Vitamins in bee pollen. Flower pollen: natural power! Recipe for the treatment of hypertension at the initial stage of development

Natural bee pollen composition is quite rich in various useful components. Pollen (the second name for pollen) has unique properties that have a beneficial effect on the human body.

By appearance Bee pollen resembles small grains that have an irregular shape. The characteristic features of this natural product are a sweetish taste and floral aroma.

Components that make up pollen

Bee pollen contains a large number of useful components. The uniqueness of this product lies in its naturalness and composition. The pollen has a slight bitterness, sweetish taste and floral aroma. Few people know that the product may differ in color. It depends on which plant the pollen was collected from.

If it is white, it indicates that it was collected from an acacia tree. The presence of a light yellow tint is a sign of buckwheat pollen. A product that has greenish color. This pollen is most often collected from sunflowers.

Many people confuse bee pollen with honey, which is a major mistake. Their composition is completely different, and the differences also lie in their beneficial properties. Pollen contains the following components:

• ascorbic acid;
• B vitamins;
• phosphorus elements.

pollen, the composition of which is rich in components such as tocopherols, iron, potassium, zinc, sodium, selenium, sulfur and magnesium, is very useful. When these substances influence the human body, physiological processes are stimulated.

The pollen collected by the bee contains phenolic elements. This includes flavonoids and phenolic acids. These components have diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Phenolic components are excellent at fighting the development of tumors. These elements are natural antioxidants.

Pollen collected from dandelion and hazel is rich in fat. Thanks to the effects of this group of amino acids, cholesterol levels in the body are reduced.

As for the carbohydrates present in the pollen, they are presented in the form of glucose and fructose. In addition to these components, the composition contains maltose, disaccharides and sucrose.

Beneficial features

From all this it follows that pollen has a large number of useful properties. All these qualities are due to the composition, which is rich in vitamins and natural amino acids.

Pollen has positive impact on many body systems. Its advantage lies in its therapeutic effect.

When consuming pollen, metabolic processes in the body are activated. Useful components reduce the content of fat, which is localized in tissues. This product is often recommended for those who want to lose weight during a weight loss period.

Fenugreek perfectly supports the functioning of the heart muscle. When consuming the product, the elasticity of blood vessels improves and their walls are strengthened.

Pollen perfectly removes cholesterol, which interferes with the normal functioning of the body. At the same time, the immune system is strengthened.

The product perfectly fights nervous tension and neuroses. Unfortunately, modern people often suffer from such problems. The beneficial properties of pollen are that it eliminates depression and has a beneficial effect on sleep.

Doctors say that pollen is a real natural stimulant for male potency. Its advantage lies in the harmlessness and naturalness of the composition. It is often used as a remedy in the fight against prostatitis.

Thanks to pollen, you can get rid of kidney and bladder diseases. The product perfectly restores hormonal levels and normalizes the functions of the endocrine system.

Often, compositions based on bee pollen are used by athletes and people involved in mental stress. Drinks with this ingredient perfectly restore strength.

Obnozhka is especially popular in the field of cosmetology. Based on the product, many different products are created, especially those that have a healing effect.

Use for diseases

Pollen contains a large number of micro- and macroelements that have a beneficial effect on the human body. But in order for the effect of use to be noticeable, it is recommended to use pollen in certain cases.

Often the medicinal composition is used for anemia. To eliminate the disorder, it is recommended to consume a teaspoon of the product every day. Such a treatment course should last at least a month. After this, you need to take a two-week break, and then repeat the medication.

Eating a teaspoon of pollen will be beneficial in the development of kidney diseases. It can be mixed with honey, which will enhance the positive effect. This medicinal composition should be taken once a day.

Pollen mixed with honey (1:2) helps in the treatment of a common disease - hypertension. You need to consume 1 tsp per day.

The use of folk recipes

There are a large number of folk recipes, the main component of which is bee pollen. IN medicinal purposes its extract is used. To prepare it, you need to pour the pollen (1 tsp) with stamens into a glass of purified water. The mixture must be infused for 2 hours. It is necessary to dissolve a teaspoon of honey in the composition. It is best to consume the mixture in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Compositions based on pollen help get rid of malfunctions digestive system. For preparation you will need pollen (20 g), fresh natural honey (0.5 kg) and aloe juice (75 ml). This remedy perfectly fights diseases caused by low stomach acidity. The bee pollen and honey should be mixed in one container and then stirred (it is best to use a wooden spoon). Aloe juice must be added to these ingredients.

The container with the product must be closed and stored in the refrigerator. The mixture should be taken 3 times a day, and the dosage is selected by the doctor individually.

Contraindications to the use of bee pollen

Even despite the incredible benefits bee product, it can be harmful to health if used incorrectly. When using pollen, allergic reactions may occur. Consumption of pollen is contraindicated for people suffering from allergies to bee products. In this case, itching, shortness of breath, and increased heart rate occur. If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately consult a specialist.

The use of pollen as a remedy is not permitted if blood clotting is impaired. It contains vitamin A and large quantities This component can cause harm to the body. The influence of these elements negatively affects the functioning of the liver.

At excessive consumption Excessive discharge may result in insomnia, which will subside upon completion of treatment.

The important point is proper storage pollen. If the standards are not followed, the beneficial properties of the product are lost. Spoiled pollen can cause poisoning. It is not allowed to store the pollen for more than a month.

Diabetics are not allowed to use pollen as a remedy. The use of the product is permitted in the early stages and only in minimum quantities. In other cases, the use of the product is contraindicated.

Honey, pollen, beebread, royal jelly, drone jelly, bee venom and lining– main beekeeping products with unique therapeutic properties that restore human energy. Flower pollen or pollen (the name comes from the technology of collecting the product by insects - in special baskets located on the last hind legs of the bee) are small grains, irregular in shape, treated with the secretion of the glands of bees and covered with a shell. What bee pollen consists of, its beneficial properties, how to take pollen and for what purposes - let's look at these questions in more detail.

Pollen has a characteristic floral-honey aroma and a sweetish taste, sometimes with a slight bitterness. The product differs both in shape and color, and in size, depending on the plants from which it was collected. In terms of its medicinal qualities, pollen is not inferior to ginseng, mumiyo, rock oil and other popular healing products.

How do you obtain and store pollen?

Each bee makes up to 50 flights during the day, collecting product from 500-600 flowers and bringing up to 40 mg of pollen to the hive each time. To collect pollen, beekeepers invented a pollen collector, which is installed on hives during periods of rapid flowering of honey plants. It is advisable to use devices made of plastic or wood, but in no case metal, as it does not allow moisture remaining in the pollen granules to pass through. Excess liquid may cause the product to ferment.

The selected pollen is dried in a shaded place with good ventilation at a temperature of about 40°C. When using special devices for drying part useful substances may collapse. The hygroscopicity of the product is high, so that pollen does not again gain moisture from environment, it is stored tightly packed. The best way to save pollen long time- conservation natural honey in a 1:1 ratio. It is advisable to package the finished product in half-liter jars and close with plastic lids.

Composition of bee pollen

In terms of the presence of biologically active components, pollen is significantly ahead of the main beekeeping product - honey. Fenugreek contains B vitamins, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, tocopherols, cholecalciferol, ergocalciferol, rutin.

Of the mineral components, the product contains almost all the elements necessary for humans from the periodic table, including: iron, magnesium, mel, calcium, potassium, boron, iodine, phosphorus, cobalt, selenium, zinc, sodium, manganese, chromium, silicon, sulfur, titanium, silver, barium. Macro- and microelements stimulate the flow of all biochemical and physiological processes in the body.

Pollen is rich in phenolic components, which include phenolic acids and flavonoids. This group substances have an effect on neoplasm, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, choleretic, diuretic, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-cholesterol and radioprotective properties.

Particularly valuable in bee pollen are protein compounds, which in terms of the content of essential amino acids (valine, arginine, tryptophan, lysine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, etc.) even exceed milk protein (casein), which is considered the standard. Human body does not synthesize 10 amino acids, therefore their supply with food is considered the main task of a well-designed diet, and pollen is an ideal solution to the problem.

Fats in bee pollen are represented by phospholipids, phytosterols and other lipids. Their percentage is highest in pollen collected from dandelion, black mustard, hazel, clover, buckwheat, apple, cherry, raspberry, clover, willow, fireweed. Essential fatty acids in the product (linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic), which until recently were collectively called vitamin F, help reduce the level of dangerous cholesterol in the blood.

Most of the carbohydrates in pollen are glucose and fructose; there are also other sugars - sucrose, polysaccharides, maltose, disaccharides. Starch, dietary fiber, ash, and pectin compounds make the product especially valuable for the digestive tract, liver and kidneys.

The unique composition of the product allows it to be used for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, digestive, nervous and genitourinary systems.

Bee pollen - beneficial properties. How to use?

