While Blissful Basil is typically recipe- and restaurant-oriented, it's time to mix things up a bit; I want to talk about health and happiness. While meandering through the vitamin and supplement aisles during a recent trip to Whole Foods, I was approached by a friendly looking woman carrying what looked to be a jar full of yellow gravel. When she asked me if I would like a taste, I stared blankly at her hoping that an explanation would soon ensue. Catching onto my reluctance, the kind woman told me that what she was carrying was bee pollen. Still expressing a look of uncertainty as to why I should be eating the substance, she went on to describe all of the amazing health benefits of the tiny yellow granules. Let me tell you, this woman should be a spokesperson for bee pollen; if there were stock in bee pollen, I would have purchased multiple shares. So, without further ado, I tossed a few of the granules into my mouth. I'm going to be honest with you, bee pollen tastes a little... well, odd; however, I decided that I'm able to forgive its flavor oddity in exchange for its endless list of redeeming qualities.
The health and happiness benefits of bee pollen are endless due to it containing 96 different nutrients, including every nutrient necessary to sustain human life (umm, WOW). Bee pollen has been praised as being the "perfect food" due to the extensive list of amino acids (22 to be exact), enzymes, and vitamins it contains. The recommended serving is 35 grams daily or about 3 teaspoons, and it can be ingested on its own or mixed with food. I'm going to go ahead and recommend it mixed in with food -- yogurt would make for a nice combination. The health and happiness benefits of bee pollen include increased immunity, increased resistance to allergens, stress-reduction, increased energy and endurance, improved sexual functioning, cancer prevention, reduction in menopausal symptoms, increased metabolism, improved memory, enhanced mood, and slowed aging process. I told you the list was endless. Needless to say, I made the decision to incorporate 3 teaspoons of bee pollen into my regular diet. I purchased Stakich's Organic Bee Pollen for just $5.99 for a 4 ounce jar. You can find bee pollen at your local Whole Foods in the refrigerated section of the vitamins and supplements department. Here's to bee-ing healthy, happy, and experiencing the many amazing effects of bee pollen.
*The only potentially negative side effect is actually being allergic to bee pollen. While rare, such a reaction can have detrimental consequences, so bee certain (yes, I went there) to consult with your physician if you are unsure whether you have a bee pollen allergy.
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