Bee Pollen

History and Uses:
Bee Pollen is collected by bees as they gather nectar from flowers for making honey, and like honey, Bee Pollen is used as a food by the hive. The pollen granules are stored in pollen sacs on the bees' hind legs. Beekeepers, who wish to collect Bee Pollen, place a screen over the hive with openings just large enough for the bees to pass through. As the bees enter the hive, the screen compresses their pollen sacs, squeezing the pollen from them. and the beekeepers can then collect the pollen from the screen. Commercially available Bee Pollen is either collected from bees returning to their hives (bee pollen), or it may be directly harvested from non-cultivated flowers with machines (flower pollen). Bee Pollen contains carbohydrates, fat, protein and some vitamins and minerals. Bee Pollen has been used to build up the immune system to fight colds and to counteract depression. It has also been used internally to increase anti-allergenic properties to enhance the immune system against allergies to pollen. Not only is it an excellent nutritional supplement for enhancing immunity, but it also has strong nutritional compounds for providing increased energy. Bee Pollen contains up to 35% complete protein, as well as twenty-two amino acids, an especially rich storehouse of B-vitamins, twenty-seven mineral salts, trace elements and several enzymes. Many performance and endurance athletes use it before workouts and competition.