The main beneficial properties of bee pollen:

• reducing cholesterol levels and removing it from the body;
• activation of metabolic processes, reduction of the percentage of fat in tissues;
• indispensable for maintaining the heart muscle in optimal condition;
• strengthening the vascular wall, increasing the elasticity of blood vessels;
• has anti-stress properties, relieves tension, helps to relax, fights depression And neuroses, optimizes mood, improves sleep quality;
• natural immunomodulator;
• promotes liver health;
• pollen is a natural stimulant of male potency, right up to old age;
• shows anti-cancer properties, since the product contains an antibiotic that slows down the division of diseased cells and has antitumor activity;
• normalizes hematopoietic functions, improves blood composition, increases hemoglobin;
• the presence of hormones in the biochemical composition allows you to maintain the endocrine system in optimal condition, treats hormonal imbalances caused by a decrease in hormone production after 40 years;
• effectively helps in healing diseases of the bladder and kidneys, in particular urolithiasis and pyelonephritis;
• effectively restores strength during periods of increased mental and physical activity, as well as after long-term illnesses and in postoperative period;
• used in cosmetology for skin and hair care.

As a therapeutic and prophylactic agent and biologically active additive It is recommended to take pollen with food no more than 2 times a day, 25-30 minutes before meals, one teaspoon mixed with the same amount of natural honey, without washing it down, but dissolving it under the tongue for a long time. The last dose of the medicine should be no later than 3 hours before bedtime, since in some cases the product stimulates the nervous system and tones the body. In addition to the therapeutic effect, systematic intake of pollen leads to strengthening of the entire body and its rejuvenation.

Traditional medicine recipes with bee pollen

Aqueous pollen extract. Excellently absorbed by the body. The pollen collected together with the stamens is poured into drinking water and infused for about 2 hours (a teaspoon in a glass of water), after which a tablespoon of honey is dissolved in the elixir and taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

Treatment of seborrhea and hair loss. To stimulate hair growth and getting rid of dandruff It is advisable to rinse the strands after washing with pollen extract: a tablespoon of granules is ground into powder in a wooden mortar and poured into 0.25 liters of warm water. In addition, the systematic use of such a rinse improves the structure of the curls, gives them silkiness and increases shine.

Treatment of gastrointestinal diseases accompanied by low acidity gastric juice. For half a kilo of honey, take 20 grams of pollen and 75 ml of freshly squeezed agave juice ( aloe). First, honey and pollen are thoroughly mixed in a glass container using a wooden spoon, after which aloe juice is added to the mass, which is squeezed from the lower leaves of the plant, which have lain in a cool place (cellar, refrigerator) for at least 8-9 days. The medicine is stored in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container. Take a teaspoon of the mixture three times a day, a quarter of an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 1 month. A repeat is possible after 3-4 weeks.

Treatment of impotence and prostate adenoma. Mix 100 g butter, 25 g pollen and 50 g natural honey. The mass is used by spreading it on Rye bread. The healing sandwich should be eaten 2 times a day. The same recipe is effective for people weakened by a long-term illness, for example, after surgery or past infection.

Pollen to boost immunity. At the beginning of winter or early spring, when colds are rampant, it is recommended to improve your health with the help of pollen. Every morning, for a month, on an empty stomach, take a mixture of 1 teaspoon of pollen and the same amount of honey, dissolving the mixture under the tongue and washing it down with warm boiled water.

Contraindications

Like all beekeeping products, pollen is contraindicated for people with individual intolerance and a penchant for allergies. People who are prone to bleeding should use it with caution and as prescribed by a doctor. With pronounced forms diabetes mellitus Pollen treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist.

Every beekeeper knows that pollen is useful not only for striped workers, but also for humans. Every year the use of bee pollen becomes more and more popular and justified in the field of pharmaceuticals, cosmetology and Food Industry, since it has unique preventive, dietary and medicinal qualities. This product has helped restore health to more than one generation of people, and apitherapists never tire of discovering new facts about its healing properties.

Pollen is a product that has no competitors in terms of the concentration of substances necessary for the human body

Bee pollen has general strengthening property, with its help you can normalize weight, improve appetite, stimulate brain function, increase physical performance. The use of this product prolongs youth, slowing down the aging process. All these remarkable abilities are due to the wide range of its healing qualities. If you want to learn more about them, we recommend that you read the article:.

Indications for use

• stressful situations associated with significant mental and physical stress;
• preparation for conception, pregnancy and lactation;
• recommended in the spring-autumn period during epidemics of influenza and ARVI;
• weather-dependent people who, on unfavorable days from a meteorological point of view, suffer from pressure fluctuations and dizziness;
• with immunodeficiency;
• as a restorative agent in the postoperative period and after chemotherapy;
• for chronic fatigue.

Regular consumption of bee pollen will give you strength and provide great mood. It is equally useful for both adults and children, as it has unique composition, capable of providing positive action on the body at any age.

Important! An overdose of bee pollen can lead to vitamin deficiency, so do not violate the prescribed daily norm.

For children

Indications for use in children may be as follows:

• after treatment with antibiotics and antibacterial drugs;
• in the presence of signs of dystrophy and malnutrition;
• in the absence of appetite;
• myocardial diseases;
• intestinal diseases;
• dysbacteriosis and digestive disorders;
• diseases of the liver, pancreas;
• low hemoglobin content in the blood.

In addition, bee pollen is very important for immunity. It helps the body resist adverse environmental factors and protects against viruses and infections.

Important! Before giving your child pollen, you should consult your pediatrician and rule out any individual intolerance to it.

Children can be given pollen at pure form from a spoon. And if the child does not like its taste, then the pollen can be diluted with honey or butter. You can also sprinkle it on any food your baby likes.

For adults

Bee pollen is recommended for use by men who suffer from low sperm motility. In this case, this product is indispensable, as it has a high percentage of zinc content, which, in turn, not only has a positive effect on the processes of sperm formation, but also improves quality characteristics sperm, and makes you completely forget about problems with potency.

If we talk about representatives of the fair sex who are preparing for the most wonderful and unforgettable period in their lives, then nudity is exactly what is needed. Replacing medications, pollen supplies the woman’s body with the necessary amount of folic acid, which is very valuable for the expectant mother who is experiencing serious hormonal changes, and is indispensable for the normal formation and development of the fetus. That is why bee pollen is indicated during pregnancy and during preparation for it.

Feeding for the treatment of diseases

One can talk endlessly about the healing properties of pollen. Its unique and inimitable composition works real miracles. It can be used to treat a number of diseases, including:

• menopausal diseases;
• illnesses of cardio-vascular system retreat because pollen contains potassium and magnesium. Normalizes metabolic processes in the myocardium, stimulating contractility. Reduces heart rhythm disturbances, increasing the ability to tolerate physical activity;
• treatment with bee pollen is also used in neurology, considering it as mild psychotropic drug. Obnozhka effectively copes with neuroses and asthenia, can overcome depression and restore good spirits;
• after illnesses that required surgery. This is due to the peculiarities of the protein composition and the presence of amino acids, which in a short time can restore the patient’s strength. Biostimulants present in pollen improve regenerative processes and reduce inflammation after surgery;
• for external peptic ulcers pollen is combined with the intake of hank jelly;
• this beekeeping product is widely used in chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis and bronchiectasis;
• pollen helps with duodenal and gastric ulcers, as well as gastrointestinal erosions. It eliminates diarrhea and constipation, normalizing intestinal functions;
• Feeding is useful for anemia and other deficiency diseases.

Contraindications

Despite its versatility and great benefit, bee pollen has some contraindications. First of all, people suffering from individual intolerance to bee products should avoid using it. Sometimes it happens that a person calmly consumes honey or, for example, uses wax for various purposes, and an allergy arises precisely from pollen.

Advice! To prevent possible troubles, you should simple test– place a small amount of pollen on back side hands and secure with a gauze bandage or bandage. After some time, remove the bandage, and if any reactions occur skin did not follow, you can start using this product.

Rules of application

In order not to harm your health, you need to know how to use bee pollen. To take it, you need to separate a certain dose and carefully dissolve it until completely dissolved. To help it be absorbed faster, you can drink a glass of warm water first. boiled water. After taking it, it is advisable to wait about half an hour before starting breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Use pollen once a day or divide the recommended daily intake into two times. The first part must be swallowed in the morning on an empty stomach, the second - at about 12 noon or in the evening before dinner.

Bee pollen can be used in two ways: pure and diluted. Dissolve it in water, flower varieties of honey or butter. Jam or jam can also be used as a base.

This method is popular among those who cannot tolerate the specific taste of pollen, but is considered less effective in treatment or prevention. To use it as a mixture, it is first ground in a coffee grinder to a powder state. At the same time, it does not look quite appetizing, but the mixture turns out to be more homogeneous and is easier to absorb by the body.

Try to purchase bee pollen in specialized stores or from trusted beekeepers. This is the only way to protect yourself from purchasing a low-quality product, and natural pollen will bring maximum benefits to your body.

All materials on the Priroda-Znaet.ru website are presented for informational purposes only. Before using any product, consultation with a doctor is MANDATORY!

