All About Flavonoids
Eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is a great way to get your daily dose of flavonoids, which have been shown to have a variety of health benefits!
What are Flavonoids?
They are various compounds found naturally in many colorful fruits and vegetables; they provide their pigmentation.
They are well known for their powerful anti-inflammatory & antioxidant effects that help your body ward off everyday toxin; thus, strengthening your immunity
These dietary antioxidants can prevent the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia.
6 Types of Flavonoids:
Flavanols - Onions, kale, grapes, tea, peaches, berries, tomatoes, lettuce, scallions & broccoli.
Flavan-3-ols - Cocoa & chocolate products, blueberries, strawberries, apples, purple and red grapes, as well as green, oolong & white tea.
Flavones - Parsley, red pepper, celery, chamomile & peppermint
Flavanones - Lemon, lime, orange & grapefruit
Isoflavones – Soybeans, soy products & fava beans
Anthocyanins - Red cabbage, red and purple grapes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries & blackberries
Medical Reviews:
Cancer prevention: A published review of all flavonoid studies over eleven years concluded that a diet rich in flavonoids leads to a reduced risk of several different cancers. These studies indicate the antioxidant activity of flavonoids protect against breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. It’s important to note that these studies suggest that different flavonoids have a protective effect against specific cancer types. For example, anthocyanidins decrease lung cancer risk, while flavanols reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, it’s best to consume various plant food sources to obtain different flavonoid subtypes.
Management of chronic pain and inflammation: Another medical review evaluated the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of flavonoids, as demonstrated in several studies. Studies have shown that flavonoids reduce the cellular response to pain. Researchers believe flavonoids could be used medicinally to manage chronic pain and treat inflammatory diseases.
Treatment for viral infections: Flavonoids have proven antibacterial and antiviral effects. Numerous laboratory studies have shown that certain flavonoids prevent cell replication of H1N1 flu, HIV, SARS, and RSV viruses. Further research is needed to determine how flavonoids work in the body against viruses, and whether they could be an effective preventative measure.
References:
"A published review of all flavonoid studies over eleven years concluded that a diet rich in flavonoids leads to a reduced risk of several different cancers." (Boeing, et al., 2009).
"Another medical review evaluated the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of flavonoids, as demonstrated in several studies." (Chung, et al., 2018).
"Numerous laboratory studies have shown that certain flavonoids prevent cell replication of H1N1 flu, HIV, SARS, and RSV viruses." (Gupta, et al., 2017).
Stéphanie