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Pollen & Propolis
Ask a primary school aged child about what comes from bees and they’re sure to answer “honey.” Yes, bees make honey but that is not the only beneficial product made by the busy little bee. The benefits of royal jelly are well known, but pollen and propolis are equally beneficial to overall good health.
Pollen
The pollen we have on sale here at House of Nutrition as a dietary supplement is not the sort of pollen that you get on the tip of your nose if you get too close when sniffing a tiger-lily or the like. This is bee pollen. Bees do not just collect nectar from flowers to make into honey; they also gather pollen on their legs and bodies. While some of this pollen is spread from flower to flower, ensuring that the flowers are fertilised, the bees take much of it back to the hive and store the pollen as a food source.
Bee pollen contains a wide range of nutrients in a compact and easily digestible form. While the exact amount of micronutrients in bee pollen will vary according to the flowers that the bees have foraged the pollen from, pollen contains a range of amino acids, lipids (fats or essential fatty acids), minerals, vitamins and enzymes. Pollen is very nutrient dense and is an easy way to get extra of what you need into your diet. Bee pollen has a slightly nutty, slightly sweet taste and an agreeable texture, and if you buy bee pollen in supplement form, it makes an excellent addition to breakfast cereals such as muesli, and salads, soups and desserts, in much the same way as a neutral-tasting protein powder supplement can be used.
Pollen supplements can be used to treat anaemia and depression, as well as for overall good health and nutrition.
Pollen is notorious for triggering hay fever and can result in some allergies, so if you suffer from these conditions, you will probably be better off buying a different health supplement from House of Nutrition’s range of nutritional supplements.
Propolis
Propolis is produced by bees not as a food source but as a “sealant” for fixing cracks in the beeswax making their hive. It is usually made by the bees from resins, sap and the sticky coatings of some buds. And bees don’t just rely on the propolis to keep draughts out – it also prevents disease entering the hive, as it has antibacterial properties. They say that if a larger animal (e.g. a mouse) falls into a hive and the bees can’t carry the carcass out, they will seal it in propolis, as this will prevent it from decaying and spreading disease, which shows how effective propolis is. For humans, the antibacterial properties of propolis are very desirable. Beekeepers long ago noticed that popping a piece of propolis in their mouth relieved sore throats, and this was thanks to the antibacterial properties of propolis.
Propolis is available in supplement form or is included in supplements that are used to treat coughs, sore throats and colds. Propolis lozenges are also good as part of a complete oral hygiene/oral care program, as the propolis can also help prevent tooth decay. Propolis also has a beneficial action on ulcers, and is used to aid regrowth and healing after suffering burns.
Like other bee products, caution is advised if you are allergic to beestings. However, some research suggests that propolis may even reduce or treat the incidence of other allergies.
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