Bee products are widely used in nutrition, medicine, cosmetology, and pharmaceuticals. Many people don't know everything about bee pollen. Meanwhile, this is unique and natural substance, containing amino acids, vitamins, microelements, enzymes, antioxidants, hormones.

Many people are interested in the benefits of pollen and how to use it? Pollen is used to maintain immunity, strengthen the heart and blood vessels, rejuvenation and longevity. It treats nervousness and insomnia, prevents heart attacks and strokes, normalizes hormonal levels and helps to lose weight. Accept natural medicine You need no more than one spoon, preferably in the first half of the day.

What is pollen, how is it collected by bees and received by humans?

When collecting nectar from flowers, they also carry pollen on their bodies. Pollen grains are male reproductive cells. The process of pollination with the help of insects is an essential part of plant reproduction and is provided for by nature. The finest powder sticks to the bee's legs and abdomen. To prevent pollen from flying around, bees rake it with their paws, forming lumps. The resulting lumps are attached to the hind legs of the insect. In this form, the bees carry the product of nature into the hive.

Some of the pollen is preserved in honey - this is beebread. The other part, bee pollen, is processed by bee enzymes and becomes food for the larvae, which represent the future population. The bulk of the product is harvested in the spring. Beekeepers know all the valuable properties of bee pollen and know how to obtain it. They install special pollen collectors at the entrance to the bee hive. Pollen is stored dry in glass or polymer containers.

Chemical composition of the product

The color, taste and aroma of pollen depend on the type of plant from which the bee collected it. Each type has certain taste characteristics and different shades. Any bee pollen has beneficial properties and uses. The process of collecting it is labor-intensive and lengthy. To collect just 10 grams of a pure natural product, a bee will have to make about 600 flights from the hive.

Bee pollen is a natural concentrate of biologically active compounds that have great benefits for human health.

Chemical composition bee pollen:

1. Protein. It makes up 30-40% of the total mass; due to its high protein component, the product is easily and quickly absorbed in the body.
2. Carbohydrates. Includes simple saccharides - glucose and fructose, which give it a sweetish taste and are a source of energy.
3. Amino acids. Contains 8 valuable amino acids - lysine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, threonine, methionine, tryptophan, phenylalanine.
4. Vitamins. The composition contains an extensive list of vitamins - A, D, E, C, K, P, H, F, group B and others.
5. Minerals. These are potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, chromium, selenium, sodium and others.
6. Unsaturated fatty acids. Among them are linoleic, palmitic, and oleic.

Medicinal properties of bee pollen

Knowing how pollen is useful and how to use it, you can do without medications, successfully treat many diseases, and prevent them. It contains a lot of useful and valuable components, preserved by insects in a natural way. The substance is used to restore strength during nervous and physical exhaustion. Recommended for use during the period of rehabilitation after serious illnesses and injuries, and surgical interventions.

Pollen absorbs the medicinal properties of the plant from which bees collect it. For blood circulation, pollen from buckwheat, hawthorn, chestnut is useful, for immunity - from eucalyptus, willow, for nerves - from poppy and acacia.

All properties of bee pollen:

• antioxidant – promotes withdrawal free radicals from the body;
• immunomodulatory – actively participates in the formation of protective antibodies;
• tonic - it has a beneficial effect on nerve fibers, improves the passage of impulses through them;
• anti-inflammatory – suppresses inflammatory processes in the initial and advanced stages;
• antibacterial – reduces the activity and reproduction of pathogenic microflora;
• hormone-forming – plays a significant role in the synthesis of hormones;
• hematopoietic - becomes involved in the formation of blood elements, helps improve its composition, and is used to prevent anemia.

Benefits of pollen for children

With regular consumption of pollen, children experience an activation of natural defense mechanisms. As a result, the immune system becomes stronger and the incidence of respiratory and viral infections decreases. A high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and other valuable components ensures the child’s full growth and healthy development. Knowing how to take bee pollen for children, you can achieve restoration of sleep and appetite, normalization of mental and physical activity, and stabilization of the psycho-emotional state.

Benefits of pollen for women

The benefits of bee pollen for women are manifested in the ability to regulate hormonal levels, improve the condition of skin, hair and nails. The product is actively used in dietary nutrition, as it helps improve digestion and lose weight. Thanks to its antioxidant effect, it reduces Negative influence stress on the body, eliminates insomnia and normalizes sleep. The cleansing properties of pollen and its ability to remove waste and toxins are known.

Benefits of pollen for men

Pollen is unique natural product, useful for men of any age. With high physical activity, it promotes rapid recovery strength and gain muscle mass. It has a positive effect on potency, eliminates inflammatory processes and congestion in the genitourinary area. Antioxidants reduce destructive effect stress on the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Pollen is absorbed best if consumed in the morning before breakfast. Several granules are placed in the mouth, which gradually dissolve under the influence of saliva.

What does bee pollen treat in men:

• prostatitis;
• prostate adenoma;
• sexual impotence;
• infertility.

How to take bee pollen

There are several options for how to take bee pollen correctly. This beekeeping product is sold in the form of granules (concentrated form). They are dissolved with warm water or milk. Another method of consumption is honey paste, in which the mass fraction of pollen is 30-40%. Bee pollen is included in many dietary supplements. Bee pollen tincture is sold in pharmacies, and you can prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to take half a liter of high-quality vodka and 100 grams of bee pollen. The tincture takes 2 weeks to prepare.

For each age, a certain dose of pollen is provided. Young children should be given no more than ¼ teaspoon per day. Schoolchildren are allowed to increase the dose to ½ teaspoon. Adults can consume 1 teaspoon per day. The single dose rate can be increased only on the individual recommendation of a specialist.

Several folk recipes:

1. To fight viruses and infections, pollen is mixed with honey in equal parts. The medicine is taken one teaspoon before meals, slowly dissolving in the mouth. The same recipe is suitable for treating respiratory organs and asthma.
2. To treat diseases gastrointestinal tract The honey-pollen mixture is diluted in a glass of warm water. The liquid is drunk several sips throughout the day. The course of treatment is a month.
3. Bee pollen in gynecology is used topically and internally. Solutions for douching are prepared from it, medicinal tampons. They are effective for inflammatory processes, thrush, erosion, and dryness.
4. For preventive purposes, bee pollen is taken once a year. For adults, it is enough to eat a whole teaspoon of granules per day, for children less (depending on age). The preventive course lasts a month.
5. In combination with honey, bee pollen reduces blood pressure and improves memory, and relieves headaches. With regular use, it increases the elasticity of blood vessels and reduces important indicators - cholesterol and blood sugar.

Contraindications and restrictions

The benefits and harms of bee pollen depend on how to take the product. When the first signs of an allergy appear, you should completely stop using it. An allergic reaction is indicated by itching, rash, redness of the skin, difficulty breathing, and coughing. It is not advisable to give any bee products to children under one year of age. Women should take them with caution during pregnancy and lactation. Bee pollen is prohibited for diabetes.

By learning everything about bee pollen, you can heal and maintain health unique gifts nature. If the dosages and timing of treatment are observed, they act gently but effectively, and have virtually no contraindications.

How to take bee pollen - video

1 Contents of components in bee pollen

The chemical composition of flower pollen (bee pollen) is extremely diverse - as diverse as the range of plants visited by bees to collect it. Proteins, free amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, macro- and microelements, organic acids, phytohormones, pigments and aromatic substances of pollen form an integral biologically active complex. The information below on the chemical composition of bee pollen is a generalization of the results of studies of pollen of various botanical origins.

Various plants acquired individual valuable nutritional properties of pollen. For example, oak, plum and clover pollen is rich in protein, willow pollen - ascorbic acid, buckwheat - flavonoid compounds, meadowsweet - chlorogenic acids, and the reduced protein content in dandelion pollen entails its enrichment (up to 15%) in lipid components, including including carotenoids. By combining pollen of various botanical origins, the bee colony stores an optimally balanced protein and vitamin concentrate for the multi-month wintering period.

Due to the combined action of the components, the therapeutic dose of bee pollen, determined experimentally (30-35 g), is significantly less than what follows from calculations of the content of individual vitamins - 100-150 g. Let us list the main components of bee pollen and give a brief description of them. Bee pollen contains:

• water - about 20% (freshly collected; after drying - 8÷10%);
• protein substances:

proteins (including enzymes) - 25÷35%;

free amino acids - 1÷4% of dry matter;

vitamins;

minerals 1÷7%;

lipids (fats) - 5÷7%:

saponifiable lipids:

fatty acid:

• saturated fatty acids;
• polyunsaturated fatty acids (vitamin F);

phospholipids;

isoprenoids:

terpenes:

• triterpene acids;
• carotenoids (plant pigments or dyes; provitamins) up to 57 mg% (57 mg per 100 g of pollen);

steroids (phytosterols);

phenolic compounds:

flavonoids (plant pigments or dyes) - no less than 2.5% (requirement of GOST 28887-90):

leukoanthocyanins - 0.08÷0.49% (dry matter);

catechins - 0.04÷0.16;

flavanols - 0.15÷2.5;

chlorogenic acids - 0.06÷0.8;

nucleic acids 0.4÷4.8%;

Hormones

Growth stimulants

Natural antibiotics

carbohydrates 20÷40%;

other biologically active substances.

