Is Bee Pollen Safe During Pregnancy?

Bee pollen may be used with caution since it can be beneficial and damaging at times.

Reviewed by Reda Elmardi, RD Reda Elmardi Reda ElmardiRD MomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: DieteticsExperience: 10 years
Written by , B.Tech Ria Saha B.Tech Follow MomJunction on LinkedinMomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Pregnancy and Baby FoodExperience: 9 years
Edited by , M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Swati Patwal M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Food, Nutrition and HealthExperience: 10 years
Fact-checked by , M.Pharm, PhD Dr. Joyani Das M.Pharm, PhD Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Pharma, Health and WellnessExperience: 3.5 years
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A Pregnant Woman Thinking To Have Bee Pollen

Image: Shutterstock

If you are thinking of consuming bee pollen during pregnancy, it is important to know its benefits and side effects. Bee pollen is a natural substance collected by bees from the male parts of flowers. It is full of nutrients and rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, and antioxidants, making it a popular supplement for various health benefits. Bee pollen is highly nutritious and can be added to foods as toppings. It can benefit pregnant women by reducing the risk of preeclampsia and fetal developmental problems, besides boosting immunity.

However, it may also induce allergic reactions and lead to other adverse outcomes. Hence, a doctor’s consultation is necessary before consuming any supplements or special foods during pregnancy.

Continue reading to know more about bee pollen consumption during pregnancy, including its benefits and whether it is safe.

In This Article

1. Reduces The Risk Of Hypertension:

Bee pollen helps to purify the blood and aid the supply of oxygen to the brain cells. It reduces the risk of high blood pressure or hypertension in women throughout the pregnancy. This is particularly crucial as hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) are common and are the leading causes of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. The overall prevalence of HDP during the combined period of 2017-2019 was 14.6%, as per a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Hypertension can spell danger for both the mother and the baby in her womb. Bee pollen also reduces pregnancy blues like stress and fatigue.

protip_icon Health fact
Bee pollen is believed to help lower cholesterol, enhance metabolism, and reduce depression and bleeding issues (4).

2. Overcomes Development Problems:

Bee pollen during pregnancy can overcome developmental issues

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Bee pollen contains high amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other necessary compounds for fetal development. Therefore, bee pollen can help overcome development problems in the fetus. It boosts the development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus. These trace elements are necessary for baby development, but they can also help prevent congenital disabilities if taken before conception.

3. Prevents Nutrient Deficiencies:

One of the major benefits of consuming bee pollen for pregnant women is that it keeps mineral and vitamin deficiencies at bay and improves maternal nutrition. Bee pollen is rich in vitamins, proteins, minerals, and amino acids, which help in the growth and development of the baby.

4. Strengthens The Immune System:

The high levels of antioxidants in bee pollen act as excellent immune system boosters and strengthen the mother’s immune system without affecting the development of the fetus. It protects pregnant women from cold, flu, and other diseases.

5. Benefits The Body During Pregnancy:

The rich nutritional profile makes bee pollen beneficial for the overall progression of pregnancy

Image: Shutterstock

The rich nutritional profile makes bee pollen beneficial for the overall progression of pregnancy. Its anti-inflammatory properties may benefit the health of women with pre-existing inflammatory conditions, such as lupus. Bee pollen may also help prevent miscarriage and premature birth by strengthening the uterine muscles and preventing premature contractions.

Precautions:

Potential Allergic Reaction:

Some of the side effects of Bee pollen include allergic reactions, gastrointestinal problems, and neurological problems. Allergic reactions may manifest in the form of nausea, itching, breathlessness, and difficulty in swallowing. These side effects are mild and do not affect everyone. But if you experience any of these side effects, then stop consuming Bee pollen immediately and seek medical help. Women with a family history of allergies should avoid taking Bee pollen. You should avoid giving Bee pollen to children who are less than a year old as it can cause botulism, a dangerous paralytic illness.

Talk To A Doctor:

Consult your doctor before taking bee pollen during pregnancy

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Although Bee pollen is a natural substance, and you might have heard people taking Bee pollen for fertility or other health reasons, you must consult your doctor before using it during pregnancy. Your doctor will check your medical history to find out if you are prone to allergies. Expecting mothers can safely use cream and lotions that contain Bee pollen.

Key Pointers

  • Bee pollen can reduce the risk of hypertension and pregnancy-related stress and tiredness.
  • It contains essential elements for fetal growth and development, such as minerals, protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates.
  • Bee pollen can improve the immune system and protect against nutrient deficiencies.
  • A healthy nutritional profile of bee pollen can benefit the overall course of pregnancy.
  • Consult a doctor before consuming bee pollen, as it may result in minor allergic responses, digestive issues, and neurological problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are there any risks associated with consuming bee pollen during pregnancy?

Yes, consuming excess bee pollen during pregnancy may stimulate the uterus, leading to premature labor or potential harm to the pregnancy (1).

2. Can bee pollen interact with other medications or treatments taken during pregnancy?

Yes, bee pollen may interact with warfarin during pregnancy, increasing the risk of bruising or bleeding (1).

3. Are there any alternative natural remedies that pregnant women can use instead of bee pollen?

Brewer’s yeast, which has a similar protein content to bee pollen and is rich in vitamins, is often used as a substitute for bee pollen (2). It also shares some of the same benefits of bee pollen, such as reducing the risks of hypertension and protecting against colds, flu, and other diseases (3).

Consuming bee pollen during pregnancy could be safe and beneficial, provided you take care of certain precautions. The bee pollen is nutrient-rich and may prevent the risk of high blood pressure and fetal abnormalities in pregnancy. However, certain toxic components and impurities could pose a risk of adverse reactions and health issues in the expectant mother and her unborn. Therefore, it is important to avoid products that contain pesticides, herbicides, or toxic metals and choose high-quality bee pollen while purchasing. Nevertheless, it is crucial to take your doctor’s opinion about the safety of taking bee pollen while pregnant.

Infographic: Potential Advantages Of Consuming Bee Pollen In Pregnancy

During pregnancy, most women are concerned about whether or not the foods they eat can harm their unborn babies. However, bee pollen is considered a healthy food and a cure for several ailments. Read this infographic to learn about its various benefits for pregnant women.

potential health benefits of bee pollen for expectant mothers (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Is Bee Pollen Safe During Pregnancy?

Bee Pollen during Pregnancy_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Bee Pollen.
    https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/78.html
  2. Pollen Substitutes and Supplements
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/animal-and-crops/animal-production/bee-assets/api_fs411.pdf
  3. Brewer’s yeast.
    https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/brewers-yeast#:~:text=Brewer’s%20yeast%20is%20a%20rich
  4. Bee Pollen.
    https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=BeePollen

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Reda Elmardi
Reda ElmardiRD
Reda Elmardi is a registered dietician, certified nutritionist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist trainer. The 32-year-old is a certified nutritionist from the UNC's Online MPH with Nutrition concentration, and has around ten years of experience.

Read full bio of Reda Elmardi
Ria Saha
Ria SahaB.Tech
Ria is a techie-turned-writer and writes articles on health, with special emphasis on nutrition. She did her B.Tech from West Bengal University of Technology and was previously associated with IBM as SAP ABAP technical consultant.

Read full bio of Ria Saha
Swati Patwal
Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA
Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal
Dr. Joyani Das
Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD
Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer.

Read full bio of Dr. Joyani Das
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