To send a link and summary of this article to a friend, click here . This amazing insect makes an average of 10 pollen runs a day, flying from hive to flower and flower to hive as it gathers its bounty. In good weather, the combined efforts of a colony of worker bees can result in as many as 54,000 pollen loads a day. Bee pollen is the male reproductive part of a flower that the worker bees collect. They pack the microscopically fine powder into granules by adding nectar or honey from their honey sacs, then they take it back to the hive, where they add an enzyme to prevent germination and metabolize it for food.
Pollen supplies all the nutrients a bee needs for growth and development.
Without an adequate supply of pollen, a colony of bees would perish. It contains many minerals , including remarkably high levels of iron , zinc , manganese , and copper as well as potassium , calcium , and magnesium . The question is whether what s good for bees is also good for humans. Despite a glaring lack of scientific evidence, many people take bee pollen supplements for a range of health problems, including allergies, low energy, and prostate disease. It s also used to combat aging, indigestion, sore throat, acne, sexual problems, fatigue, and depression.