2 Pollen proteins (bee pollen)

Proteins are high-molecular nitrogen-containing organic substances, the molecules of which are built from amino acids. Any living organism consists of proteins. In the human body, muscles, ligaments, tendons, all organs and glands, hair, nails are formed from proteins; proteins are found in fluids and bones. In nature, there are approximately 1010 -1012 different proteins that ensure the vital functions of organisms of all degrees of complexity, from viruses to humans. Proteins are enzymes, antibodies, many hormones and other biological active substances. The need for constant renewal of proteins underlies metabolism.

For the first time, the exceptional importance of proteins in the nutrition and vital functions of the human body was realized by chemists at the beginning of the 19th century, and they came up with an “international” name for these chemical compounds - “proteins”, from the Greek protos - “first, main”.

In quantitative terms, proteins make up from one quarter to one third of the dry matter of bee pollen. In terms of protein content, bee pollen is superior to other protein-rich foods - meat, milk, eggs. For comparison, category 1 beef contains 18.6% protein, eggs - 12.7%, milk (2.5% fat) - 2.9%. ( "Chemical composition of Russian food products: / Edited by Corresponding Member of the Moscow Aviation Institute, Prof. I. M. Skurikhin and Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. V. A. Tutelyan. - M.: DeLi print, 2002. - 236 p." .) The richest in proteins (up to 35%) is the pollen of roses and oaks; less (up to 29%) is contained in the pollen of hazel, plum, and sunflower. Taking into account the established standards for human protein needs - 0.8 g / kg of body weight per day, it is easy to calculate that about 300 g of bee pollen could fill the daily human need for proteins. However, pollen also contains other components that in such a volume can cause undesirable effects.

It is much more important that almost all amino acids with high content essential amino acids. Thus, out of 26.2 g of protein isolated from 100 g of bee pollen in summer samples, up to 44% of the mass is accounted for by essential amino acids, and in spring samples there are even more of them - up to 46%.

Amino acids are organic acids whose molecules contain one or more amino groups (NH2 groups). Amino acids are the structural chemical units that form proteins.

Among the free amino acids of bee pollen, proline (1-3%), aspartic and glutamic acids predominate; the rest are in small quantities - less than 0.1%,

Food proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. A certain part of the amino acids, in turn, is broken down into organic keto acids, from which new amino acids and then proteins are synthesized in the body. More than 20 amino acids are found in nature.

Amino acids are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and enter all organs and tissues with the blood, where they are used for the synthesis of proteins and undergo various transformations.

Amino acids supplied with food are divided into essential and non-essential. Nonessential amino acids can be synthesized in human body. Essential amino acids are not synthesized in the human body, but are necessary for normal life. They must enter the body with food. The absence or deficiency of essential amino acids leads to growth arrest, weight loss, metabolic disorders, and acute failure- to the death of the body.

The daily human need for essential amino acids is covered by 30 g of pollen. (Apitherapy. / Khismatullina N.3. - Perm: Mobile, 2005. - 296 p.)

Enzymes (enzymes) are biological catalysts.(More information about enzymes can be found on the page Chemical composition of honey.) Pollen, like honey, contains enzymes such as diastase, invertase, catalase and phosphatase. To these are added some others that make biochemical processes possible. First of all this:

• cozymase (codehydrase I), an active hydrogen-transporting substance that is involved in the synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates, fatty acids and alcohols; For this, vitamin B-nicotinamide, which is also found in pollen, is also needed as a coenzyme;
• cytochrome oxidase (Warburg respiratory enzyme), the last link in the respiratory chain, responsible for cell respiration;
• dehydrogenases (dehydrases), which release hydrogen from chemical compounds, providing it for cell respiration and the synthesis of chemical compounds in cells.

In terms of enzyme content, pollen is in some respects similar to yeast, which is very rich in enzymes. The diverse properties of pollen are also explained by the action of enzymes on biochemical processes. ("Medicines from the hive: honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, bee venom / Helmut Horn, Gehard Leibold; translated from German by M. Belyaeva - M.:AST: ASTREL, 2006 -238p.")

3 Vitamins

3.1 General information about vitamins

Vitamins are low molecular weight organic chemical compounds of various chemical natures, catalysts, bioregulators of processes occurring in a living organism. In fact, Vitamins comprise a group of substances required by the body in very small quantities for its normal functioning and even for its very existence. Vitamins got their name from the Latin word vita - life. They are irreplaceable, since they are not synthesized or almost not synthesized by the cells of the body and must be supplied with food as a necessary component. Over 30 compounds related to vitamins are now known. They are designated by capital letters of the Latin alphabet: A, B, C, etc. Vitamins are divided into 2 groups: water-soluble (B1, B2, B4, B4, B6, B9, C, H, PP) and fat-soluble (A, E, D, K).

Some products contain provitamins, i.e. compounds that can be converted into vitamins in the body. For example, ß-carotene is converted into vitamin A, ergosterols under the influence ultraviolet rays are converted into vitamin D in the human body.

Vitamins in vegetables and fruits are contained mainly in the peel. All vitamins are extremely unstable substances. Heat treatment food reduces the content of vitamins in foods. There are some in the world natural vitamins are destroyed. When drying, pasteurization, freezing, boiling, or contact with metal utensils, the content of vitamins in products is significantly reduced.

Insufficient intake of one or more vitamins hypovitaminosis develops. Signs of hypovitaminosis: irritability, increased fatigue, decreased attention, decreased appetite, sleep disturbance. Most often observed in the spring due to a lack of vitamins contained in fresh vegetables and fruits. A systematic, long-term lack of vitamins in food affects the condition of individual organs and tissues (skin, mucous membranes, muscles, bone tissue) and the most important functions of the body, such as growth, intellectual and physical capabilities, procreation, protective forces body.

As a result of a long-term lack of vitamins in the body, serious diseases develop - vitamin deficiencies. The most famous vitamin deficiencies include: C-avitaminosis (scurvy, scurvy), B1-avitaminosis (alimentary polyneuritis, beriberi), PP-avitaminosis (pellagra), B2-avitaminosis (ariboflavinosis), A-vitaminosis (" night blindness", xerophthalmia), D-vitaminosis (rickets, osteoporosis), etc.

Excessive intake of vitamins can cause serious diseases called hypervitaminosis. There are acute and chronic hypervitaminosis. Acute ones occur with a single intake of very large doses of the vitamin (usually in the form of a vitamin preparation), chronic ones - with a long-term intake of the vitamin in doses exceeding the physiological needs of the body. Fat-soluble vitamins are more toxic when consumed in excess, while water-soluble vitamins are less toxic. Among fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin D is the most toxic. Hypervitaminosis resulting from eating natural products is very rare. An exception may be hypervitaminosis D, which appears as a result of the use by participants of Arctic expeditions of large quantities of liver of polar animals, rich in vitamin D. Hypervitaminosis usually occurs due to the long-term use of large doses of pure concentrated drugs in medical practice and especially during self-medication.

3.2 Vitamins of pollen (bee pollen)

Content of vitamins in 100g of bee pollen, mg

The table shows data on the content of vitamins in bee pollen from the monograph of Ph.D. E.A.Ludyansky: "Guide to apitherapy (treatment with bee venom, honey, propolis, pollen and other bee products) for doctors and students medical universities and beekeepers / E. A. Ludyansky. - Vologda: [PF "Polygraphist"], 1994. - 462 p. " and from the product catalog of the Tentorium company (vitamins A and P). The following description of bee pollen vitamins (except for vitamin P) is taken from the book by N.3. Khismatullina, Ph.D., Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation: "Apitherapy. / Khismatullina N.3. - Perm: Mobile, 2005. - 296 p."

Retinol (Vitamin A) necessary for the differentiation and development of epithelial and bone tissue, placenta and spermatogenic epithelium, the formation of visual pigment rhodopsinal. With a slight deficiency of vitamin A, dry and flaky skin, acne formation, dry and dull hair, impaired twilight vision, dry mouth and nasopharynx, dry cough, and increased incidence of diseases of the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract are observed. Severe vitamin deficiency is manifested by severe - to the point of complete blindness - visual impairment, weight loss, metaplasia of the mucosal epithelium, diarrhea, an increased incidence of kidney stones and the risk of malignant neoplasms.

Bee pollen also contains carotenoids - precursors to retinol: alpha and beta carotene, lycopene, xanthophyll and zeaxanthin.

The activity of carotene is 1/6 of the activity of retinol, the source of which is animal products. A deficiency in the diet of protein, animal fats and vitamin E reduces the absorption of vitamin A and carotene.

