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 Nanda who later became my research supervisor. I opted to characterize and utilize the bee pollen in food products as a part of my Ph.D. research work.
Pollen is a very tiny
structure like dust or powder,
found in the seed-producing
plants. Honeybees in search of
food or nectar visit the flowers
where thousands of pollen
particles get attached to a bee’s
body. When, the bee cleans
her body using forelegs, minute
pollen grains owing to the salive or the nectar get stuck to each other to form a pellet. This
Ms. Mamta Thakur || 173
so-formed bee pollen is different from the wind pollen because it is a pellet of a size 1.4-4 mm and contains nectar, unlike the later. Honeybee carries the pollen pellet using her hind legs to the beehive where a trap is fixed at the entrance by beekeepers. Pollen drops from the hind legs and collects in the lower chamber of the trap (Fig. 1). This is important to mention here that the collection of bee pollen is done twice in a week,
which does not affect the honeybees’ nutrition and health.
   The struggle of a honeybee throughout her life for food and survival is very inspirational for me. How hardworking they are! I was curious to know more about honeybees, then, started to research on honeybee’s
life, honey preparation, and beekeeping practices.
   Fig 1: The collection process of bee pollen by honeybees
Bee pollen is considered as “dust of life” and usually consumed as fresh or dried. It contains carbohydrates (13-55%), proteins (10-40%), lipids (1-10%), crude fibre (0.3- 20%) and ash content (2-6%), in addition, to vitamins mainly B-complex, essential minerals, and health-promoting compounds like polyphenols. It is acclaimed for its excellent
nutrition and therapeutic properties, and currently, commercially consumed as a dietary supplement. It has been recognized by law as a food additive in Argentina, Brazil, and Switzerland where its quality standards have been officially instituted. Bee pollen is the fingerprintofplantsfromwhereitiscollected. It is said to be mono-floral if pollen is collected
















































































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