I'm talking about one of nature's greatest gifts that is being given to us RIGHT NOW! Look around your neighborhood or on your next drive or hike for a low-to-the-ground pine tree (you know, the evergreens with the long, skinny needles). Notice the bright yellow/orange catkins or seedlings at the end of each branch. Now flick it with your finger and watch for the cloud of yellow dust. You've just found one of the world's best superfoods. You are a wild food forager!
Now, quickly grab a dry glass container with a lid. I'll explain why in a minute but -we have to ask fast before this year's season ends and we have to wait another 12 months to cash in. Pick or cut the catkins from the end of the branches and place them in your glass jar. Notice the yellow powder that collects in the bottom of the container. This is the good stuff!
Pine pollen is basically the pine tree's reproductive system. Male catkins spread this yellow pollen (ever had your car dusted with yellow stuff in the spring?). This dust, or pollen, sustains the pine population. It also happens to be a nutrient dense superfood that is adaptogenic, meaning if consumed regularly it can identify areas of distress in your body and help treat. Not only is it highly medicinal but loaded with a host of nutrients including vitamins A B-Carotene, B1, B2, B3, B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Phosphorous, Potassium, Selenium, Silicon, Sodium, and Zinc. Additionally, it contains over 20 amino acids making it a complete protein.
You sure don't find all that on a nutrition label - especially for free! If you're wondering what all this means, just think of pine pollen as nature's anti-inflammatory, immunity booster reduce, pain reliever, endlarged prostate reducer, cholesterol aid, anti-arthritic and anti-tumor wonder food.
Additionally, pine pollen is a natural source of testosterone. As an androgen containing sterols (plant steroids), this pollen is able to raise your testosterone and balance estrogen levels in your blood. With the very high estrogen levels in our public water and modern food system (thanks to soy fillers, birth control traces in our drinking water, etc), a natural testosterone booster and hormone regulator can be of huge benefit to both males and females.
Balanced and normal testosterone levels can increase libido and assist with the body's ability to build muscle. How about that? Whoever thought we could get so turned on over yellow dust from a pine tree!?! The list of benefits goes on and on but I figured I would leave it with increased sex drive and big muscles.
So you've decided you want what the pine tree has to offer. Now what? Well, you can leave it in powder form as it falls off the catkins in your glass jar. You can capsule it or just add it to your morning smoothie, or put it in tincture form. This is how we do it in our house and it is really very simple. Just buy some organic vodka (available at most liquor stores or specialty groceries), pour into your glass jar with your catkins and let sit for a few weeks. Then transfer to tincture bottles. 1-2 times per day, put a couple drops under your tongue. How simple and inexpensive as that?
Here is the deal, though. You have to act NOW! Pine pollen season is short-lived. Just a couple weeks per year. Pollen is currently out right now at our house. Higher elevations seem to be a bit behind so if you've missed it around your home, just plan a hike in late May or early June and you may still be able to find some. Just don't forget your glass jar.
If you've missed the season altogether or just don't know what to look for, let me know as we collected extra just for that reason.
Happy Pine Pollen Season!