The daily requirement (1 mg) is contained in 4 g of fish oil, 10 g of pollen or beef liver, 60 g of carrots, 100 g of parsley and celery, 200 g of red sweet pepper or rose hips.

Thiamine (vitamin B1) takes part in the metabolism of carbohydrates and branched amino acids (valine, leucine and isoleucine), is necessary for the implementation of a huge number of processes associated with the biosynthesis of nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. It normalizes the acidity of gastric juice, the motor function of the stomach and intestines, and the activity of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Insufficiency of vitamin B1 in the human diet is observed in all developed countries and is associated with an increase in the consumption of bread made from premium wheat flour, which is poor in thiamine, and at the same time easily digestible carbohydrates in confectionery products, which increase the need for it. In the body, the vitamin is destroyed by caffeine.

The required daily intake (1.7 mg) can be obtained from 120-150 g of bee pollen, 200 g of peas or pork, 300 g of baker's yeast or raw smoked meat products.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) plays a key role in the processes of biological oxidation and energy formation - ATP synthesis. It is part of visual purple, which protects the retina from excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. A lack of vitamin often leads to watery eyes, photophobia and flaking of the skin.

Daily norm consumption (2 mg) contain 100-150 g of bee pollen, 80-120 g of liver or kidneys, 500 g of eggs or cheese.

Nicotinic acid (vitamin B3 or PP, niacin) works in the early stages of biological oxidation of a huge number of compounds, has a regulatory effect on higher nervous activity. It can be synthesized in the human body: to synthesize 1 mg of niacin, 60 mg of tryptophan is required. Vitamin deficiency may be associated with the predominance of corn in the diet, which is poor nicotinic acid and tryptophan, or cereals, where it is contained in a bound, almost indigestible form.

To prevent deficiency, it is necessary to consume about 20 mg of the vitamin per day, which is equivalent to 100-150 g of bee pollen or baker's yeast, 200 g of liver, 200-250 g of poultry or peanuts.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) participates in the enzymatic oxidation and biosynthesis of fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids, cholesterol and adrenal hormones; in the biosynthesis of acetylcholine and a number of other compounds. Partially necessary for a person acid is produced by intestinal microflora. Intestinal infections that disrupt microbial synthesis of the vitamin and its absorption, the use of many antibiotics and sulfonamides, and a lack of vitamins C and folic acid reduce the body's supply of pantothenic acid.

Consumption of 100 g of bee pollen or baker's yeast, 70 g of liver or 200 g of oats satisfies the daily need for the vitamin.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) plays a critical role in the metabolism of a number of amino acids and the synthesis of nucleic acids. Therefore, when it is deficient, tissues with a high rate of cell division - the hematopoietic and intestinal mucosa - are primarily affected. Deficiency during pregnancy can cause congenital deformities and violations mental development newborns. Low consumption of animal products and losses during cooking of products, poverty of the diet in ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin can be the causes of folate deficiency.

The daily dose of vitamin (0.4 mg) is contained in 60-100 g of bee pollen, 80 g of baker's yeast, 150-200 g of liver, 600 g of carrots.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) plays a fundamental biochemical and physiological role in organism. In combination with the supporting protein chondromucoid, it forms an intracellular structural substance necessary for the formation of connective tissue of cartilage, bones, teeth and wound healing. Ascorbic acid promotes the removal of cholesterol from the body, the absorption of calcium and iron, is necessary for the normal utilization of glucose and the formation of an immune response, and has a protective effect on tocopherol, pantothenic and nicotinic acids.

The recommended daily intake of vitamin C (70 mg) is contained in 30 g of bee pollen, 11 g of fresh rose hips, black currants, sea buckthorn, red sweet pepper, 100-120 g of raw cabbage, garlic (feather), strawberries, citrus fruits.

Tocopherols (vitamin E) act as biological antioxidants in living tissues, preventing the development of peroxidation of unsaturated lipids cell membranes. It improves the use of protein by the body, promotes the absorption of fats, carotenoids and vitamin E. Tocopherol affects the function of the endocrine glands, protecting the hormones they produce from oxidation, and increases the resistance of red blood cells to hemolysis. Relative vitamin deficiency can occur when there is an excess intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids from food.

For normal functioning, the body requires about 15 mg of tocopherols daily, and this need is met by 20 g of bee pollen, 15 g of soybean oil or 35 g of sunflower oil.

Biotin (vitamin H) is part of the active center of a number of enzymes for the metabolism of fatty acids, carbohydrates and amino acids. Biotin deficiency over time leads to lamellar scaly dermatitis, asthenia and depression.

The amount of vitamin H required for an adult (50 mcg) is contained in 50 g of bee pollen, liver, kidneys, 200 g of eggs, 250 g of peas. In addition to being supplied with food, part of the biotin needed by the body is synthesized by intestinal microflora.

Vitamin P unites a group of biologically active substances that are part of a broad group - flavonoids. A common property for these substances is the ability to normalize capillary permeability, help reduce the permeability of the vascular wall, increasing its strength. For more information about flavonoids, see below in the section “Flavonoids (dyes)”.

In addition to the well-known name “rutin”, which was discovered first and which is often associated with vitamin P, this group, which has the properties of vitamin P, includes about 150 bioflavonoids: hesperidin, coumarins (esculin), anthocyanins, catechins and others.

A lack of vitamin P can lead to brain swelling or bleeding, caused not by injuries, but by capillary fragility. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels visible only under a microscope, through which blood continuously flows, delivering everything to the cells. necessary substances(oxygen, hormones, antibodies, nutrition). Used materials are released from the cells through the capillary walls. You can imagine what happens if the thin and fragile walls of the capillaries crack and bend. First of all, cells do not receive the substances necessary for their life on time and are not provided with “garbage removal” - decay products. This complicates the viability of the entire organism. In this case, a person may experience bruises, hemorrhages, and sometimes serious diseases of vital organs - lungs, heart, etc.

Rutin is found in particular abundance in buckwheat pollen - up to 17 mg% (i.e. up to 17 mg per 100 g of pollen). (Kayas A. Pollen is a miracle product and remedy. - M., 1998.-72 p.)

4 Minerals

4.1 The role of minerals

Human life is impossible without minerals. In total, the body of an adult weighing 70 kg contains about 3 kilograms of chemical elements. The mineral composition of the body of such a person is given in the table. In total, over 70 elements of the D.I. table are found in the body. Mendeleev, 47 of them are constantly present and are called biogenic.

The bulk of the body's minerals are chloride, phosphate and carbon dioxide salts of sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium. Mineral substances in food have a predominantly alkaline (cations - calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) or acidic (anions - phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine) effect on the body. Depending on the mineral composition Some foods (dairy, vegetables, fruits, berries) cause alkaline shifts, while others cause acidic shifts (meat, fish, eggs, bread, cereals).

Minerals in the human body

All mineral elements are usually divided into macro- and microelements according to a simple principle - depending on the quantities in which they are found in the body and in food, and the quantities that a person needs.

Seven chemical elements - Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Chlorine (Cl), Phosphorus (P) and Sulfur (S) are present in food and in the body in fairly large quantities - more 0.01% of body weight, which is why they are called macroelements. The body's daily requirement for macroelements is calculated grams or hundreds of milligrams.

The content of other elements in our body is very small, sometimes they are present only in trace quantities, such as Boron (Br). There are 25 such substances, they are called microelements. These include: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo), etc. The need for them is calculated in milligrams, or at least tens of milligrams, as well as micrograms and even nanograms.

Mineral (inorganic) substances included in the structure of the body perform many important functions. Many minerals, especially trace elements, are cofactors for enzymes and vitamins. This means that without mineral molecules, vitamins and enzymes are inactive and cannot catalyze biochemical reactions(the main role of enzymes and vitamins). Activation of enzymes occurs through the addition of atoms of inorganic (mineral) substances to their molecules, while the attached atom of an inorganic substance becomes the active center of the entire enzymatic complex. For example, iron from the hemoglobin molecule is capable of binding oxygen in order to transfer it to tissues; many digestive enzymes (pepsin, trypsin) require the addition of a zinc atom for activation, etc.

Many minerals are essential structural elements of the body– calcium and phosphorus make up the bulk of the mineral matter of bones and teeth, sodium and chlorine are the main ions of plasma, and potassium is found in large quantities inside living cells.

Maintaining the acid-base balance of the body(maintaining a constant pH of blood and tissues), primarily involves maintaining the qualitative and quantitative content of minerals in tissues and organs. For individual areas The body has a strictly defined ionic balance. For example, in the blood and intercellular fluids a slightly alkaline reaction pH = 7.3÷7.5 is maintained, changes in which affect the chemical processes in the cells and the state of the entire organism.

Minerals ensure the passage of nerve impulses.

Macronutrients support osmotic pressure in cells and intercellular fluids, what is needed to move between them nutrients and metabolic products (regulate water-salt metabolism).

