I flavonoids: bioflavonoids, are compounds that are found naturally in fruits and vegetables; they can also be found in other products such as: wine, chocolate and you.
there 6 types of flavonoids and each of these is broken down by the body differently.
Flavonoids are rich in antioxidant activity e they help the body reject toxins; including more flavonoids in the diet is a way to help the body to stay healthy and reduce the risk of some chronic diseases.
Index
What foods contain flavonoids?
Many plant products contain food flavonoids; here are the six subtypes of flavonoids and the foods that contain them:
- FlavanolsKnown for their antioxidant properties, these compounds help manage the symptoms of cardiovascular disease and are found in: onions, cabbage, grapes and red wine, tea, peaches, red fruits, lettuce, broccoli.
- Flavan-3-oilsFoods that contain them are full of nutrients: white, green and black tea, apples, blueberries, strawberries and cocoa.
- Flavones: they are the pigments in blue and white flowering plants; they work as natural pesticides and are found in: parsley, red peppers, celery, chamomile, peppermint.
- Flavanones: they have anti-inflammatory properties and help manage weight and cholesterol; found in: lemons, oranges and grapefruits.
- Isoflavonoids: they help maintain the balance between hormones in the body and are found in: soy, derivatives of soy and broad beans.
- Anthocyanins: they are natural pigments that damage the red, purple and blue colors to the flowers; found in the outer skin of the berries of red and purple grapes, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries.
What do flavonoids do?
- They help regulate cellular activity and fight free radicals, which cause oxidative stress in the body; they help the body function more efficiently by protecting it from toxins and everyday stressors.
- They are also powerful antioxidant agents; these help the body fight off potentially harmful molecules that can be introduced. Our body naturally produces antioxidants, but we can also find them in many fruits and vegetables, dark chocolate and legumes.
- They act against the inflammatory processes of the organism; inflammation is the body's immune response to allergens, germs, toxins, and irritants. These plant compounds repel the inflammatory reaction in order to reduce symptoms.
What are the health benefits?
Each of these compounds helps the body differently:
- High pressure: Including a lot of flavonoids in the diet can help manage high blood pressure problems; in fact, at least 5 subtypes of flavonoids have a demonstrable effect on lowering blood pressure.
- Risk of heart attack and stroke: the flavonides found in tea, coffee and soy can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
- Type 2 diabetes: a high intake of flavonoids correlates with a lower risk of developing diabetes type 2.
- Cancer drugs: the anti-inflammatory properties of flavonoids have stimulated research on the potential anticancer capacities of these compounds; including foods with flavonoids and maintaining a healthy diet could reduce the risk of contracting certain types of cancer.
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