FLOWER BLOSSOM POLLEN, BENEFITS AND APPLICATION
Pollen extract from flower blossoms has long been used as a natural agent to support overall health and increase vitality. In fact, the use of flower pollens for medical purposes dates back to ancient Egypt and China, where flower pollen was used to improve energy flow and to treat menstrual symptoms as early as 2000 BC.
Pollen enable flowering plants to reproduce. It contains all the necessary substances to create new life. In more detail, pollen extract is shown to contain the complete array of essential amino acids (including tryptophan), non-essential amino acids, powerful antioxidants, enzymes (including superoxide dismutase, a powerful antioxidant enzyme) and phytosterols (water-insoluble compounds found in plants closely related to cholesterol); a total of over 130 active ingredients.[1]
Phytosterols, in particular, are bioactive compounds that are associated with a marked reduction in plasma LDL cholesterol (the level circulating in the blood) upon ingestion (they also help reduce the absorption of cholesterol from dietary sources) and are effective in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, when combined to a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Phytosterols have been approved by several regulatory agencies across the globe as an ingredient in many foods to help reduce cholesterol and are shown to be safe even in association with drug therapy.[2]
Flower pollen extract is not the same thing as bee pollen (not a vegan product). It is the (untouched) pollen found in plants, extracted before bees extract it. Therefore flower pollen extract is a clean product and is only the central part of the pollen grain (the nutrient-rich core), not the whole pollen grain.
Some companies sell pollen extract from flower blossoms in concentrated forms to provide optimum potency, as well as water and lipid-soluble nutrients in each serving. These nutrients are vital to support health. More particularly, pollen extract from flower blossoms may be really useful if you feel the need to visit the bathroom far too many times, particularly at night, when the need to urinate wakes you up.
Some pollen extract from flower blossoms has been scientifically formulated according to clinical research and various applications to support prostate and urinary tract function — it is also always best to source supplements free from contamination from mould and spores (mycotoxins). Pollen extract from flower blossoms, therefore, may help you sleep better by giving you more control, allowing you to fully empty your bladder before bed (and prevent leakage), and not be disturbed until the morning.
Nutrition also plays a major role, and you should aim to consume fresh, whole (unrefined, and processed as little as possible) fruits and vegetables, beans, seeds and other fibre-rich foods, as well as good oils and fat, like extra virgin olive oil linseed oil, and small fatty fish (herrings, sardines, anchovies, mackerel and sockeye salmon), also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid trans fat and conventional seed/vegetable oils, refined (‘white’) flour and sugar and their derivatives. Drink plenty of water and check for food sensitivities (increase inflammatory responses).
Flower pollen, a functional food, is shown to display anti-inflammatory activity and has also been studied for BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia — enlarged prostate)[3], PMS and menopause to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life[4] and results are very promising.
References:
1. Paszkowski, T. Skrzypulec-Plinta, V. (2018). Assessment of quality of life in women using Females Meno. Przeglad menopauzalny (Menopause Reviews). 17(2), pp. 77–85.
2. Cabral, CE. Klein, M. (2017). Phytosterols in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia. 109(5), pp. 475–482.
3. Buck, AC. et al. (1990). Treatment of outflow tract obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia with the pollen extract Cernilton. British Journal of urology. 66(4), pp. 398–404.
4. Winther, K. Rein, E. Hedman, C. (2005). Femal, a herbal remedy made from pollen extracts, reduces hot flushes and improves quality of life in menopausal women: A randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Climacteric. 8(2), pp. 162–170.