Many people have weight-loss goals, but we can’t all make it to the gym as much as we’d like.
Over time, research has revealed different methods to lose weight, but sometimes you might feel overwhelmed with the number of diets out there and everything else you need to know to shed a few pounds.
If you’re looking to shed weight the healthy way, why not give bee pollen a go?
Bee pollen – which is not to be confused with royal jelly – contains many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which are beneficial for the body.
In addition to potentially supporting weight loss, bee pollen is also linked to other health benefits, such as reduced inflammation, improved immunity, and speedier recovery from injury.
What is Bee Pollen?
Bee pollen is a ball or pellet of flower pollen that is gathered by honeybees and used as food for the hive.
It is a speck of fine dust made up of microscopic particles that allow plants to reproduce through seeds.
Bee pollen is transferred from the anther of a flower, and it is the primary source of food for many insects.
How is Bee Pollen Formed?
Bees – living up to their busy nature – fly from one flower to another, collecting nectar and pollen as they move.
As the bee travels between various flowers, it picks up pollen along the way. The bee then brushes the pollen into special hairs on its hind legs (to make transportation easier) and carries the pollen back to the hive.
Often, the bees collect more pollen than they need, so beekeepers seize this opportunity to collect the extra pollen in a mesh trap.
As the bees enter their hive, they pass through holes that are small enough for them to enter, but not the pollen. As the bees enter through these holes, the pollen is gently removed and falls into a tray. The pollen is later collected and used to make the healthy pollen we all know.
Nutritional Facts About Bee Pollen
Do you know that bee pollen contains carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants?
That is an awful lot of nutritional value contained in one tiny grain!
Mind-blowing, isn’t it?
Specifically, a tablespoon of bee pollen has about 40 calories, 7g of carbohydrates, and 1g of fiber. Each tablespoon of bee pollen also contains over two grams of protein, and this brings bee pollen almost at par with a single slice of bread which contains 67-92 calories.
Another crucial fact to note about bee pollen is that the number of nutrients varies according to the season.
The reason for this is simple: plants that grow in springtime contain a different level of amino acids than plants that grow in the summer.
Flowers also produce various forms of pollen, just like human beings have different fingerprints. For example, pine plants produce about 7% protein, while pollen extracted from date palms has about 35% protein.
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How To Use Bee Pollen For Weight Loss
As we now know, bee pollen has many health benefits.
While it is often claimed to be a helpful supplement for weight loss goals, there isn’t much evidence to support this claim. However, given the nutritional profile of the pollen it’s reasonable to assume that it could help you cut down on snacking and feel more full.
What’s interesting, though, is that Brazilian propolis, a resinous material made by bees, has been shown to promote weight loss and reduce fat.
You can easily find bee pollen in local health food stores and as a supplement in pharmacies near you.
Here are a few ways you can use bee pollen for weight loss:
1. As a Replacement for Reduced-Calorie Diets
The low-calorie content in bee pollen makes it a great addition to calorie-controlled diets.
Two teaspoons of bee pollen contain just 4 grams of sugar and 40 calories.
Since it has a slightly crunchy texture, bee pollen can be used instead of a higher-calorie crunchy meal to lose weight. In the case of yogurt, you could always use bee pollen as a topping instead of almonds. This way, you get rid of about twenty-six more calories.
2. As A Source Of Fiber
Bee pollen contains some nutrients which help with weight loss, and one of those nutrients is fiber.
Two teaspoon servings of bee pollen make up about 2% calories of a 2,000-calorie meal. Fiber doesn’t contain many calories, but it helps you feel full quickly, ultimately making you eat less.
This is a great weight loss hack, since the appetite suppressant quality of bee pollen can help you curb your snack cravings!
You could always use bee pollen in healthy recipes, too.
Its pleasant texture means it will go well with hot or cold cereal, yogurt, or even apple sauce.
You could also blend it into a smoothie by mixing plain almond milk, some kale, and a cup of frozen berries.
Delicious!
3. Drink A Lot Of Water When Using Bee Pollen
Nothing goes as well with bee pollen as water.
If you’re using bee pollen capsules as a dietary supplement, make sure to take them with lots of water.
Avoid fizzy drinks – you shouldn’t be drinking those in the first place if your goal is to cut down on unhealthy products. Also, make sure you drink water at regular intervals throughout the day.
4. Don’t Starve Yourself
Many people believe that starving themselves of food is an efficient weight-loss tactic, but this is not true.
Starving yourself is dangerous on its own, and the risks are exacerbated when you take bee pollen.
Some dieting options require that you eat something every three hours. You might find this absurd, but it’s true.
Eating regularly, especially if you’re snacking on fruits and vegetables, can go a long way to ensure a healthy weight-loss lifestyle.
It is also essential that you keep a schedule to track your meals.
5. Have A Good Support System
You might wonder why this is important, but it’s a well-known fact that being held accountable for your actions helps keep you motivated.
You’ll achieve your weight-loss goals far more quickly if you have someone who continually checks up on you and your progress towards your goals.
It’s a lot easier to silence the voice in your head tempting you to stray from your diet if you have someone in your corner.
Recruit someone who spurs you on to achieve your goals and doesn’t allow for excuses.
You are more likely to stick to your plan that way.
