Benefits of Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is collected from flowers to aid in plant fertilization, then used by bees to make honey. Each pollen spore contains a number of plant male reproductive cells, providing a rich source of nutrients. The pollen is found within several varieties of honey, or can be isolated and purchased separately for use as a supplement. Bee pollen has a number of reported health advantages.

High in Protein

One advantage of bee pollen is high protein content. The cells that make up bee pollen contain thousands of different proteins, which form the building blocks for the cells, and pollen is used as a primary source of protein by the bee. When you consume foods containing bee pollen, the pollen proteins get broken down, and the components of the proteins are reabsorbed and recycled into human proteins. Taking bee pollen as a supplement allows you to ingest a large amount of protein without the added sugars found in honey.

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Antioxidant Activity

Another advantage of bee pollen is its antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are chemicals that prevent cellular damage and disease. Specifically, antioxidants neutralize the activity of reactive oxygen species and free radicals -- small molecules that interact with cellular DNA, proteins and membranes, causing cellular damage. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System indicates that antioxidant levels vary depending on the type of honey, and therefore the type of pollen present in the honey. Pollen from darker honeys, like buckwheat honey, typically contain higher levels of antioxidants than lighter honeys.

Protection From Allergies

In some cases, consuming bee pollen and honey can help protect against allergies. Environmental allergies typically develop when the immune system becomes increasingly sensitive to a relatively harmless compound in the body, such as pollen or dust. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, eating local honey, and therefore bee pollen obtained from local plants, can help you inoculate yourself against foreign pollen, avoiding an allergic reaction. If you have severe allergies, consult with a doctor before taking bee pollen, to help avoid allergic reactions to proteins within the pollen itself.