Health Benefits of Honey & Bee Pollen

Honeybees are undoubtedly the most industrious, important and necessary creatures on the planet. The honeybee plays an absolutely essential role in our existence. Without honeybees, life on precious Mother Earth would most likely cease to exist. Honeybees are responsible for pollinating the vast majority of edible plants. It is estimated that 100,000 species of plants would become extinct without honeybees to pollinate them. Not only do honeybees pollinate our flowers and plants, they provide us with some of the most nutritious, healthy and delicious food in the world. Bees are perhaps the oldest living species on our planet. Our creator in His/Her magnificent wisdom knows perfection. It's no accident that bees have not changed in millions of years. The scientific community is finally finding out what our ancestors have known for thousands of years, that bee products play an important role in our good health and well being. Apitherapy, or bee therapy, is the use of products of the common honeybee for therapeutic purposes.

Honeybee venom, bee pollen, raw honey, royal jelly and propolis are the products generally considered to have medicinal benefits. These products are said to be effective against a wide range of ailments, from arthritis and chronic pain to multiple sclerosis and cancer, although few scientific studies have as yet proved their benefits. Most claims come from anecdotal evidence dating back thousands of years. Human consumption of bee products is praised in the Bible. They have long been prescribed by traditional health practitioners, including the father of western medicine, Hippocrates. He used bee venom to treat arthritis and other joint problems. The ancient Greeks and Romans fed their atheletes "bee bread" (a combination of raw honey and bee pollen) to enhance their stamina and athletic abilities. Also the early Egyptians and Chinese used a combination of pollen and honey as a rejuvenating medicinal agent. It has been called the "fountain of youth" and "ambrosia of the gods". Researchers have discovered that honey and bee pollen are a natural food source supplying nutrient dense food. Plants use pollen nutrients for life and bees use honey and pollen as an important food source. If ancient people successfully used honey and pollen as a food source, then modern people would also benefit.

HONEY:
Honey begins as nectar collected by bees as they forage from flower to flower. The nectar is stored in the bees "honey sac". When the bee returns to the hive a "receiving bee" helps to unload the nectar from its honey sac. Through a lengthy and labor-intensive process (all performed by the ever busy and clever bee), moisture is removed from each drop of nectar. When the moisture content is just right, the nectar is sealed in honeycomb to continue ripening into honey. To produce a single pound of honey, the honeybee must bring in approximately 75,000 loads of nectar.
All ancient societies prescribed honey for wound healing. During World War I, honey was on the battlefield as an indespensable treatment for wounds. Ancient societies also used honey as a laxative, cough suppressant, sore throat soother and a salve for sore eyes. Unfortunately, with the advent of antibiotics, the use of honey as a medicine has fallen by the wayside.
Honey is nutrient rich and contains as many as 80 different substances important to human nutrition. Honey is easily metabolized by the body and enters the bloodstream slowly, unlike refined sugar, which rushes into the bloodstream and jolts the pancreas into action, giving you the sugar rush and inevitable letdown that follows. People tend to avoid honey in the belief that its high in calories. An average teaspoon of honey contains only about 25 calories and converts quickly and efficiently into energy—unlike white refined sugar.
Dr. Susan Percival at the University of Florida, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition has concluded that honey [specifically raw honey] contains the following nutrients: Vitamin A, Betacarotene, B-Complex vitamins (complete), Vitamins C,D,E,K, Magnesium, Sulfur, Phosphrous, Iron, Calcium, Chlorine, Potassium, Iodine, Sodium, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, as well as Riboflavin, Thiamin, Panthothenic Acid, and live enzymes. There are other substances in honey that cannot be identified.
Dr. Paavo O. Airola states in his book "Health Secrets from Europe":

"Honey is a perfect food. It contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals, being particularly rich in vitamins B and C. It contains almost all vitamins and B-complex, which are needed in the system for the digestion and metabolism of sugar. Honey is also rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, silicon, etc. . . . some kinds may contain as much as 300 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams of honey."

Dr. Peter Molan, MBE, Associate Professor in Biochemistry at the University of Waikato, in New Zealand. Dr. Molan has been researching the medicinal and healing properties of honey for over 17 years. His conclusions are that honey contains a degree of healing properties, mostly due to the antibacterial agent hydrogen peroxide, which is found in all honey regardless of region.
Studies by Dr. May R. Berenbaum, an entomologist at the University of Illinois, show that honey possesses surprising quantities of antioxidants, which fight toxicity in the bloodstream and prevent harmful infections and which also are proven to fight heart disease and cancer. According to Dr. Heidrun Gross, Ph.D., research scientist at the University of California-Davis, who has done research on the health benefits of honey, four to the teaspoons of honey per day is beneficial.
According to Royden Brown in his book "Bee Hive Product Bible" exhaustive studies conducted in Bulgaria show that "...honey has bactericidal, anti-allergenic, anti-inflamatory and expectorant properties that insure the body an immuno-biologicla defense and give it the capacity to regenerate is attacked cells."