6. Exercise
Bee pollen will help you lose weight, but just imagine how much quicker the process could be if you were to up your exercise routine too.
You don’t have to engage in strenuous activity all the time; a simple daily fifteen to thirty-minute walk to the store and back should do the trick.
This will help you burn the visceral fat accumulated in your body, and it’s a healthy lifestyle habit to adopt.
Don’t just rely on consuming bee pollen to work its magic; you can help your body out too.
7. Consume Bee Pollen Regularly
You might be thinking of consuming bee pollen once a week, or once every five days.
Perish the thought.
If you want to see quick results, we recommend that you use bee pollen every day. You can slip it into your meals several times a day.
However, if bee pollen was recommended to you by a doctor or nutritionist, make sure to follow the dosage specified for you.
Before consuming bee pollen, make sure that you don’t have any allergies that could spark off some nasty reactions.
8. Take Bee Pollen With Multivitamins
Multivitamins have no restrictions, and they are also great for replenishing nutrients when engaging in any form of weight-loss activity.
When you lose weight, you could find that you lose some energy too.
Multivitamins replenish that lost energy, while also making sure that you do not regain a disproportionate amount of calories in the process.
9. Do Not Heat Bee Pollen Before Consumption
Heating up bee pollen can damage the pollen and also make it lose its nutrients.
It is better to keep bee pollen frozen to get the best results. Heat spoils pollen, and it will render its weight-loss effects useless.
It’s best to keep bee pollen at a cool temperature to help retain its quality and efficiency.
10. Do Not Take Bee Pollen With Drugs
Taking bee pollen when using other drugs could be a huge mistake that comes with terrible consequences.
Combining bee pollen with other medications could work negatively, and we certainly don’t want that.
Make sure to check with your doctor if you take other medication.
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Health Benefits Of Bee Pollen
Studies show that malnourished animals that consumed a diet rich in bee pollen experienced a substantial increase in size and body weight.
Based on this research, we can conclude that bee pollen can also be a good weight-gain choice.
Some other benefits of bee pollen include the following:
1. Protection From Free Radicals And Chronic Diseases
Antioxidants protect the body against potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals.
And guess what, bee pollen is loaded with a lot of antioxidants. Some of these antioxidants include flavonoids, kaempferol, and so on. When free radicals damage the human body, it usually leads to chronic diseases such as cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Chemists have researched and discovered that bee pollen antioxidants reduce chronic inflammation and destroy harmful bacteria.
But note that the amount of antioxidants in the pollen actually depends on the plant it is taken from. So why not slip some pollen into your diet?
2. It Lowers Heart Disease Risk Factors
Do you know that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide?
High blood lipids and cholesterol are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
However, as people use bee pollen for weight loss, it can also be used to lower heart disease risk factors. Studies have shown that antioxidants in bee pollen protect lipids from oxidizing, which prevents them from clumping together and restricting blood vessels.
Based on this study, you can be sure about reducing the overall stress on the heart and lowering heart disease risks.
3. Reduces Symptoms of Menopause
Women get to the age where menstruation stops, and it’s always marked by some uncomfortable symptoms.
Some of these symptoms include irritability, joint pain, insomnia, to mention but a few.
Research shows that regular consumption of bee pollen during this period can help ease some of these symptoms.
4. Immune System Booster
Bee pollen helps your body fight against bacteria and other harmful elements that may be present in your body, and can even help reduce your reaction to allergies.
Bee pollen does this by limiting the activation of mast cells which can trigger an allergic reaction in the body.
As a result, pollen might be just what you need to stave off all harmful material in the body.
Cautionary Tips About Bee Pollen
Now, too much of anything can be a bad thing.
While bee pollen is absolutely safe for consumption, it’s worth being aware of harmful side effects to look out for.
Below are some of the severe side effects that happen in rare cases:
- Bee pollen can cause allergic reactions, including shortness of breath and swelling.
- Bee pollen is unsafe for pregnant and nursing women.
- Bee pollen can cause increased bleeding if taken with blood thinners like Warfarin. Due to this reason, you should always consult the doctor before combining bee pollen with any drugs.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bee Pollen for Weight Loss
There are some questions that you might have after reading this article, and that is alright.
We will be providing answers to some of these questions about bee pollen.
Let’s dive right in!
Does bee pollen suppress appetite?
The answer is yes.
This is because bee pollen contains a high amount of fiber; it has a way of making you feel full even when you haven’t eaten much.
How much bee pollen should one take a day?
There is no fixed dose for taking bee pollen.
Some people use one eighth (1/8) to one quarter (1/4) teaspoon of bee pollen granules a day. Some even take up to six teaspoons.
What are the side effects of taking bee pollen?
Taking bee pollen supplements can cause mild to severe reactions in people who are allergic to pollen.
Symptoms may include itching, swelling, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis.
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A Final Word From Energetic Lifestyle
Bee pollen has a lot of health benefits.
It is like a miracle drug that provides plenty of health benefits and while there isn’t solid evidence for its effects on weight loss, it could help you to feel fuller and cut down snacking.
The antioxidants in it make it a good combination for whatever food you want.
So it’s worth asking yourself, why not add some bee pollen to your diet and work towards the body of your dreams?
