The Pretty Feed

View Original

Matcha and Bee Pollen Skin Benefits Demystified and How to Eat Them!

There’s been a lot of ‘buzz’ about bee pollen and matcha.  As always, some of it’s true and some of it’s not. No food or product is going to be a magical cure, but bee pollen and matcha certainly have some incredible qualities and we highly recommend adding them to your diet. 

Make sure you buy your matcha powder and bee pollen from a trusted local store (see our suggestions at the end of this post).  Quality is important for nutritional value and we recommend opting for organic.  These ingredients are pricey, but last a long time since you only use very small quantities at a time.  

Before we explain why these are fantastic for your health and skin, here is a delicious smoothie recipe that incorporates both of these superfoods. 

No 'Matcha' Smoothie Ingredients 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups lightly packed baby spinach

  • 4 teaspoons roughly chopped fresh ginger

  • 2 frozen bananas

  • ½ Avocado

  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons matcha powder

  • 1 ½ cups coconut water

  • Dash of cinnamon

  • 1 tablespoon bee pollen

  • Optional: Chia seeds, nuts (any kind), flax seed

  • Serve over ice cubes if you like (or blend them in if you want a thinner smoothie)

Bee Pollen

So what is bee pollen anyways?  Well, bee pollen is the food of the young bees, and it is extremely nutrient dense.  Bee pollen is extremely nutrient rich, carrying some of the healthiest anti-oxidants and proteins for your skin such as zinc and silica.  Here are some interesting claims/facts from trusted sources.

Treats and Prevents Acne

'According to Dr. M. Esperrois of the French Institute of Chemistry, bee pollen has a natural antibiotic effect that suppresses acne. It also contains high concentrations of nucleic acids, the building blocks of RNA and DNA. The acids help rejuvenate acne-damaged skin by reducing inflammation and increasing cell growth and turnover.'

Prevents aging

Not only does it prolong youthfulness by providing long-lasting energy, it also prevents and reverses physical signs of aging.  “Known for years as a nutritional superfood that boosts energy and eliminates allergies, bee pollen has now emerged as a nutrient dense 'skinfood' that reduces wrinkles, increases firmness and heals stubborn skin conditions” (Read more: Bee Pollen Buzz) 

Nutrient dense

Bee pollen is richer in proteins than any animal source. It contains more amino acids than beef, eggs, or cheese of equal weight. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used directly by the body. (Read more: Food Matters) 

Matcha

Matcha is often known as a replacement for caffeine.  While it does have energy boosting qualities, it also has a range of other health benefits of interest to us.  Specifically, it can help repair damage to your skin from within.   We all known green tea is packed with antioxidants, so think of matcha as the concentrated version of that. 

Where to buy?

If you don't have a local food store you trust, we would suggest amazon.  Read reviews and do some research.  Here are some of our go to picks. 

This organic bee pollen is pricey but worth it.  23 reviews, 5 stars! 

An Amazon bestseller with 642 reviews and a 4.7 star rating.