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“I throw a little bee pollen that I get from Whole Foods [into my smoothies]
for energy.”
Lori Loughlin, 53 Celebrities can’t stop talking about the energizing, belly-flattening perks of consuming bee pollen. But does this superfood really deliver? Jorge Cruise weighs in
Bees get a lot of credit for pumping out one of nature’s sweetest cure-alls: Honey has been shown to deepen sleep, improve digestion and reduce cold symptoms. But the syrupy sweet isn’t the only superfood coming out of beehives. The buzzy hubs also bring us bee pollen, a compound that Tinseltown beauties like Lori Loughlin and Kerry Washington have taken to consuming for its slimming and energizing properties.
What exactly is bee pollen? As bees fly from flower to flower, pollen collects on their legs and is subsequently brought back to the hive. There, the pollen is mixed with bee saliva and packed into pellets by worker bees. The resulting pebbles are slightly sweet and dense with nutrients to feed young worker bees in the hive.
Though baby bee food may not sound appetizing, fans of the supplement say the powder packs a powerful punch. Nutritionists note that the pollen is made up of 40 percent protein in the form of free amino acids, which are used by the body to power cellular energy production, build metabolism-revving lean muscle and curb hunger by as much as 79 percent. Bee pollen is also an excellent source of a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, including energizing B-complex vitamins, skin-nourishing vitamin E and stresssoothing magnesium.
Another benefit: Chinese researchers report that bee pollen eases inflammation as effectively as some anti-inflammatory pain medications, thanks to its rich stores of inflammation-fighting plant compounds. And Austrian scientists discovered that bee pollen works to optimize immunity and slow histamine production. All told, fans cheer that these effects help fight headaches and joint pain, dampen allergies, ease the severity of colds and reduce sick days.
Despite the benefits, though, doctors caution that bee pollen may cause anaphylactic shock in women who are allergic to bee stings. And as with all supplements, it’s important to consult with a health-care provider before consuming bee pollen — especially if you’re taking any prescription medications.
For women who do want to try the trend, experts advise adding up to 2 tsp. of the supplement (found at health-food stores) to unheated foods like smoothies or salad dressings once per day.
“I love foods with natural sugar like oranges, grapes — frozen grapes are great snacks because they’re sweet and crunchy.”
—Donna Mills, 77