Figs

Figs are such a funky fruit.  Their seeds and “flower” grow together into one!  They come in many different colors and are found year round as a dried fruit.  I would encourage you to eat only fresh figs.  Dried figs contain three times as much sugar!  Fresh figs are in season during the month of October, in Arizona.  They are wonderful to add to salads, desserts, or to just eat plain.

Figs are high in fiber and have been known to help aide the digestive tract.  They are also high in anti-oxidants which help combat degenerative illnesses, disease, and cancer.  Raw figs are high in potassium, manganese, vitamin K, vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, thiamine, vitamin A, and vitamin C! 

Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is truly a secret weapon!  Unless you are allergic or pregnant, proceed with caution.  It is a valuable apitherapeutic product greatly appreciated by natural medicine because of its potential medical and nutritional applications. (Komosinska-Vassev, Olczyk, Kaźmierczak, Mencner, & Olczyk, 2015)  Bee pollen has been used because it’s:

• antibacterial
• antifungal
• antiviral
• regulates and boosts immune system
• full of carotenoids and bioflavonoids
• increases energy metabolism
• its amino acids help regulate hormones
• natural analgesic, relieves pain
• natural tonic that helps reduce stress
• improves cerebral blood flow
• protects from heart diseases and brain strokes
• Bee pollen is cytotoxic against tumor cells

Pollen is quite a varied plant product rich in biologically active substances. 200 substances were found in the pollen grains from different plant species. In the group of basic chemical substances, there are proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids and fatty acids, phenolic compounds, enzymes, and coenzymes as well as vitamins and bioelements. (Komosinska-Vassev, et. al., 2015)

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References

Chung S., Park S., Yang C.H. Unsaturated fatty acids bind Myc-Max transcription factor and inhibit Myc-Max-DNA complex formation. Cancer Lett. 2002;188:153–162. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3835(02)00455-X.

Komosinska-Vassev, K., Olczyk, P., Kaźmierczak, J., Mencner, L., & Olczyk, K. (2015). Bee Pollen: Chemical Composition and Therapeutic Application. Retrieved October 31, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377380/

Salles, J., Cardinault, N., Patrac, V., Berry, A., Giraudet, C., Collin, M., . . . Walrand, S. (2014). Bee Pollen Improves Muscle Protein and Energy Metabolism in Malnourished Old Rats through Interfering with the Mtor Signaling Pathway and Mitochondrial Activity. Retrieved October 31, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4276980/

Samochowiec L., Wójcicki J. Effect of pollen on serum and liver lipids in rats fed on a high-lipid diet. Herba Polonica. 1981;27:p. 333.