Processes of hematopoiesis and blood clotting cannot occur without the participation of iron, copper, manganese, calcium and other mineral elements.

Minerals affect protective functions of the body, its immunity.

Normal function of the nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, muscular and other systems impossible without minerals.

The entire set of macro and microelements provides processes of growth and development of the body.

Approximate daily human requirement
in minerals

Minerals are constantly consumed during the life of the body and require daily intake with food. For normal human life, It is necessary not only to regularly receive minerals, but also to maintain an appropriate balance (equilibrium) of minerals, which is determined by the level of individual minerals and their ratio. The amount of one mineral in the body affects the content of other minerals. Therefore, a significant decrease or increase in the concentration of one mineral can cause a violation of these equilibrium relationships, which, in turn, leads to the development of pathology, manifested in the form of one or a large number of diseases. Only under conditions of sufficient supply of minerals is it possible to maintain good health, performance, active longevity and the ability to withstand a complex of unfavorable environmental factors.

Minerals are an essential element healthy eating. Both macro- and microelements are equally necessary for the normal functioning of the body and must be present in food in the required quantities. It must be borne in mind that the entire set of minerals (both macro- and microelements) can be obtained only by eating as varied as possible, since in any one specific product there is a lot of some mineral substances, but not at all others that are equally important. In addition, the absorption of minerals is greatly influenced by their mutual ratio in food and the presence of certain substances in it, such as fats. In other words, minerals are not always well absorbed from foods rich in them.

4.2 Minerals of bee pollen

The mineral content of pollen ranges from 1 to 7%. The following macroelements were found in pollen ash: potassium 25÷45% (to ash); sodium 8-13%; calcium 1-15%; magnesium 1-12%; phosphorus 1-20%; sulfur up to 1%; chlorine 0.8-1%. Of the microelements found in pollen: silicon 2-10%; iron 0.1-10%; manganese, zinc, cobalt, silver, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium. The recommended daily dose of pollen is 25-30 g and contains a therapeutically significant amount of minerals, but, for example, the cardiotonic effect of pollen is determined precisely by the balance of the mineral composition. ("Apitherapy. / Khismatullina N.3. - Perm: Mobile, 2005. - 296 p.")

The monograph of Professor Sh.M. Omarov provides the following list of macro- and microelements: K-20÷40% (to ash), Ca-1÷15%, P-1÷20%, Si- 2÷10%, S- 1%, K, Mg, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ti, Wn, Cr, Ba, Al, Md, B, Ga, PI, Ag, Sr, Sn, Zn, As, Co, Be, U. (Apitherapy: beekeeping products in the world of medicine. / Omarov Sh.M. - Rostov n/d: Phoenix, 2009. - 351 p.)

List of macro- and microelements from the monograph of Ph.D. E.A.Ludyansky: Phosphorus - 50÷610 mg (per 100 g), Potassium - 130÷1140 mg, Calcium - 30÷1180 mg, Magnesium - 60÷380 mg, Sodium - 28÷44 mg, Copper - 0.6÷ 1.57 mg, Iron - 0.2÷4.2, Manganese, Zinc, Cobalt, Barium, Silver, Gold, Vanadium, Tungsten, Iridium, Molybdenum, Chromium, Cadmium, Strontium, Paladium, Platinum, Titanium. ("Guide to apitherapy (treatment with bee venom, honey, propolis, pollen and other bee products) for doctors, medical students and beekeepers / E. A. Ludyansky. - Vologda: [PF "Polygraphist"], 1994. - 462 With.")

4.2.1 Macronutrients

Description of macroelements taken from the reference book: "Everything about food from the point of view of a chemist. / Skurikhin I.M., Nechaev A.P.: Reference publication C 46 M.: Higher school - 1991. 288 p. "

Potassium is an intracellular element that regulates the acid-base balance in the blood. It is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and activates the work of a number of enzymes. It is believed that potassium has protective properties against the effects of excess sodium and normalizes blood pressure. Potassium can increase urine output.

Calcium forms (together with phosphorus) the basis of bone tissue, activates the activity of a number of important enzymes, participates in maintaining ionic balance in the body, and influences processes occurring in the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems.

Magnesium is an element involved in the formation of bones, regulation of work nerve tissue, in carbohydrate metabolism and energy metabolism.

Sodium is an important intercellular and intracellular element involved in creating the necessary blood buffering, regulating blood pressure, water metabolism (sodium ions contribute to the swelling of tissue colloids, which retains water in the body), activation of digestive enzymes, regulation of nervous and muscle tissue.

There is a need for sodium, but it can be met mainly through a regular diet without adding table salt. Until now, many peoples of Asia, Africa and the North manage well without salt. However, the need for sodium increases sharply with heavy sweating(in hot weather, during heavy physical activity, etc.) At the same time, a direct relationship has been established between excess sodium intake and hypertension. Because sodium promotes water retention, consuming too much stresses the kidneys (which process blood containing high levels of sodium when urine is produced) and the heart. As a result, the legs and face swell. Therefore, for kidney and heart diseases, it is recommended to sharply limit salt intake.

Sulfur is an element whose importance is determined primarily by the fact that it is included in proteins in the form of sulfur-containing amino acids (methionine and cystine), as well as in the composition of some hormones and vitamins.

Phosphorus is an element that is part of proteins, phospholipids, and nucleic acids. In addition to the plastic role, and this is very important, phosphorus compounds take part in energy exchange; mental and muscular activity is associated with their transformations.

For proper nutrition, not only the absolute content of phosphorus is important, but also its ratio to calcium. The optimal calcium to phosphorus ratio for adults is 1:1.5. With an excess of phosphorus, calcium can leak from the bones; with an excess of calcium, urolithiasis can develop.

Chlorine is an element involved in the formation of gastric juice, plasma formation, and activation of a number of enzymes.

4.2.2 Microelements

Micronutrient information comes from the following sources:

• Everything about food from a chemist's point of view. / Skurikhin I.M., Nechaev A.P.: Reference. edition C 46 M.: Higher. school - 1991. 288 pp.;
• Popular dietetics. /Evenshtein Z.M. - M.: Economics. 1990. - 319 pp.;
• Guide to vitamins and minerals. Translation from English. / Earl Mindell. - Medicine and nutrition. 2000.- 130 p.

Vanadium. suppresses the formation of cholesterol in blood vessels. Helps in preventing heart attacks.

Iron is involved in the formation of hemoglobin and some enzymes. The need is satisfied by the usual diet. Urban residents may be deficient due to the use of fine flour, which contains little iron. Tea reduces the absorption of iron due to its binding by tannins into a complex that is difficult to break down.

Approximately 55% of iron is part of the hemoglobin of erythrocytes, about 24% is involved in the formation of the red body of muscles (myoglobin), approximately 21% is deposited “in reserve” in the liver and spleen.

Cobalt. Insufficient consumption is manifested by certain disorders of the central nervous system, anemia, and decreased appetite. Cobalt can selectively inhibit cell respiration malignant tumors and thereby their reproduction. Another advantage of cobalt is to intensify the antimicrobial properties of penicillin by 2-4 times.

Part of vitamin B 12. Essential for red blood cells. Deficiency can lead to anemia.

Manganese actively affects the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Strengthens the effect of insulin and maintains cholesterol levels in the blood. In the presence of manganese, fats are more fully utilized by the body.

Helps activate enzymes necessary for the body to properly use biotin, vitamins B1 and C. Essential for normal structure bones. Important for the formation of thyroxine, the main thyroid hormone. Necessary for proper digestion and absorption of food. Important for reproduction and normal functioning of the central nervous system nervous system.

Helps eliminate impotence. Improves muscle reflexes. Improves memory. Reduces nervous irritability.

Deficiency can lead to ataxia.

Copper is necessary to regulate the processes of supplying cells with oxygen, the formation of hemoglobin and the “maturation” of red blood cells. It also promotes more complete utilization of proteins, carbohydrates and increased insulin activity.

Molybdenum promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It is an important part of the enzyme responsible for iron utilization. Helps prevent anemia. Provides general wellness.

Chromium. together with insulin, it participates in the metabolism of sugar. Helps deliver protein where it is needed. Promotes growth. Helps prevent and reduce hypertension arterial pressure. Helps prevent diabetes. Diseases caused by chromium deficiency: thought to play a role in atherosclerosis and diabetes.

Zinc is part of insulin, which is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and many important enzymes. Zinc deficiency in children retards growth and sexual development. Deficiency can occur in children and adolescents who consume little animal products.

Zinc is part of the most important enzymes that ensure the proper course of redox processes and tissue respiration. The specific consequences of a long-term lack of zinc in food are primarily a decrease in the functions of the gonads and pituitary gland of the brain.

Zinc acts like a street traffic controller, directing and monitoring the efficient flow of processes in the body, maintaining enzyme systems and cells. Necessary for protein synthesis. Controls muscle contractility. Helps in the formation of insulin. Important for maintaining blood consistency and acid-base balance in the body. It has a normalizing effect on the prostate and is important for the development of all reproductive organs. New research suggests an important role for zinc in brain function and in the treatment of schizophrenia. There is strong evidence for its importance in DNA synthesis.

