When you think of pollen, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps allergies? While you may be correct, it is an uncommon fact that pollen can sometimes be used for various health benefits. One of the most popular types of pollen used to improve health is pine pollen. When properly sourced, pine pollen can be used in various types of health supplements. However, not all pine pollen supplements are created equal.
To help you better understand the benefits of pine pollen and how it can benefit your health, we’re going to cover a lot of ground in this article. But first things first… let’s dive into precisely what pine pollen is.
What is Pine Pollen?
Pine pollen comes from many different species of pine trees. This powdery substance is collected from the grains that come out of the male part of the various pine tree species.
It can then be used and included in many different dietary and health supplements. It is common to find pine pollen supplements in the form of capsules and powder, according to your preferred method of ingestion.
While pine pollen has been used in traditional medicine for quite some time, it has been gaining popularity among men who are looking to help boost their testosterone levels.
Pine pollen is often called a “superfood” or “nutritional powerhouse,” as it is one of the best sources of various vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids.
Next, let’s dig a little deep and learn more about the benefits of pine pollen and pine pollen supplements. We will also look at the difference between cracked and non-cracked pine pollen and which one is superior to the other.
The Benefits of Pine Pollen
Pine pollen has been used for quite a long time for its various health-related benefits. It consists of protein, carbs, fatty acids, vitamins (such as vitamins and vitamin E), and minerals (such as calcium and magnesium).
Here are some of the main benefits of using pine pollen and pine pollen supplements.
Anti-Aging Properties
According to a study, it was investigated that pine pollen has anti-aging effects in human cells and mice.
The study concluded that pine pollen slows down the process of aging and can reduce age-related issues in humans.
Reduces Inflammation
Antioxidants are compounds that slow down or prevent damage to cells caused due to molecules known as free radicals. Our bodies are constantly battling free radicals and oxidation due to environmental conditions, the food we eat, activities levels, and many other reasons. Since antioxidants help prevent aging and diseases like cancer, there have been studies done that have looked at the antioxidant properties of pine pollen.
In some studies, it was shown that pine pollen consists of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In another study conducted in mice, it was seen that pine pollen could be beneficial in treating chronic inflammatory issues such as arthritis. More research is needed to truly get a better understanding of how it can play a role in preventing or helping manage diseases that stem from both acute and chronic inflammation.
Increases Testosterone
Testosterone production has been traced back to the use of pine pollen. It has been estimated that 10 grams of pollen have 0.8 micrograms of testosterone.
While the increase isn’t about to turn you into a bodybuilder anytime soon, the fact that pine pollen has shown improvements in testosterone levels is a fantastic finding. Therefore, men who are over the age of 30 and experiencing a drop in testosterone may find pine pollen a way to help increase their levels naturally.
Prevention of Diseases
Onne study showed how pine pollen affects chronic arthritis in mice. Researchers found that the use of pine pollen consumption had the ability to lower arthritis symptoms in mice.
In another study of cultured liver cancer cells, it was found that a carbohydrate that came from pine pollen could help stop the cells in their division cycle.
Overall, pine pollen has been found to help boost the immune system thanks to its natural superfood properties.
Cracked vs. Non-Cracked Pine Pollen
There are two types of pine pollen available in the market. Pine pollen harvested from the US and BC, Canada is of extremely high quality compared to extracts. Wild, raw, and live pine pollen is more expensive to get when compared to the cracked-cell extracts from places such as China. That said, to get a good quality pine pollen product, you will have to pay a higher price when compared to an extract from China. In the end, the added benefits of a wild, raw, and live pine pollen are well worth the price.
You may find a lot of pine pollen suppliers on the web, and while it may have quirky terms like “wild-harvested” or “mountain harvested” tagged along with it, they are all selling the same product — and it all basically comes from China.
On the other hand, pine pollen harvest from Lodgepole, Ponderosa, and Ghost Pine variants are the most sought-after forms of pine pollen, and people should ensure they look for sources that are not heated, extracted, or cracked-cell.
The pine pollen grain consists of two cell wall layers. The first one is known as the endospore, which is a thin, delicate wall of unaltered cellulose. The second one is called the exine, which is more robust. According to studies, it has been estimated that we take in around 50-60% of raw pine pollen that we consume.
There is no proof of the difference in human digestion of the cracked and non-cracked live pine pollen cells, but there are studies that have been done in test tubes. What these studies have shown is that after cracking the live pine pollen cells, you get a slight increase in the solubility of nutrients.
Cracking the pine pollen’s cell wall would expose light-sensitive brassinosteroids and other growth-promoting ingredients such as gibberellins and abscisic acid to the air. Considering that, the small increased digestibility of the nutrients present in the cracked cells is offset by the oxidation that happens due to the direct result of exposing the vital nutrients to the harmful elements.
In a study of working with raw, wild Canadian pine pollen and cracked cell Himalayan pine pollen, it was attested that the Himalayan pine pollen took a brownish color in tinctures, which is proof of oxidation, and hence it was determined that there was a loss of key nutrients because of it.
Why Should You Avoid Cracked-Cell Pine Pollen?
Firstly, the ground drying method, which is common to the making of Masson pine, entails repeated turnover of the pine pollen buds. This method cracked the bud material, some tiny enough to be mixed in with the pollen. Cracking the pine pollen cell wall transforms the uniform consistency of the pine pollen and can mask residual plant impurities.
Due to the powder’s airborne characteristic when packaging the product, there tends to be an unavoidable 10% loss of product.
High-Quality Pine Pollen Supplements
Adding pine pollen supplements to your everyday health and supplement regimen is a great idea to not only prolong and improve health but also help slow down the aging process and the unfortunate side effects such as a decline in testosterone levels as well as increased inflammation.
Being that not all pine pollen and pine pollen supplements are created equal, Holistic Bin searched high and low and left no rock unturned in order to source the highest quality pine pollen. The Holistic Bin Wild-Harvested Canadian Lodgepole Golden Pine Pollen powder is one of the most sought-after pine pollen supplements on the market.
The Holistic Bin Wild-Harvested Canadian Lodgepole Golden Pine Pollen powder is sustainably sourced from the remote British Columbia wilderness. It is gluten-free, certified organic, plant-based, vegan-friendly, kosher, and contains no additives. This specific pine pollen powder is an excellent source of vitamin D3 and is made up of around 30% protein. This specific raw and live pine pollen can also increase levels of DHEA, testosterone, AB acid, glutathione, SOD, MSM, and L-dopa.
If you’re looking for a pine pollen supplement that can improve health and help you look and feel your best, look no further than Holistic Bin Wild-Harvested Canadian Lodgepole Golden Pine Pollen powder.