“..even the insects in my path are not loafers, but have their special errands”.
~ Henry David Thoreau

Bee Pollen Smoothie

Last week, we promised you a recipe to help you beat your seasonal allergies. If you also happen to have food allergies (which we will actually be touching on next week), fear not! At the end of this recipe, we’ll give you some easy substitution options to suit your diet.

Bee’s Knees Flax Smoothie Recipe

  • 1 cup frozen fruit *We prefer strawberries and peaches, preferably with no added sugar.
  • 1/2 cup light vanilla almond milk
  • 1 cup kefir yogurt *We prefer original, unflavored because it contains less sugar, but feel free to experiment with different flavors!
  • 1 teaspoon LOCAL bee pollen *If you have severe allergies, start with less and gradually work your way up.
  • 2 tablespoons flax meal or flaxseed oil

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until it reaches the desired texture. If the smoothie is too thick, slowly add in more liquid to thin it out. Then drink up!

Tips and Exchanges:

  • If you prefer fresh fruit over frozen, feel free to use that! Keep in mind that it may change the texture a bit. If you like your smoothies more frothy, you can add some ice to your fresh fruit smoothie.
  • If you have a nut allergy, obviously you don’t want to use almond milk. You can replace it with actual milk, soy milk, or coconut milk (double check with your doctor before consuming coconut. Some people with nut allergies have been known to have allergic reactions to coconut as well). If you can’t use any of these, use juice instead.
  • If you are lactose intolerant, you can replace the kefir with soy or coconut yogurt.
    If you don’t want to try the bee pollen (it’s basically tasteless, I promise!), you can use 2 tablespoons of local, unfiltered honey instead.
  • Where does one purchase bee pollen? You can typically find it at a health food (Harry’s or Whole Foods) store or local farmer’s market. I personally buy mine at my local Kroger. They carry a brand in their health food section called Blue Ridge Honey Company.
  • Why flax? Flax doesn’t actually have much to do with allergies, but I make it a habit to add it to almost any smoothie I make. It contains healthy fats and has been known to act as a mood elevator!

Now, to answer the question, “How will this help my allergies?” Research has shown that a daily dose of local bee pollen or local honey may help your body develop somewhat of an immunity to the allergens. This is because the bees involved in collecting the pollen and making the honey most likely have landed on the offending flowers and plants that contain common allergens. This theory could be compared to the desensitization therapy used in the medical field. This is an established medical treatment where the patient receives diluted, but escalating, doses of an allergen over a period of time. This process familiarizes the patient’s immune system with the congesting culprit, with the hope that the immune system will, over time, stop overreacting to the allergen’s presence. This is why it needs to be local. If you live in Georgia and buy honey that was made in Texas, it is most likely that pollen did not come from the same type of plants you would find in Georgia, and the result would not be the same.

Have you ever tried using local honey or bee pollen to rid yourself of pesky seasonal allergies? What were your results? Or better yet, do you have any recipes to share? We would love to here from you! Comment below, email us, or visit our Facebook page!

Thank you for visiting. We at Vinings Massage wish you wellness and a sniffle-free Spring!