This smoothie tastes like spring!
Before writing this post I knew bee pollen had several health benefits, but I hadn’t realized how good it actually is for our body! But exactly are those little powdery and colorful pearls? Bee pollen is made by honeybees, and is the food of the young bee. It is consisted of hundreds of pollen particles that get stuck together with honey and other bee secretions, forming little pearls of goodness! It’s considered to be one of nature’s most complete foods as it contains nearly all nutrients required by our body. And what’s the best way to use it? But of course in a smoothie! Smoothies contain all of the fiber and other ingredients found in the pulp, meaning they are a lot more than just juice! Adding some bee pollen to a refreshing orange and mango based smoothie seemed only natural to me!
If you look it up, you’ll find many sources explaining the ways bee pollen helps us to stay healthy and energized. In general, it is considered to:
- Extend longevity
- Boost our immune system and prevent infectious diseases such as the cold and flu
- Help us build new blood
- Regulate the intestines
- Enhance our energy
- Build new blood
- Have a positive effect in treating allergies, especially if bee pollen comes from the same area where you live. However, it must be taken at least six weeks before the season begins and then continued throughout the season.
Of course, if you’ve made some of my other smoothies (see: world’s best smoothie, the green smoothie that tastes good, super foods detox smoothie and more in the drinks/beverages category) you know that for me, some fruits and a few nuts are not enough! I always throw in the mix some spices, not only for flavor, but also for the many healthy phytonutrients, essential oils and antioxidants hidden inside them! And since we have bee pollen, why not add a little honey also?
Some notes/tips:
Make sure your bee pollen comes from an area free of pesticides.
Keep it in the fridge for maximum freshness
Bee pollen comes from various flowers, each having different color and cent. This means that depending on the area, its color may be different from what you’ve seen elsewhere.
If you have any serious allergies, please talk with your doctor before consuming bee pollen.
One more thing guys!
Before finishing this post, I’d like to talk about a problem, many people may not be aware of.
Did you know that honeybees and bees in general face a serious threat? Since the late 1990s beekeepers around the world have observed the sudden disappearance of bees, and report unusually high rates of decline in honeybee colonies. The reason for this mysterious and dramatic loss of honeybees is yet to be determined, and a combination of factors has been under the scientists’ radar such as the increased use of pesticides, shrinking habitats, multiple viruses, parasites, poor nutrition and genetics, and even cell phone towers.
Bees are marvelous and adorable little creatures which deserve our love and respect. It’s in our hands to be more informed and take action in order to protect them 🙂
Believe it or not, you have a bee to thank for every one in three bites of food you eat
Some of the information for this post was taken from the following sources:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/death-and-extinction-of-the-bees
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/sustainable-agriculture/save-the-bees
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- 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice or about 4 oranges (peel and pits removed)
- Half a mango
- 1-2 tablespoons bee pollen
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 banana
- 10 almonds
- 2 tablespoon oats (optional, it makes it more filling)
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- Pinch of pepper
- Optional for decoration : matcha green tea (or cinnamon) and a teaspoon bee pollen
- Blend everything in a blender until smooth.
- Sprinkle some matcha green tea or cinnamon on top, and garnish with some extra bee pollen.
- Drink!
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Sounds great, this looks bright and nutritious !!!We have smoothies a few times a week, but I’ve never tried bee pollen. I’ll have to give it a try.
Yes you should definitely try it! You can actually use bee pollen to many foods and drinks like yogurt, milk, juices and more. Or maybe add it to salads as topping! Just saying… 🙂