Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, wax, and bee secretions. Foraging honey bees collect pollen from plants and transport it to the beehive, where it's stored and used as food for the colony. In recent times, bee pollen has gained renewed traction as more and more are discovering its health benefits.

Here Are Surprising Health Benefits Of Bee Pollen

1. Packed With 250 Biologically Active Substances

Bee pollen boasts an impressive nutritional profile. It contains over 250 biologically active substances, that includes proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Besides, it is also packed with enzymes, antibiotics and antioxidants. Interestingly, this nutritional profile of bee pollen is variable and depends on the plant source and season collected.

2. Antioxidant Properties

It is loaded with antioxidants like flavonoids and carotenoids, which help combat free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. A study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that bee pollen antioxidants can reduce chronic inflammation, eliminate harmful bacteria, fight infections, and combat the growth and spread of tumours.

3. Heart Health

There is empirical evidence that states that bee pollen reduces high blood lipids and cholestrols. Two studies conducted on animals in 2017 and 2018 showed that bee pollen extracts can lower blood cholesterol levels, especially LDL (bad) cholesterol.

4. Liver Protection

Bee pollen also protects the liver from all kinds of toxins and promotes recovery from liver damage. Empirical evidence suggests that bee pollen can act as an effective treatment against conditions like hepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

5. Anti-inflammatory Effects

Research shows that bee pollen contains compounds like quercetin, which reduce inflammation and may be an alternative to Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Bee pollen packs several compounds that can reduce inflammation and swelling, including the antioxidant quercetin.

6. Immune Boost

Bee pollen exhibits antimicrobial properties, potentially protecting against harmful bacteria and boosting immunity.

7. Wound Healing

With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, bee pollen may aid in wound healing and prevent infections. Bee pollen work by reducing excessive inflammation at the wound site, allowing the body to focus on tissue repair and collagen production.

8. Potential Anti-Cancer Effects

Test-tube studies suggest bee pollen may inhibit tumour growth and promote cancer cell death, though human studies are limited.

9. Menopausal Relief

Some studies indicate that bee pollen may alleviate menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, though more research is needed.

Besides bee pollen, another related product that holds immense nutritional value is honey. It is a naturally sweet, syrup-like substance that bees produce from the nectar of flowering plants. The bees collect the nectar and then consume, digest, and regurgitate it inside the beehive to produce honey. This honey is stored in wax structures called honeycombs, which are gathered by humans through the practice of beekeeping. Although the nutritional value of honey. A single tablespoon (21 grams) of honey typically consists of 64 calories and 17 grams of carbs with little to no fat, fibre, and protein.

ALSO READ: Is Honey Good Or Bad For You?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently urged Indian households to reduce their cooking oil consumption by at least 10 per cent.

While the appeal is part of a broader strategy to decrease India’s heavy reliance on imports, which currently accounts for 65 per cent of its edible oil needs, and comes amid the escalating Iran-US war, health experts said that this should become the norm in the country, burdened with chronic diseases.

High consumption of edible oils, particularly those high in saturated and trans fats like palm oil, is strongly linked to a higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

These NCDs are also the leading cause of mortality in India, accounting for approximately 63–66 per cent of all deaths.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce oil consumption is not just a temporary health message, but a lifestyle habit every Indian family should adopt permanently. Excessive oil intake has become one of the major contributors to rising obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease cases in India, especially among younger populations,” Dr. Arvind Dambalkar, Senior Consultant & Head – Interventional Cardiology, Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, told HealthandMe.

Dr. Madhu Nahar Roy, Director, Internal Medicine - Paras Health Udaipur, added that the message on reducing oil consumption is timely, especially as lifestyle diseases continue to rise across India.

PM Modi’s Call To Reduce Oil Intake

PM Modi first urged Indians to reduce cooking oil consumption by 10 per cent during his 79th Independence Day address, highlighting the need to tackle the rapidly rising burden of obesity and lifestyle diseases in India.

"In the coming years, obesity can become a major challenge for our country," the Prime Minister said. "If every family decides to reduce the use of cooking oil by 10 per cent, it will benefit the health of the nation."

Also read: India Launches SEHAT Mission To Connect Farming With Nutrition And Health

Again, in April, on World Health Day, he reiterated that adopting healthier eating habits, such as reducing oil usage, is “not just a personal decision but a social responsibility”.

He called for immediate action to prevent such a scenario and proposed a simple change: "I want to take a promise from you today that we all should reduce our cooking oil by 10 per cent. This will be a big step towards reducing obesity."

India's NCD Burden

India now ranks second globally in the number of overweight and obese children, according to the World Obesity Atlas.

If current trends continue, nearly 56 million children in the country could be affected by 2040.

As per the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, India has 89.8 million adults diagnosed with diabetes, with projections suggesting that number will grow to a massive 156.7 million in 2050.

Further, in India, more than 1 in 4 people have hypertension, and cumulatively, more than 90 per cent of adults with hypertension are either undiagnosed, untreated, or treated but live with uncontrolled hypertension.

