Bee pollen superfood boosts immune system function

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Bee pollen superfood boosts immune system function

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

Editor of NaturalNews.com

(NaturalNews) There are many superfoods that boost immune function, but few do it with as much potency as bee pollen.

Through its unique combination of minerals, vitamins, amino acids and

enzymes, bee pollen offers one of the most revitalizing natural

superfoods in the world (especially when collected from local bees who are in tune with your local environment).

 

We've put together a collection of research for you here, describing

the health benefits of bee pollen. NaturalNews reminds everyone to be mindful when consuming bee products due to the very high stresses already placed on honeybees in North America and Europe. Make sure your source practices organic bee farming and does not expose honeybees to high-fructose corn syrup or other chemicals that may be harmful to bee populations.

 

 

Bee pollen and your immune system

Bee pollen has been used throughout history as a superfood to restore energy and recuperative powers to the ailing individual. Bee pollen improves allergies

in many individuals, and hence may have a regulating effect on the

immune system by helping to dampen unnecessary autoimmune attacks which

saves immune warriors for the real cancer battle. There is no toxicity to bee pollen. Other bee products with extraordinary healing properties include royal bee jelly and propolis, which is the antibiotic compound used by bees to disinfect their hives before occupation.

- Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillin, PhD,RD,CNS

 

While the effects are not so dramatic for everyone with arthritis, bee pollen is used by natural healthcare practitioners around the world to help alleviate arthritis symptoms. Energy Boost: Bee pollen

is a popular supplement among many athletes, who report that it helps

them train hard and recover quickly. Many athletes report that it helps

increase stamina. Immune Support: Bee pollen is reported to help

strengthen the immune system. People susceptible to reoccurring colds

and respiratory tract infections may be helped.

- The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler, N.D.

 

Bee pollen has more amino acids

and vitamins than other amino-acid-containing products like beef, eggs,

or cheese. Bee pollen is one of the few vegetable sources of vitamin

B12 (Scheer 1992). A tablespoonful of bee pollen contains about 45

calories and is 15% lecithin (which is required for normal fat

metabolism) by weight (Kamen 1991).

- PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition by Thomson Healthcare, Inc.

 

Bee pollen's natural phenylalanine content acts as an appetite

suppressant. Bee pollen helps build the immune system and provides

energy for the entire body. It contains 35% protein, 55% carbohydrate,

2% fatty acids and 3% minerals and vitamins. It is high in B-complex and vitamins A, C, D and E and contains lecithin. Where to buy it: Health food

stores, in the refrigerated section. Bee pollen is actually many small

granules similar to the size of a grain of wheat or quinoa and is

usually sold in a plastic container.

- Get Balanced-the Natural Way to Better Health with Superfoods by Jan Lovejoy

 

Like other bee products, bee pollen has an antimicrobial effect. In addition, it is useful for combating fatigue, depression,

cancer, and colon disorders. It is also helpful for people with

allergies because it strengthens the immune system. It is best to

obtain bee pollen from a local source, as this increases its

antiallergenic properties. Fresh bee pollen should not cling together

or form clumps, and it should be sold in a tightly sealed container.

Some people (an estimated 0.05 percent of the population) may be

allergic to bee pollen.

- Prescription

for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to

Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food

Supplements by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

 

The human consumption of bee pollen dates back to antiquity; it was

frequently used in the Olympic games in ancient Greece. Today bee

pollen is gaining increasing popularity as effective protection against

many of the common pollutants in the environment, including carbon

monoxide, lead, and mercury. Bee pollen is used to treat allergies,

since it desensitizes the individual. There have also been studies

showing that bee pollen strengthens the resistance of the immune system

to both cancer and radiation.

- Optimum Health - A Cardiologist's Prescription for Optimum Health by Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D.

 

Bee Pollen Description: Bee pollen is the pollen produced by flowering

plants, which clings to bees as they gather nectar. Bee pollen contains

many vitamin and minerals, as well as flavonoids

such as rutin and quercitin. It is thought that the minute amounts of

pollens desensitize a person for the same pollen allergies.

- Prescription

for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with

Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements,

Bodywork, and More by James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.

