In
a meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Nutrition,
researchers found that there was a relative risk reduction of cardiovascular
disease of 11% for anthocyanidins, 10% for proanthocyanidins, 12% for flavones,
12% for flavanones, 13% for flavan-3-ols as well as 5% for flavonol
for every 10 mg per day increment of flavonol intake.
In fact, all these belong to the flavonoid group which contains isoflavones, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, flavanols and flavanones. Within each fall hundreds, and sometimes thousands of different flavonoids. For example, flavonols include quercetin, rutin, and hesperidin, while flavones include apigenin and luteolin.
Most flavonoids function in the human body as antioxidants to help neutralize overly reactive oxygen-containing molecules and prevent these overly reactive molecules from damaging parts of cells. In some cases, flavonoids can act directly as antibiotics by disrupting the function of microorganisms like viruses or bacteria. The antiviral function of flavonoids has been demonstrated with the HIV virus.
Besides playing a cardio-protective role, flavonoids also play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:
Flavonoids are found widely in fruits and vegetables—often as the pigments that give these foods their distinctive colors—and in other foods such as tea, coffee, wine and chocolate.
However, heat, degree of acidity (pH), and degree of processing can have a dramatic impact on the flavonoid content of food. And so next time when you prepare your meal, don’t overcook vegetables.
In fact, all these belong to the flavonoid group which contains isoflavones, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, flavanols and flavanones. Within each fall hundreds, and sometimes thousands of different flavonoids. For example, flavonols include quercetin, rutin, and hesperidin, while flavones include apigenin and luteolin.
Most flavonoids function in the human body as antioxidants to help neutralize overly reactive oxygen-containing molecules and prevent these overly reactive molecules from damaging parts of cells. In some cases, flavonoids can act directly as antibiotics by disrupting the function of microorganisms like viruses or bacteria. The antiviral function of flavonoids has been demonstrated with the HIV virus.
Besides playing a cardio-protective role, flavonoids also play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:
- Allergy
- Asthma
- Atopic dermatitis
- Candida infection
- Cataracts
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Hemorrhoids
- Macular degeneration
- Migraine
- Periodontal disease
- Stomach ulcer
- Varicose veins
Flavonoids are found widely in fruits and vegetables—often as the pigments that give these foods their distinctive colors—and in other foods such as tea, coffee, wine and chocolate.
However, heat, degree of acidity (pH), and degree of processing can have a dramatic impact on the flavonoid content of food. And so next time when you prepare your meal, don’t overcook vegetables.
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