctor, bee pollen can be used to treat and reduce the affect of airborne allergens.

4. Slow and steady wins the race
As great as bee pollen can be for you, the last thing you want to do is overwhelm your system with it. So, for best results, start off with just a small amount – then gradually incorporate more of it into your routine.

5. It has been a go-to remedy for thousands of years
Everyone from the Ancient Egyptians to the Ancient Romans ate bee pollen to give their health a boost. Legend has it that Hippocrates (you know, the doctor behind the Hippocratic Oath that every doctor takes today) prescribed bee pollen for people in Ancient Greece. In fact, Spartan warriors even took bee pollen before battles in an effort to overwhelm the competition!

6. It just might make you stronger, faster, and better
Both professional and amateur athletes are always looking for a competitive edge, and for centuries, bee pollen has been a popular way to get it! Bee pollen became a popular supplement at the very first Olympic Games, and it’s still popular among athletes today.

Why?
Studies show that bee pollen can increase your oxygen uptake – or, the rate at which oxygen is used by your tissues. As a result, you can wind up with more endurance. Even if you’re an amateur runner who’s training for a marathon, you might be able to trim some time off your pace by taking bee pollen!
That increase in oxygen uptake is also great for athletes who are recovering from injuries. After all, the faster your body can put oxygen to use, the faster it can make aching muscles feel better.