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‘Food of the Gods’ - a title given to Ambrosia, Perga, or Bee Bread (as we like to call it) by the ancient Greeks. Back in the day, they would feed it to their Olympic athletes to boost their performance and improve recovery times. While still eaten by athletes today, many other bee bread benefits have attracted much attention from the west.
Interested in finding out more about this potent superfood? Let’s start with a breakdown of its composition.
Bee bread is a small pellet containing pollen, along with nectar or honey. The exact bee bread composition varies depending on the plants the bees have foraged from.
Often confused with ‘bee pollen,’ bee bread is a fermented version, which is regarded as having a higher nutritional value. It is the bee's saliva, containing a vast range of probiotic bacteria and yeast, which kicks off the fermentation process and increases the bioavailability of the superfood.
Bee Bread is a primary source of food for honey bee workers and their larvae. Once the pollen is harvested, the bees mould it into pellet-like shapes to store in their honeycombs.
However, it’s not just bees who can benefit from eating it. Bee bread is also harvested as a superfood for humans.
Early Egyptians and the Ancient Chinese considered bee bread to have incredible healing properties.
Over the years, many studies have examined bee bread benefits and found promising results. Here are some of the key findings...
Bee bread is loaded with a vast range of biologically active minerals, vitamins and amino acids, along with proteins, carbs, lipids, fatty acids, enzymes and antioxidants.
As mentioned previously, the exact composition (and nutritional value) varies depending on where the pollen has been collected from. Studies have shown that bee pollen collected from pine plants only tends to have around 7% protein content, whereas pollen collected from date palms has a much higher protein content of around 35%.
Other factors that can influence the nutritional value are the time of year and the location of the plants. Mountainlife bee bread is harvested from the pristine, untouched forests of the Altai in Siberia. The flora is wild, unique and incredibly varied, meaning that our bee bread benefits from additional nutrients, which won’t necessarily be present in the bee bread created on hive farms and plantations.
Bee bread is rich in antioxidants including flavonoids, carotenoids and glutathione. Together, they protect the body against free radicals, which can damage important cellular components and influence chronic diseases like cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Bee bread’s value as an antioxidant is backed by science. Several test-tube, animal and human studies have found the antioxidants in bee bread reduce chronic inflammation, eliminate harmful bacteria, fight infection and help prevent the spread of tumours.
We all know just how important the liver is for breaking down and removing toxins from our blood. Maintaining a healthy liver is crucial and something that may be helped by eating bee bread.
Animal studies have found that bee bread supports good liver health and may even enhance its detoxifying abilities. There has also been evidence to suggest that bee bread can aid in the healing process of the liver after specific types of damage.
One of the main bee bread benefits is its ability to reduce internal inflammation and swelling. This is likely down to the antioxidant Quercetin, which lowers the production of inflammatory Omega-6 fatty acids in the body.
A study on rats showed that bee bread reduced the swelling of the rodents’ paws by 75%. Its effects have even been likened to those of several anti-inflammatory drugs.
There is strong scientific evidence to support the antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral properties of bee bread. Eating the superfood may help to save off infection and aid the breakdown of certain types of viruses and bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella.
Research has also shown that eating bee bread can reduce the severity of some allergies.
Symptoms of the Menopause, such as hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep deprivation, can be particularly unpleasant. However, studies show that bee bread may help to alleviate some of these symptoms.
In one scientific study, 71% of women reported their Menopausal symptoms had improved while eating bee bread.
In another study, a further 65% of women who were taking a bee pollen supplement said they experienced fewer hot flushes and had noticed overall improvements, such as better sleep, less irritability and improved energy.
And if that wasn’t enough bee bread benefits for you, it can also reduce stressby increasing blood flow to the body’s nervous system. Scientific studies have also found eating bee bread can combat tiredness and fatigue, giving you a much-needed energy boost - hence why athletes love it!
Now you’ve discovered the many health benefits of bee bread, you’re likely eager to try it yourself. We’d suggest taking 1tsp (5-10g) per day. You can either eat it on its own as a healthy snack or sprinkle it onto your porridge, yoghurt or salad for added crunch.
Bee bread has a strong floral scent and a delightfully sweet taste. Although crunchy on the outside, it has a soft core making it perfect for blending into smoothies.
Try it for yourself and let us know what you think! We love hearing your feedback, so feel free to drop us a message or tag us in your posts on social media!
As always, we hope you’ve enjoyed reading our post and learning a little more about bee bread benefits. If you’re keen to make a purchase but still have questions, you know where to find us. We’re always happy to chat about our products and help you identify the best superfoods, oils, mushrooms and berry powders to meet your needs.
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