 

Some bee pollen products are tainted with contaminants from air

pollution (pesticides, herbicides) and environmental chemicals (heavy

metals). Therefore, I advise that you only use a product from a company

that uses a quality bee pollen source and tests their product to make

absolutely sure it is not contaminated.

- The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler, N.D.

 

Bee pollen is another potent antiradiation food as well as a general health

enhancer. Bee pollen helps to support the immune system and protects

both red and white blood cells against their usual depletion from

radiation. Bee pollen is also high in vitamins A, B, C, and E, nucleic

acids, lecithin, cysteine, and vital minerals

such as selenium, calcium, and magnesium. All of these nutrients

contribute in their own way in helping to protect against radiation.

- Conscious Eating by Gabriel Cousens, M.D.

 

These enzymes

may be a key to long life: one study showed that many centenarians in

the republic of Georgia were beekeepers who regularly consumed raw honey,

complete with pollen. Bee pollen is packed with amino acids

(twenty-two, including all the essential ones), vitamins, minerals,

hormones, fatty acids, and thousands of enzymes. Bee pollen has been

found to be effective in treating allergies, bacterial infections,

asthma, capillary weakness, chronic fatigue, immune depression,

menopausal symptoms, nutritional disorders, prostate problems, chronic

cystitis, and urinary tract infections.

- Whole Foods Companion: A Guide For Adventurous Cooks, Curious Shoppers, and lovers of natural foods by Dianne Onstad

 

Research dating back to 1948 found that animals whose diets were

supplemented with bee pollen had a significantly lower tumor incidence.

A study in Nature reported that royal jelly (derived from pollen)

protected all mice injected with cancer cells

for longer than 12 months, in contrast to those in the control group,

injected with the same number of cancer cells, all of which died within

12 days. In studies of women suffering from inoperable uterine cancer,

those given bee pollen were found to maintain strong immune systems and

to suffer less from nausea, hair loss, and fatigue.

- Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition by Larry Trivieri, Jr.

 

One of the flavonoids found in bee pollen is the powerful

anti-inflammatory quercetin. And a paper in the Journal of

Ethnopharmacology in 2005 found that propolis stimulates antibody

production, perhaps accounting for its reputation as an immune-system

enhancer. Royal Jelly: Royal jelly is a special creamy substance

secreted from the nurse worker bees that stimulates the growth and

development of the queen bee; without it, she'd just be a regular old

worker bee.

- The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.

 

Bee pollen can be wonderful for improving focus, if the child is not allergic to bee stings. It is especially high in B vitamins, which are essential for good mental health. Vitamin E with selenium

aids circulation, as do choline and inositol. Moreover, vitamin C, an

effective free radical scavenger, builds the immune system and improves

circulation. Research suggests that the amino acid L-glutamine is

helpful for anyone with mental and emotional problems.

- The

Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing: A Comprehensive A-Z Listing

of Common and Chronic Illnesses and Their Proven Natural Treatments by Gary Null, Ph.D.

 

Your adrenals, which really take a beating from stress, can be

strengthened with green drinks, sea vegetables, licorice, bee pollen,

royal jelly, and ginseng. Many herbs have antioxidant properties that help combat free radical damage related to an immune system weakened by stress.

- The Super Anti-Oxidants: Why They Will Change the Face of Healthcare in the 21st Century by James F. Balch, M.D.

 

Since bee pollen is so high in nutrients, you might want to take it if

you're detoxifying. When you detoxify, you reduce the intake of foods that normally keep your immune system in good working order.

- The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler, N.D.

 

One good source of B vitamins is bee pollen, unless there is an allergy

to bee stings. Other good sources are green algae and the bioflavonoid pycnogenol.

And taking pycnogenol daily (60 mg) has the side benefit of keeping the

skin healthy and young. Vitamin A is healing to the skin as well, and

preventive against infections. Another important nutrient is coenzyme

Q10, which provides oxygen to the tissues, helping them to heal. Herbs:

There is an abundance of herbs that support the immune system before or during an outbreak.

- The

Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing: A Comprehensive A-Z Listing

of Common and Chronic Illnesses and Their Proven Natural Treatments by Gary Null, Ph.D.