A recent scientific study focused on the health benefits of bee pollen. Researchers at the University of Athens analyzed the natural product and found that it has antioxidant, antimicrobial and proteasome activation properties. What does that mean to you?
You have probably heard of antioxidants. They include common vitamins like A, C and E. Different antioxidants provide different health benefits. All of them have the ability to scavenge free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that can damage cellular membranes and eventually cause mutations of cellular DNA. The mutations can lead to symptoms related to aging or they can become cancerous cells.
Antioxidants in the bloodstream work to neutralize free radical molecules before they can damage the cells of your body. Some antioxidants have been shown to actually reverse damage that has already occurred.
The antioxidant status of your body changes depending on what you eat and on your age. For example, we have learned in recent years that the antioxidant capacity of an older person’s skin is much lower than that of a younger person. Dermatologists have determined that the decrease in the skin’s antioxidant capacity is the main cause of wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.
So, not only could increasing your antioxidant intake improve your health. It could also improve the way that you look. Antimicrobials are compounds that have the ability to kill bacteria, viruses or other illness-causing pathogens. Honey has been used for thousands of years to naturally fight illness. The new study shows that bee pollen can be used in the same way.
Proteasome activation is a little more difficult to understand. Proteasomes are large protein complexes that play a major role in immune system function. By activating proteasomes, the natural products may improve immune system function. In short, the benefits of bee pollen may be numerous. If you decide that supplementation is right for you, just be sure to choose a good brand.