At the same time, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in India, accounting for nearly 28 per cent of all deaths and 45 per cent of NCD deaths.

Read More: Hantavirus: How India’s Virus Surveillance System Is Preparing To Track Rat-Borne Virus Early

The Ideal Amount of Oil And Mode of Cooking

Dr. Arvind noted that fried and processed foods increase unhealthy fat accumulation, disturb cholesterol levels, and put long-term stress on the heart.

“A family of four should limit edible oil consumption to around 3 to 4 liters per month, as recommended by health experts. Choosing balanced, home-cooked meals with controlled oil can significantly improve overall Cardiac Health,” he said.

The expert noted that refined oils are not inherently harmful, but excessive consumption and repeated reheating can increase unhealthy fat intake and inflammation.

“For Indian cooking, mustard oil is beneficial for traditional high-heat cooking due to its good fatty acid profile, olive oil works well for salads and light sautéing, while sunflower oil should be used in moderation and rotated with other oils,” Dr. Madhu told HealthandMe.

The expert also stated that adopting healthier cooking methods, such as air frying, steaming, roasting, and grilling, can help reduce excess calorie and fat consumption significantly.

Dozens of food products, including chocolates, snack mixes, popcorn, chips, and nuts, have been recalled in the US over the risk of salmonella contamination.

The recall is due to a specific ingredient — milk powder supplied by California Dairies — used in several products and snacks, particularly in seasonings.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the potentially tainted powdered milk and buttermilk were voluntarily recalled on April 20.

Which Products Have Been Recalled?

Ghirardelli Chocolate Powders:

• Chocolate Flavored Frappe
• Classic White Frappe
• Premium Hot Cocoa Pouch Bulk
• Chocolate & Cocoa Sweet Ground Powder
• White Chocolate Flavored Sweet Ground Powder
• Vanilla Frappe Mix
• Chocolate Flavored Frappe Mix
• Classic White Frappe Mix
• Chocolate Flavored Frappe Mix
• Classic White Frappe Mix
• White Mocha Frappe Mix
• Mocha Frappe Mix
• Frozen Hot Cocoa Frappe Mix

• Zapp's Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips
• Zapp's Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips
• Zapp's Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips
• Zapp's Brand Big Cheezy Potato Chip
• Zapp's Brand Big Cheezy Potato Chip
• Zapp's Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (60ct)
• Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
• Dirty Brand Maui Onion Potato Chip
• Dirty Brand Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips

• Bottles of Pork King Good Sour Cream & Onion Seasoning
• Bags of Pork King Good Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds
• Bags of Pork King Party Size Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds

• Fisher Tex Mex Trail Mix
• Southern Style Nuts Gourmet Hunter Mix
• Southern Style Nuts Gourmet Hunter Mix
• Southern Style Nuts Hunter Mix
• Squirrel Brand Travelers Mix
• Squirrel Brand Town & Country Mix
• Squirrel Brand Town & Country Mix
• Good & Gather Mexican Street, Corn Trail Mix
• Giant Eagle Pita Chips:
• Baked Pita Chips with Parmesan, Garlic & Herb

• Wildlife Seasoning Sour Cream & Onion Popcorn Topping
• Williams Sonoma-branded Popcorn Sampler Gift Box with White Cheddar Seasoning
• Fireworks Popcorn Poppings & Toppings gift set containing White Cheddar Seasoning

• Stoltzfus Family Dairy Sour Cream
• Onion Cheese Curds

• Culinary Circle Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch Frozen Pizza
• Great Value Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch Frozen Pizza
• Great Value Stuffed Chicken Bacon Ranch Frozen Pizza
• Mama Cozzi's Biscuit Crust Sausage & Cheese Frozen Breakfast Pizza
• Mama Cozzi's Biscuit Crust Cooked Pork Belly Crumbles, Cooked Bacon Topping, Pepper & Onion Frozen Breakfast Pizza

Also read:India Launches SEHAT Mission To Connect Farming With Nutrition And Health

The FDA urges people who purchased the products to throw them away or return them for a refund.

A separate Salmonella recall impacting 12 flavors of the popular chocolate brand Spring & Mulberry was also recently announced by the FDA, but appeared to be linked to a date supplier. It wasn't immediately clear if there was any connection to the California Dairies recall.

Another is a public health alert issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for headcheese over possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).

What Is Salmonella?

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As per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. It can be spread by food handlers who do not wash their hands and/or the surfaces and tools they use between food preparation steps. It can also happen when people consume uncooked and raw food. Salmonella can also spread from animals to people.

The FDA notes that people who have direct contact with certain animals, including poultry and reptiles, can spread the bacteria from the animal to food if hand washing hygiene is not practiced.

Pets, too, could spread the bacteria within the home environment if they eat food contaminated with Salmonella.

Common symptoms of Salmonella include

• diarrhea,
• fever,
• stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.

Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.