Bee pollen has been increasing in popularity the past few years, and for good reason! It is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available and has countless health benefits. It’s also super easy to incorporate into your diet since it doesn’t have much of a taste and can easily be sprinkled on smoothies or salads.

What is bee pollen?

Bee pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods and is a great superfood to add to your daily diet since it contains nearly all the nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used by the body. It also has dramatic benefits for our energy levels, thanks to its abundance of B vitamins.

Male bees collect pollen from flowers and combine it with their saliva (called nectar) to form small pellets of pollen. The bees bring this pollen back to the hive as food for the colony. One teaspoon of bee pollen takes one bee working eight hours a day for one month to gather.

Before adding bee pollen to your diet, it’s important to check for signs of allergen sensitivity. It is recommended that you start off by having a single bee pellet and monitoring for signs of intolerance. Even if you don’t have an allergy to bees or pollen, you could still have a reaction.

Health benefits of bee pollen

1. Reduces inflammation
2. Boosts the immune system
3. Reduces allergies
4. Helps relieve stress
5. Improves alertness
6. Supports the liver

Where to get it

When it comes to bee pollen, quality counts. It’s one food that that is extremely important to get locally in order for it to be effective. Using local pollen is a great way to strengthen your immune system and decrease the severity of seasonal allergies.

The best place to get it would be at your local farmer’s market. That way, you can talk to the seller and ask important questions such as when and how it was harvested. You can also find it at your local health food store.

How to eat it

Focus on ways to enjoy bee pollen in its raw state. Cooking or heating it can limit its nutritional value. It doesn’t have much of a taste so it’s pretty easy to sprinkle on most foods.

• Use it to top your smoothie or smoothie bowl
• Sprinkle it on your cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt
• Use as a salad topper
• Use it to top pancakes and waffles
• Sprinkle on ice cream

What’s your favourite way to enjoy bee pollen?