Accelerates the healing of internal and external wounds. Eliminates white spots on nails. Helps eliminate loss of taste. Helps in the treatment of infertility. Helps avoid problems with the prostate gland. Promotes growth and mental activity. Helps reduce cholesterol deposits.

Deficiency can lead to diseases: prostate hypertrophy (non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland), atherosclerosis.

The role of other microelements is not described in the above sources.

5 Lipids (fats) of pollen (bee pollen)

The lipid components of flower pollen (bee pollen) are represented by fatty acids, phospholipids, phytosterols, hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, sterols and other compounds and account for an average of 5-7% of the weight of bee pollen.

5.1 Fatty acids

Fatty acids are divided into two large groups: saturated and polyunsaturated. In saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic), all chemical bonds of carbon are filled with hydrogen. Unsaturated fatty acids contain hydrogen-unsaturated bonds.

The greatest biological value have polyunsaturated fatty acids, without which complete cell regeneration is impossible. Fatty acids can be synthesized in the body from carbohydrates, less often from proteins. However, there are fatty acids that cannot be synthesized in the human body from intermediate metabolic products and must be supplied with food. For this reason they are called irreplaceable.

Essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated acids: linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic. Linoleic and linolenic acids are not synthesized in the body. Arachidonic acid is synthesized from lenolic acid. Due to their special importance for the body, they are called vitamin F.

Bee pollen fatty acids: decanoic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, stearic, lauric, eicosanic, behenic, heptadecanic.

In total, essential polyunsaturated acids can account for about 50% of the total fatty acids in bee pollen. In the body, polyunsaturated fatty acids are involved in the construction of cell membranes (walls); are precursors of hormone-like substances prostaglandins, which are involved in regulating cell metabolism, blood pressure, platelet aggregation; lower cholesterol levels by promoting its rapid conversion into folic acids and removing them from the body; have a beneficial effect on the structure of the skin and hair; lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of blood clots. In the absence of essential fatty acids, body growth stops and serious diseases occur.

5.2 Phospholipids

Phospholipids are not essential nutrients, since they can be synthesized in the body. In addition to glycerin and fatty acids, they contain phosphoric acid. These fat-like substances are, in particular, the most important components of cell membranes and intracellular structures. The role of phospholipids is not limited to this. They promote normal digestion, absorption and metabolism of fats. Phospholipids reduce blood fat. They help remove lipids from the liver, preventing its fatty degeneration. A sufficient intake of phospholipids from food is especially important in case of atherosclerosis, since lecithin normalizes cholesterol metabolism.

5.3 Terpenes

Terpenes are natural hydrocarbons of the general formula (C5 H8)n, where where n = 2, 3, 4.... Widely distributed in nature (mainly in plant, less often in animal organisms). Terpenes belong to a broad class of natural compounds - isoprenoids. Found in almost all plant tissues(contained in essential oils, turpentine, resins, balms), found in the waste products of some bacteria and fungi, and in the secretory secretions of insects. Essential oils are especially rich in terpenes and their derivatives (terpenoids). Terpenes were isolated from turpentine (oil of turpentine, hence the name) by A. Walach and W.G. Perkin in 1887–1889. Terpenes and terpenoids are widely used (individually or in the form of turpentine, resins, essential oils, balms, etc.) in the production of perfume compositions, cosmetics, paper and cardboard; as food essences, medicines, solvents, plasticizers, insecticides, immersion liquids, flotation reagents, etc.

Terpenes are classified according to the number of isoprene groups (C5H8) in the molecule. Accordingly, terpenes are divided into monoterpenes C10 H16 (commonly called simply terpenes), sesquiterpenes (sesquiterpenes) C15 H24, diterpenes C20 H32, triterpenes C30 H48 or (C10 H16 )3, tetraterpenes C40 H64 or (C10 H16 )4, etc.

5.3.1 Triterpene acids

Triterpene acids (ursolic, oleanolic, milling) have a wide range pharmacological actions. They prevent coronary circulatory disorders, arrhythmia, hypotension, relieve heart pain, increase blood circulation in the coronary vessels and brain vessels, increase the sensitivity of the heart muscle to the action of cardiac glycosides, etc. (contained in hawthorn, raspberry, rowan, etc.).

Ursulic acid has wound-healing properties, increases mental and physical performance, improves digestion, and helps normalize metabolism. Ursolic acid and oleanolic acid showed remarkable tumor inhibitory activity, which was comparable to the known tumor inhibitor retinoic acid. Hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, cardiac stimulating, and anti-atherosclerotic activity is also known for ursolic and oleanolic acids.

Ursolic acid exhibits physiological activity both externally and internally. Its anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antimicrobial properties determine its use in cosmetics. Effective for soothing sensitive and red skin, maintains skin elasticity, is a rejuvenating natural substance, restores aging skin and its elasticity. Ursolic acid and its isomer, which accompanies it in most plants, oleanolic acid have been recommended for the treatment and prevention of skin cancer in a number of countries. Both triterpene compounds promote hair growth by stimulating peripheral blood flow in the scalp and activating hair mother cells. Treating the skin with preparations containing these compounds prevents hair loss and the formation of dandruff.

5.3.2 Carotenoids (tetraterpenes)

Carotenoids (from Latin carota - carrot and Greek eidos - species), natural pigments from yellow to red-orange, synthesized by bacteria, algae, fungi, higher plants, some sponges, corals and other organisms; determine the color of flowers and fruits. They are tetraterpenes. Divided into 2 large groups: carotenoid hydrocarbons (or simply carotenes: α-carotene, β-carotene, γ-carotene, ε-carotene, lyconine, etc.) and xanthophylls. Carotenes are pure hydrocarbons, that is, they consist only of hydrogen and carbon atoms. Xanthophylls are oxidized carotenes, i.e. they contain oxygen atoms.

Carotenoids are widely distributed in nature. Carotenes are most widely represented in higher plants. Carotenoids promote plant fertilization by stimulating pollen germination and pollen tube growth; participate in the absorption of light by plants and its perception by animals; play an important role in the processes of photosynthesis, as well as in the transfer of oxygen in plants.

In animals, carotenoids are not synthesized but are supplied with food. Many carotenoids are provitamins - precursors of vitamin A. The most common and well-known provitamin β-carotene has the greatest vitamin activity. α-carotene is found in the same plants as β-carotene, but in much smaller quantities - up to 25% of the β-carotene content. The activity of α-carotene is 53% of the activity of β-carotene; γ-carotene - 48%; cryptoxanthin - 40%.

Carotenoids increase immune status, protect against photodermatoses, as vitamin A precursors play an important role in the mechanism of vision; are natural antioxidants. Carotenoids are used as industrial products. food dyes, components of vitamin animal feed, in honey. practice - for the treatment of affected skin.

5.4 Steroids

Pollen also contains plant steroids - phytosterols. Phytosterols - plant sterols, structurally similar to cholesterol, have anti-sclerotic, cancer-preventive, antioxidant and immunostimulating activity. Phytosterols also compensate hormonal imbalance in the body, having a beneficial effect during menopause in women and with a decrease in the amount of testosterone in men. The mechanisms for reducing the manifestations of atherosclerosis are associated with the ability of phytosterols to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, reduce the level of cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins in the blood - “bad lipids”.

Dietary intake of phytosterols has been proven to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 20-25%. The cancer-preventive effect of phytosterols has also been proven: sufficient consumption of them reduces the risk of cancer colon, prostate, breast, stomach, lungs. Phytosterols enter the human body with plant foods. Among food products, nuts and greens are rich in phytosterols. In the modern human diet, these products are extremely limited, which is why there is a lack of phytosterols, and hence many problems.

In Russia, chronic deficiency of phytosterols in the diet is widespread. Pollen is characterized by a high content of phytosterols (0.6-1.6%). For comparison, soybean oil contains about 0.3% phytosterols and this is considered a very high level. Dry nettle root extract contains at least 0.8% phytosterols (in terms of ß-sitosterol).

ß-sitosterol is one of the most common phytosterols or plant sterols. It is a plant analogue of cholesterol in the body; delay its absorption in the intestines; used for atherosclerosis.

6 Phenolic compounds

Plant phenolic compounds are very common biologically active substances of plants, research on which has been ongoing for more than 100 years. Several thousand phenols have been isolated from plants, and the list is growing. They represent a large and diverse class of organic compounds. Unlike the very poisonous phenol (carbolic acid), plant phenolic compounds are not only low-toxic, but also beneficial. Phenol derivatives include tannins, coumarins, flavonoids and their glycosides, etc.

6.1 Flavonoids (plant pigments or dyes)

Flavonoids are phenolic compounds with two aromatic rings. They are found both in the free state and in the form of glycosides, are plant pigments. Depending on their structure, flavonoids include several groups (catechins, anthocyanins, flavones, flavonols). Flavonoids got their name from the Latin word “flavus” - yellow, since the first flavonoids isolated from plants had a yellow color. More than 6,500 flavonoids are known.

