Answer : For a quick sense of the commercial versus scientific status of these popular products, compare the results of a Google search for bee pollen health benefits-over 80,000 hits- to those of a similar search of the governments exhaustive PubMed database of medical research: 121 results, most of only peripheral relevance to human health. Bee pollen is actually a misnomer: Its simply the pollen from flowers that bees collect and bring back to the hive. Natural or raw honey may contain resins from propolis, a sort of bee glue also touted for health benefits.
For centuries, various bee products have been touted as aiding athletic and sexual performance, fighting infections, preventing cancer and promoting both weight loss and weight gain. The Federal Trade Commission has frequently cracked down on vendors of bee pollen and similar products for unsubstantiated claims ranging from treating allergies to arthritis, fatigue to arteriosclerosis.
A handful of studies have suggested that bee pollen may have some benefit against chronic prostatitis (a disease of the prostate) and menopausal symptoms, and that propolis may help dental hypersensitivity and possess antibacterial effects. A few studies have found natural honey superior to processed honey in cholesterol and blood-sugar effects. Honey- natural or otherwise-has been studied for blood-sugar control and insulin sensitivity (versus other sweeteners), as a cough suppressant and as an immune-system booster. None of the evidence for any of these claims is strong enough to support the use of any bee-related products for health reasons alone. If you like a little honey in your tea, thats fine-but keep in mind that youre adding about 20 calories per teaspoon.
Potential downsides to bee products include the possibility of dangerous allergic reactions and potential contaminants ranging from heavy metals to pesticides. Bee pollen has been linked to liver damage in isolated cases. And children younger than 12 months should never be fed any kind of honey because of the risk of infant botulism.