BEE POLLEN:
Pollen is the male seed of flowers which is required for the fertilization of plants. There are two types of pollen - airborne pollen (anemophile) and non-airborne pollen (entomophile). Entomophile pollen or "bee pollen" is carried on the bodies of bees as they go from flower to flower fertilizing each plant they visit. Anemophile or airborne pollen is the culprit in seasonal allergies - not bee pollen. Bee pollen acts as an antigen against airborne pollen and can be effective in treating seasonal allergies [see FAQ for more on this subject]. As the honeybee makes its rounds, it packs its "pollen baskets" (located on its legs) full of pollen which it takes back to the hive as food for the colony. The colony is fed a combination of honey and bee pollen. Chemical analysis from research labs all over the world show that bee pollen is a complete food. Bee pollen contains the following nutrients [the location and source of bee pollen can cause variability in the vitamin and mineral content of bee pollen]: All essential amino acids, minerals, including phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, manganese, iron and zinc, some trace minerals, all B vitamins, including B-12 [one of the few vegeterian sources of B-12], Folic Acid, Panthothenic Acid, Rutin, Lecithin, RNA, DNA and enzymes. It also contains anti-oxidants, including flavanoids, beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E, and Lycopene. Research has shown that bee pollen contains a substance which inhibits the development of numerous harmful bacteria, including E. Coli. Clincial studies have shown that bee pollen has a regulatory effect on intestinal function, relieving even the most stubborn constipation. Studies also show that bee pollen is high enzymes and co-enzymes. Enzymes are necessary in the body for digestive and immune functions. The enzymes present in bee pollen are especially important for a balanced chemical metabolism. This balancing or regulating function may be the key factor in bee pollen's ability to assist in weight regulation. Bee pollen is approximately 25% complete protein containing at least 18 amino acids, more than 12 vitamins, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes and co-enzymes, 14 beneficial fatty acids, and 11 carbohydrates. Bee pollen is low in calories at 90 calories per oz. (approx. 2 tsps.). It contains Lecithin which helps dissolve and flush fat out of the body, which in turn lowers low density lipoproteins (LDL) and raises high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Bee pollen stimulates metabolism and curbs the appetite due to its Phenylalanine content [one of the essential amino acids]. It is also a powerful antioxidant (one of the highest) and has a high polyphenol content -- a super bioflavinoid.
In 1992, Dr. R. Chandra of John Hopkins University gave moderate amounts of bee pollen to a group of elderly patients and noted an increase in their immunity and a decrease in the risk of infections. He also demonstrated a direct link between the level of Iron, Zinc, B6 and Beta Carotene with a strong immune system (all components of bee pollen).
The British Royal Society of Naturalists has been researching the health effects of bee pollen for years. They state "The nutritional tests supervised by the station at Bures on hundreds of mice have demonstrated that pollen is a complete food, that it is possible to let several generations be born and live without the least sign of distress, while nourishing them exclusively on bee pollen."
Dr. Carlson Wade in his book "About Pollen" states, "Bee pollen contains a gonadotrophic hormone similar to the pituitary hormone, gonadotrophin, which functions as a sex gland stimulant...By providing energy and stamina it's also helpful for infertility and impotence, especially when combined with honey and royal jelly. The healing, rejuvenating and disease-fighting effects of this total nutrient are hard to believe, yet fully documented. Aging, digestive upsets, prostate diseases, sore throats, acne, fatigue, sexual problems, allergies and a host of other problems have been successfully treated by using bee pollen." Viagra - move over!!!
Dallas Clouatre, Ph.D. is a researcher and author. In his book "Flower Pollen for Prostate Health", he reports that bee pollen consumption amoung men with prostate problems results in significant improvement and alleviation of symptoms. Specifically "less nightime urination, improved bladder emptying, and reduced prostate discomfort." A Swedish study conducted by Dr. Gosta Leander also concluded that bee pollen can significantly affect imflammation and swelling of the prostate gland.
Scientific evidence from all over the world and thousands of years of anecdotal evidence show a huge range of potential health benefits from the consumption of bee products (includes bee venom therapy, honey, pollen, royal jelly and propalis). They are as follows:

promote anti-aging/longevity stimulate the immune system and fight against viral and bacterial infection regulate and balance hormones increase vigor and physical strength can help regulate weight reduce cravings for food or nicotine stimulate memory and mental function fight chronic fatigue protect against hay fever and certain allergies help with stress and anxiety increased energy and stamina (bee pollen is taken widely by atheletes) fight colds and respiratory infections help promote smooth, healthy and toned skin improved sexual function, facilitates fertility and may help reverse impotence may help to regenerate bone growth build tissue and muscle may reduce blood lipids and cholesterol may reduce high blood pressure rejuvenate the aged, sick or week may help with menopausal-related symptoms may help endocrine system disorders hepato-protective (liver)

support the body during pregnancy and menopause correct hormonal imbalances reduce or protect against coronary artery disease prevent and treat bladder infections promote wound healing reduce inflammation treat liver ailments protect against cancer relieve arthritis relieve depression reduce symptoms of diabetes prevent asthma attacks anabolic support assist weak or tired eyes prevent arteriosclerosis treat malnutrition treat mononucleosis improve mental alertness prevent and treat ulcers relieve symptoms of eczema relieve symptoms of impetigo may increase hemoglobin count and treat or prevent anemia caused by nutritional factors.