I wish Zach was here to answer this, but any of you use bee pollen as a supplement? Someone gave me a sample, and I'm reading some grand claims about its benefits. Looks like only weird herbalist sites promote it.
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Gym and fitness (37 Viewers)
- Thread starter HelterSkelter
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What is bee pollen? Bees don't produce pollen, they harvest it from plants and use it to produce honey. Just rub your face on some flowers and you'll presumably achieve the same thing 
Also:
Use as a health supplement
Bee pollen has been touted by herbalists as a treatment for a variety of medical conditions, but there is no scientific evidence to show that it is has any health benefits.[8] Bee pollen is safe for short term use, but side effects include allergic reaction (shortness of breath, hives, swelling, and anaphylaxis).[8][9] Bee pollen is not safe for pregnant women and should not be used during breastfeeding.[8] The Food and Drug Administration has warned against the use of some bee pollen products because they are adulterated with unapproved drugs including sibutramine and phenolphthalein.[10][11]
http://www.webmd.com/balance/bee-pollen-benefits-and-side-effects
Also:
Use as a health supplement
Bee pollen has been touted by herbalists as a treatment for a variety of medical conditions, but there is no scientific evidence to show that it is has any health benefits.[8] Bee pollen is safe for short term use, but side effects include allergic reaction (shortness of breath, hives, swelling, and anaphylaxis).[8][9] Bee pollen is not safe for pregnant women and should not be used during breastfeeding.[8] The Food and Drug Administration has warned against the use of some bee pollen products because they are adulterated with unapproved drugs including sibutramine and phenolphthalein.[10][11]
http://www.webmd.com/balance/bee-pollen-benefits-and-side-effects
what?I read the same thing Ford Prefect posted, but who knows excpet those that actually tried it?
You need to up your "realise" game. You are fallin' into the fitness/supplements trap of uneducated minds who wants to believe in anything just to improve their results. You should look up Kali Muscles' Hyphy Mud or maybe Mike Changs afterburn fuel, just your type of supplement.
http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21537
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1328803
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/beepollen.htm
Do you need more evidence or do you prefer to rely on ignorance?
It's quite impressive how people just want to believe in anything to look good, get thinner or be stronger.
It's all about effort in terms research, work load, your macros and persistence. The natural way of fitness, bodybuilding and powerlifting is the slow way.
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Awesome! Stronk shit.
http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21537
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1328803
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/beepollen.htm
Do you need more evidence or do you prefer to rely on ignorance?
It's quite impressive how people just want to believe in anything to look good, get thinner or be stronger.
It's all about effort in terms research, work load, your macros and persistence. The natural way of fitness, bodybuilding and powerlifting is the slow way.
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Awesome! Stronk shit.
Thanks. 
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There is far too much reliance in the fitness industry on supplements that have little to no evidence in favour of their efficacy. Considering the cost of these supplements and for the most part, a preponderance of short-term studies showing very little benefit compared to the claims made, it would be much wiser to focus on a healthy diet, with sufficient vitamin and mineral levels. This, alongside proper training, hard-work, periodization, and persistence, as you say, is the most effective way to achieve peak muscle growth/strength gains/ athletic performance.
On a side note. With most studies suggesting that 75-90% of people in northern climates (35deg North latitude or further if I recall correctly) being severely vitamin D deficient in the winter months, and with the preponderance of evidence linking vitamin D to muscle growth, skeletal strength, and athletic performance now... Making sure that one is supplementing Vitamin D3 in the winter months is essential to continued gains. More studies are needed to show just what appropriate levels of vitamin D supplement intake are, as the daily recommendation has recently been raised to 800IU per day in America and Canada, although the Endocrine society suggests 1500-2000, and other suggestions are closer to 4000-5000 IU to reach proper 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D levels. Our muscles have vitamin D receptors as does most of our skeletal tissue. Studies have shown that vitamin D acts directly on Muscle to increase Protein Synthesis. Our bodies have an upper intake limit before equilibrium is reached from sunlight absorption and synthesis in summer time of 10,000-15,000 IU, which takes about 20 minutes of full-body exposure for a fair-skinned person. Therefore, it seems to me, that 800IU a day in winter is a ludicrous recommendation and that the safe limit would be up near that summer-time absorption limit, considering there has never been a case of vitamin D toxicity in the blood from UVB creation. Hence my intake of 5000IU per day during the 6-8 months of the year here where Vitamin D is hard to get from sunlight. I get my 25 (OH)D blood level checked once per year in winter to make sure I'm at a minimum of 30 ng-mL, and hopefully closer to 50 which is what I seem to be during summertime each time without supplementing. If you're deficient to the point of being in that 15 ng-mL area, you will probably see significant performance (and health) boost by raising to 30...
Here's a link to some research on the subject. http://camilleherron.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/vitamindimprovesathleticperformance.pdf
And another one, that has separate links to other studies.
http://www.eatmoveimprove.com/2009/10/a-closer-look-at-vitamin-d/
- - - Updated - - -
There is far too much reliance in the fitness industry on supplements that have little to no evidence in favour of their efficacy. Considering the cost of these supplements and for the most part, a preponderance of short-term studies showing very little benefit compared to the claims made, it would be much wiser to focus on a healthy diet, with sufficient vitamin and mineral levels. This, alongside proper training, hard-work, periodization, and persistence, as you say, is the most effective way to achieve peak muscle growth/strength gains/ athletic performance.
On a side note. With most studies suggesting that 75-90% of people in northern climates (35deg North latitude or further if I recall correctly) being severely vitamin D deficient in the winter months, and with the preponderance of evidence linking vitamin D to muscle growth, skeletal strength, and athletic performance now... Making sure that one is supplementing Vitamin D3 in the winter months is essential to continued gains. More studies are needed to show just what appropriate levels of vitamin D supplement intake are, as the daily recommendation has recently been raised to 800IU per day in America and Canada, although the Endocrine society suggests 1500-2000, and other suggestions are closer to 4000-5000 IU to reach proper 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D levels. Our muscles have vitamin D receptors as does most of our skeletal tissue. Studies have shown that vitamin D acts directly on Muscle to increase Protein Synthesis. Our bodies have an upper intake limit before equilibrium is reached from sunlight absorption and synthesis in summer time of 10,000-15,000 IU, which takes about 20 minutes of full-body exposure for a fair-skinned person. Therefore, it seems to me, that 800IU a day in winter is a ludicrous recommendation and that the safe limit would be up near that summer-time absorption limit, considering there has never been a case of vitamin D toxicity in the blood from UVB creation. Hence my intake of 5000IU per day during the 6-8 months of the year here where Vitamin D is hard to get from sunlight. I get my 25 (OH)D blood level checked once per year in winter to make sure I'm at a minimum of 30 ng-mL, and hopefully closer to 50 which is what I seem to be during summertime each time without supplementing. If you're deficient to the point of being in that 15 ng-mL area, you will probably see significant performance (and health) boost by raising to 30...
Here's a link to some research on the subject. http://camilleherron.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/vitamindimprovesathleticperformance.pdf
And another one, that has separate links to other studies.
http://www.eatmoveimprove.com/2009/10/a-closer-look-at-vitamin-d/