Animals are not able to synthesize compounds of the flavonoid group. It is now believed that flavonoids (along with other plant phenols) are essential components of human food and other mammals.

Higher plants are especially rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids are found in various organs, but more often in above-ground organs: flowers, leaves, fruits. Young flowers and unripe fruits are richest in them. Localized in cell sap in dissolved form. The content of flavonoids in plants varies: on average 0.5-5%, sometimes reaching 20% ​​(in Sophora japonica flowers).

In many fruits and berries, flavonoids are more or less evenly distributed in the skin and pulp. Therefore, plums, cherries, and blueberries have an even color. In contrast, the fruits of some other plants contain flavonoids mainly in the skin and, to a lesser extent, in the pulp. But in apples, for example, they are present only in the skin.

The functions of flavonoids in plants are poorly understood. It is assumed that due to the ability to absorb ultraviolet radiation(330–350 nm) and part of the visible rays (520–560 nm), flavonoids protect plant tissues from excess radiation. This is confirmed by the localization of flavonoids in the epidermal (close to the surface) cells of plants. The coloring of flower petals helps insects find the plants they need and thus promote pollination. As part of the extractive substances of wood, flavonoids can give it special strength and resistance to damage by pathogenic fungi. Apparently, flavonoids take part in redox reactions occurring in plant tissues.

The importance of flavonoids for the human body as components of medicinal plants has been studied even better than their functions in plants. It all started when Szent-Gyorgyi and a group of scientists isolated pure vitamin C from Hungarian pepper - paprika - in 1936. Together with vitamin C, he isolated a substance that could reduce the manifestations of vitamin C deficiency, which he called vitamin P (from paprica - pepper and permeability - permeability). It turned out that it is able to reduce the permeability of the capillary wall and the fragility of blood vessels.

The main function of flavonoids is currently considered to be antioxidant. Range medicinal properties The use of plant materials rich in flavonoids is very wide and is not limited only to their antioxidant properties. Many flavonoids reduce capillary fragility and enhance the effect of ascorbic acid. Vitamin P protects ascorbic acid from oxidation. Vitamin C and vitamin P interact so closely that vitamin P is even sometimes called vitamin C2. Flavonoids protect against oxidation and adrenaline is one of the main hormones of the body. Depending on their structure, flavonoids are also used as anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, hypoazotemic, radioprotective and other agents. Some have hemostatic properties; used for hemorrhoids; serve as good choleretic and diuretic agents, have a hypotensive and sedative effect. In addition, flavonoids have a beneficial effect on the heart and stomach, prevent spasms, prevent the development of allergies, and regulate the function of the endocrine glands. In recent years, reports have appeared on the antitumor effect of flavonoids. They also help maintain collagen in good condition, which prevents the formation of bruises, since the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels depends on the quality of collagen. This property was the first to be noticed.

6.2 Chlorogenic acids

Chlorogenic (hydroxycinnamic) acids are phenolic compounds with one aromatic ring. Hydroxycinnamic acids are found in almost all higher plants. The most widely used is caffeic acid. It often forms dimers with alicyclic acids - quinic and shikimic. The best known are 3-caffeyl-quinic acid (chlorogenic) and its isomers. Biological activity Most hydroxycinnamic acids have not yet been sufficiently studied. Established expressed choleretic effect ferulic, caffeic, chlorogenic acids and especially cynarin.

7 Nucleic acids

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are biological polymer molecules that store all the information about an individual living organism, determining its growth and development, as well as hereditary characteristics transmitted to the next generation. Nucleic acids are found in the cell nuclei of all plant and animal organisms, which determined their name (Latin Nucleus - nucleus). Plant nucleic acids have the same structural principle as the nucleic acids of animal organisms. DNA consists of nucleotides: purine or pyrimidine bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine), carbohydrate components (deoxyribose) and the remainder phosphoric acid. RNA consists of the same bases with the only difference being that RNA has uracil instead of thymine.

Nucleic acids are involved in the storage of genetic information (DNA) and the transfer of information during the synthesis of proteins (RNA). Various dysfunctions of the body and many diseases are based on changes in the structure of cells and tissues, which are caused by impaired protein synthesis. Since information about protein synthesis is realized from DNA and RNA, disorders of nucleic acid metabolism and deficiency of nucleic acids are one of the reasons for the appearance of pathological processes. Tissues with high speed updates ( Bone marrow, immune system, mucous membranes).

Information about the ability of nucleic acids to increase the overall resistance of the body first appeared in 1892. Nucleic acid has been used to treat serious diseases since the end of the 19th century. Long before the discovery of antibiotics, nucleic acid preparations were successfully used against life-threatening infectious diseases such as cholera, anthrax, staphylococcal and streptococcal infection, diphtheria, etc.

It has now been established that nucleic acids are one of the important components of the integral and immunological homeostasis of the body. Also proven following properties nucleic acids: radioprotective, immunomodulatory (stimulating the body’s resistance to various infections), the ability to improve cellular composition blood, increased hemoglobin content, decreased excitability of the nervous system, increased muscle strength. The importance of nucleic acids in human life is emphasized by the fact that immunity is inhibited in individuals who exclude them from the diet even while maintaining sufficient calorie content.

Nucleic acids obtained from food are digested in the intestine with the help of the nuclease enzyme and break down into their components: purine bases, a carbohydrate component and a phosphorus residue. These simple substances are absorbed into the blood and tissue cells synthesize nucleotides from them, and then their nucleic acids.

8 Hormones

The content of hormones in pollen was first encountered during experiments on mice. If they are fed only pollen and water, then females develop normally, but males lag behind in their development; the seminal vesicles, spleen and thymus gland remain especially underdeveloped. Dole noted in his experiments that female mice fed 1 to 5% pollen produced 40-80% more offspring than the control group that did not receive pollen.

All this suggests that pollen contains female hormones similar to estrogens (female sex hormones) in humans. Their presence was clearly established. The hormones contained in pollen have a beneficial effect not only on the sexual functions of men and women, but also on the general condition, body performance, mental state and functioning of the cardiovascular system.

9 Growth promoters

In experiments with plants, which were carried out primarily by scientists Larsen and Tang (1950), three substances were found in the ethereal extract of pollen that influenced growth. The acidic of these three substances stimulates the germination of oats, the neutral one also stimulates plant growth, while the second neutral substance inhibits growth. If all 3 are connected together, then the growth forces predominate and are regulated by the anti-growth substance.

Chauvin and some Japanese scientists conducted similar experiments on mice and rats. If the mice's diet consisted of 50% pollen extract, then the weight gain compared to the control group that did not receive pollen was 16% for clover pollen, 37% for dandelion pollen, and even 46% for fruit pollen. In their experiments, the Japanese fed rats daily from 0.1 to 0.5 g of rapeseed pollen, which led to an increase in weight from 2.8 to 4.9% after 30 days. This amazing effect can be explained not only by the presence of growth-stimulating substances, but also by another substance, the existence of which Chauvin suggested already in 1968. It (like the absorption factor of sugar in honey) leads to the fact that food is better absorbed.

in humans one can hardly expect such a pronounced effect of pollen on growth and weight gain. These substances greatly contribute to increasing the vitality of the body. ("Medicines from the hive: honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, bee venom / Helmut Horn, Gehard Leibold; translated from German by M. Belyaeva - M.:AST: ASTREL, 2006 -238p.")

10 Natural antibiotics

Flower pollen, as White established already in 1906, contains very few pathogens, since it contains a natural antibiotic. Chauvin and Louveau (1952) claim that it inhibits the growth of bacteria in the intestines of mice, in the feces of which, usually very rich in bacteria, the number of pathogens is noticeably reduced when fed with pollen.

In 1956, Schonen and Louvo found that not every type of pollen has a good antibiotic effect. If the impact is measured in certain units, then the first place with a result of 1.85 is taken by corn pollen, followed by noble chestnut (1.1), dandelion (1.0), incarnate clover (0.9), hairy cistus (0.1) and Erica (0.06). Polyfloral pollen always has a pronounced antibiotic effect.

Flower pollen collected by bees has an antibiotic effect 6-7 times stronger than pollen collected by hand by humans.. In addition, it is important whether the pollen is selected before the entrance or is already stored in the combs. The latter has a slightly stronger effect on some types of bacteria. ("Medicines from the hive: honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, bee venom / Helmut Horn, Gehard Leibold; translated from German by M. Belyaeva - M.:AST: ASTREL, 2006 -238p.")

11 Carbohydrates

Bee pollen contains: glucose, fructose, sucrose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, raffinose, stachyose, dextrins, starch and cellulose. Glucose and fructose predominate, entering it with nectar and honey. The relative proportion of fiber is small (1-3%), starch usually contains about 2%.

Carbohydrates are the main components of honey. A more detailed description of them is given on the page