The health benefits of flavonoids as anti-oxidants

Information on Flavonoids

Flavonoids are certain types of chemical compounds which can be found in most fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids are also contained in beer, tea and red wine. They are very beneficial for the overall health of the human beings because they are known for their potent antioxidant properties. Flavonoids are very efficient in fighting off the free radicals and reducing the severity and amount of damage they cause inside the human body on the cellular level. Free radicals are actually by-products of various biochemical reactions inside the body but they are very harmful because they damage the cellular structures and they may lead to the development of various severe medical conditions and diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s disease, cancers, aging processes, degenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and numerous others. The most popular nutrients with certain antioxidant properties are definitely vitamin E and vitamin C. they require certain supplies of micro nutrients in order to function properly. Flavonoids are some of those micro nutrients. There are more than 4000 different types of flavonoids known to man, and they may also come in handy in boosting the immune system and relieving various different sorts of inflammatory conditions. It is very easy to incorporate flavonoids into anyone’s daily diet because they are present in numerous different types of food items. A well balanced diet commonly provides the human body with 800 milligrams of flavonoids each day.

Health Benefits of Flavonoids

Regular consumption of flavonoids reduces the risk of stroke, heart diseases, hardening of the arteries and the coronary heart disease. These medical conditions are among the most common causes of mortality in the Western world. The most potent flavonoid is the one known by the name of quercetin. It can be found in most vegetables as well as billberries, grapes, pears and apples. Onion is probably the best known source of quercetin. Catechin polyphenols can be found in red wine, green tea and black tea. Some flavonoids such as xanthohumol and isoxanthohumol may also be found in beer as well. The problem with beers is that they all contain significant amounts of calories. Moderate consumption of beer may provide certain health benefits. Flavonoids are very efficient when it comes to decreasing the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood and increasing the levels of good cholesterol in the blood at the same time. Flavonoids may be obtained by consuming the aforementioned food items or by using certain types of nutritional supplements.