Why Bee Pollen Quality Is Important ? 3 Things You Need To Know
Bee pollen quality is so important. It is important because it is a natural supplement that you will be taking into your body. Never settle for less than the best quality bee pollen that is out there. Don’t be cheap when it comes to a high quality bee pollen.
The composition of bee pollen is important to understand. Bee pollen is made up of pollen gathered by worker bees to feed their hive colony. These pollens that are gathered are the “wet” nutritious pollen that contains all that the plant needs in order to reproduce. Bees gather this pollen, and also mix it with nectar and enzymes on their hind legs (bee pollen baskets).
It’s an interesting relationship because the bees get what they need to survive, and the plants are able to reproduce because bees help them plant their seed in other plants. You may have heard about this, on the discovery channel, but that is why bees are considered nature’s workers.
Because bee pollen is a natural food, there are 3 important things you need to ask yourself before buying any brand of bee pollen.
What Type Of Bee Pollen Are You Going To Buy?
The most popular kinds of bee pollen supplements on the market today are: granules and capsules. Knowing the differences between the two will make you more informed.
Granules Are An Inconvenience
Granules are probably the most natural, because it is directly harvested from the bee hives and placed into a jar for consumer use. It’s great if you’re the type to add bee pollen in your daily food recipes.
However, the disadvantages are not worth it. First, granules taste like dirt! Obviously, you can mix it with food and mask the taste, but the texture will still be dirt-like.
…And Yes, you may get the freshest bee pollen, but because it is in its raw unprocessed form, you may not be able to digest the nutrients effectively. Sometimes, the minerals and vitamins in granules are absorbed by the throat lining, which is not useful, because it’s not in your digestive system.
The short shelf life of granules of about 2 weeks is another disadvantage. If you don’t use it after that, the effectiveness of the pollen is greatly reduce. Once the granules are exposed to air, it will start to rot, similar to how fresh fruits and vegetables must be eaten immediately.
Capsules Are Easy to Use and Simple
Capsules are a convenient way to take bee pollen. The bee pollen is crushed and pounded down to a sand like mixture , where it is then placed into capsules. You can take it like any other regular vitamin or mineral supplement. The shelf life of capsules are also much longer because the capsules are packed tight, there is very little air or outside contamination to deteriorate the pollen.
What Is The Process That The Manufacturer Used To Gather Their Bee Pollen And Produce The Final Product?
The process the manufacturer used harvest and produce their final product could make or break a bee pollen supplement. Basically, you have to know whether or not at the point of harvest if the manufacturer heat dried or freeze dried their bee pollen.
…only buy freeze dried bee pollen. This is so important because in heat dried bee pollen, the nutrients and enzymes are no longer there. The heat that was used to dry the pollen has destroyed the essential nutrients and other vitamins. You may still get some benefits from heat dried bee pollen because this natural supplement is so packed with nutrients, but why risk it?
Freeze dried bee pollen’s minerals, enzymes, and vitamins are all preserved because of the coldness. It’s similar to how we freeze meat so that it doesn’t go bad. It’s the same principle with bee pollen because it is a natural product from nature.
The Final Question You Must Ask Is Important – Where is the Bee Pollen Sourced ?
The location and environment in which the bee pollen is sourced is crucial. Bees can travel up to 40 000 miles in a day to gather bee pollen in the surrounding area of their hive. If they environment near the bee hive is polluted or the plants that the bees harvest their pollen have been soaked in pesticides and other chemicals, the bee pollen will be contaminated.
Bee pollen in the USA and other developed countries are known to have traces of air pollution in them. You should only buy bee pollen from a country or place that you know has little to no air pollution. This place should also have a strict policy on the use of pesticides , herbicides and chemicals in farming.
Remember, this is your health we are talking about, due diligence is so important. Don’t be shy to ask the company you are buying from exactly where it is they get their bee pollen from. In the end, you want a product that will help you, and not one that doesn’t.
One Bee Pollen Product That Meets the Above and Beyond
There is a company in New Zealand called Xtend-Life, and they produce a high quality bee pollen product in capsule form. The bee pollen is sourced in Canterbury, New Zealand, where there is no pollution and very little human population. The Antarctic air blows into the country , and gives it the most freshest air on the planet.
New Zealand’s culture is one of preservation, and this is reflected in the laws the country has in terms of the environment. Some of the several laws and standards that protect its natural environment include and not limited to the: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and National Environment Standards of Air Quality.
Xtend-life also , freeze dries their bee pollen to ensure the nutrients are maintained. After doing research on the company, I found out that they use pharmaceutical processes in their manufacturing of their supplements.
…What Does This Mean?
It means that from the point of raw materials and to the point of final product, they test everything for microbiological organisms and heavy metals. This ensures that their customers only receive the best.
I personally use their Bee Pollen Supplement because after many hours of research I found that this was the most highest quality bee pollen.
