Bee Pollen: What Are the Benefits and Side Effects?

Written by Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD, Kate Rope
Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on August 06, 2025
4 min read

For years, herbalists have touted bee pollen as a highly nutritious food. They've even claimed it can cure some health conditions. Recently, internet influencers have been buzzing about what they call “nature’s multivitamin.” Yet after years of research, scientists still cannot confirm that bee pollen has significant health benefits. But it does have a few potential side effects, including a severe allergic reaction.

Here’s what you should know about bee pollen.

Bee pollen collects on the bodies of bees as they fly from one flower to another. Bee pollen may also include bee saliva because they use their saliva to pack the pollen into easier-to-store balls. It contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and protein.

Bee pollen is not the same as honey — it’s just an ingredient in natural honey, which is important to know when it comes to potential health benefits. Honey also contains a combination of different pollen collected as bees travel from flower to flower, sugars (carbohydrates) that feed the good bacteria in your gut, and amino acids (which are the building blocks of protein).

“Honey has been used for centuries,” says Susan Arentz, PhD, editor-in-chief of Advances in Integrative Medicine and Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine. “So there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting its use.”

Bee pollen is available at many health food stores. You may find bee pollen in other natural dietary supplements, as well as in skin softening products used for babies’ diaper rash or eczema. Some people may also recommend using bee pollen for alcoholism, asthma, allergies, health maintenance, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), enlarged prostate, or stomach problems. It’s also used as an energy tonic. But there is no proof that it helps with these conditions. 

The many other uses of bee pollen — from increasing strength to slowing aging — are largely unstudied. Before you take any natural product for a health condition, check with your doctor.

As a food, bee pollen does at least seem to be nutritious. It’s a good source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates.

At this point, medical research has not shown that bee pollen works for most of the health concerns it’s said to help. But a few studies have been promising. For example, one small study found evidence that bee pollen might ease some side effects of radiation therapy for cancer.

But more research needs to be done before it’s known whether bee pollen truly helps with those conditions.

Bee pollen benefits for women

One small study (46 women) found that bee pollen may reduce menopause symptoms such as hot flashes in women receiving antihormonal treatment for breast cancer. Another found that a product containing bee pollen (and several other ingredients) seemed to ease PMS symptoms.

Bee pollen benefits for men

Some studies looked at an extract of bee pollen and found some benefits in men with chronic prostatitis or an enlarged prostate.

Since bee pollen is an unproven treatment, there is no standard dose. Ask your doctor for advice.

There are no food sources of bee pollen besides the pollen itself.

If you plan to take bee pollen supplements, you should first discuss them with your medical provider.

There have not been many studies showing significant side effects of bee pollen, but there have also not been many high-quality studies on bee pollen safety. That lack of evidence does not mean it is safe; it means the research hasn’t been done. 

Bee pollen (like ragweed or other plants, depending on where the bee pollen comes from) can cause a serious allergic reaction, including itching, redness, shortness of breath, hives, swelling, and even anaphylaxis.

Arentz says you need to consider what effective treatments you might be missing out on by choosing something that has not been proven to help your condition. “It’s really important to know that something’s not going to work as much as it’s going to work,” says Arentz, “because of, not just overspending, but also losing the opportunity to try something that does actually work.”

Bee pollen is not safe for children or pregnant women. Women should also avoid using bee pollen if they are breastfeeding.

Bee pollen side effects

Bee pollen may cause increased bleeding if taken with certain blood thinners such as warfarin. Check with your doctor before taking bee pollen if you take any medications, over-the-counter medicines, or herbals.

There is no quality scientific evidence suggesting that bee pollen can treat or prevent any significant medical condition. Because pollen is a common allergen, there is a risk of a serious allergic reaction for anyone who takes it. Children should not be given bee pollen. It’s important to talk with your doctor before taking bee pollen.

Is bee pollen the same as honey?

No, bee pollen is not the same as honey. It is one of several ingredients in honey, which also contains sugars and amino acids.

Is bee pollen good for growing breasts?

No. Despite what internet influencers may say, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that bee pollen helps grow breasts. 

Who should not eat bee pollen?

Children and anyone who is allergic to pollen should not eat bee pollen, due to the risk of a severe allergic reaction.