Pollen is a nutrient for bees. It plays a more important role than honey because it is needed for the development of these insects, while honey mainly provides them with energy.
How pollen is sourced.
Pollen is produced by plants for reproductive purposes. It is produced in pollen bags located in stamens, which are the most important parts of the flower. To get the easily escaping pollen, a bee takes a bit honey before flying out of a hive. After landing on the flower, it opens a pollen bag with a mandible. The bee collects pollen with the front feet and then wets it with a little honey mixed with its saliva and forms a ball. During this operation, a lot of pollen also settles on hairy body of the insect. To collect it, the bee uses the other 4 pairs of legs. It puts all the pollen in the pollen basket and packs with the legs. After returning to the hive, the bee-picker puts pollen into the cell. Now the work on pollen is taken over by bee-storekeepers that compact pollen lumps to a homogenous mass. The mass takes about ¾ of the patch cell and then is poured with honey. Honey cuts off air access to pollen and preserves it. A bee family cannot exist without pollen. Both bee larvae and adult bees eat it. It is also the basic ingredient in royal jelly, the bees’ queen is fed on.
The pollen consists of:
1. Carbohydrates: 25% - 48% (simple and complex sugars).
2. Proteins: 20% - 47% (13% are amino acids).
3. Water: 12% - 25%.
4. Minerals: 3% - 5% (among others: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, silicon, zinc, sodium).
5. Fats: 2% - 4% (12 fatty acids).
6. Vitamins: mainly from group B, as well as: A, E, D, F, H and K as well as some vitamins C and P. Vitamin C is present in pollen in small amounts. Most of it can be found in wormwood and clover pollen. However, vitamin P can be found in buckwheat pollen. As for vitamin A, it is contained most in lily plants (tulips, lilies, hyacinths, and lilies of the valley). Pollen of roses, fruit trees and saskatoons are also rich in this vitamin. Interestingly, pollen of royal lily and yellow acacia has 20 times more beta-carotene than carrot root.
7. Bioflavonoids (antioxidants).
8. Phytoncides (substances with bactericidal and fungicidal activity).
9. Essential oils, hormones, enzymes, antibiotics and growth stimulants (mainly contains linden pollen).
Functions of pollen.
Women in ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire used pollen to improve their complexion. Due to its composition, pollen:
- supports the treatment of anaemia (its positive impact on the number of white and red blood cells was confirmed by research);
- eliminates the feeling of tiredness and weakness (its use is advisable especially during spring and autumn solstices);
- reduces blood pressure and also strengthens blood vessels, prevents strokes, heart attacks and varicose veins
- regulates intestines function (diarrhea and constipation) and improves digestion;
- supports diabetes treatment by lowering blood sugar levels;
- has a beneficial effect on the psyche, supporting the treatment of many mental disorders;
- reduces or eliminates ailments associated with pollen allergy (to increase the effect, take pollen daily minimum 2 months before dusting occurs);
- helps to regulate appetite and hence weight.
Also in her book "Bees and people" (original title “Pszczoły i ludzie”) Ms. Irena Gumowska gives information that pollen helps inflammation of the prostate gland and it is recommended for men over 40 years of age to supplement with pollen at a dose of 15 g per day. Russian doctor Jojrisz recommends consuming 5 g of pollen along with 5 g of honey 2 times a day.
Also French researchers found that pollen has a rejuvenating effect. It is great for older people helping both at the physical and mental level.
French scientists also say that the antibiotic contained in pollen destroys harmful bacteria and microorganisms, among others salmonella without harm to beneficial micro-organisms for our digestive system.
Can pollen impair us?
They may occur allergies to pollen, which results in hay fever. However, at this point it is worth noting, that the main allergic effect has pollen carried by wind. Pollen collected by bees is combined with nectar and their saliva, which neutralize the effects of allergens.
It may happen that bees collect pollen from poisonous plants but they do so reluctantly and as a last resort because such pollen also impairs them.
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