Is quercetin a bioflavonoid?
Let’s talk about quercetin. You may have heard that it’s a bioflavonoid but is it really? Don’t worry, I’m here to make sense of all the scientific jargon and give you the lowdown on your new favorite compound.
The Basics
First things first, what is quercetin anyway? Well, my friend, it’s a plant pigment found in many fruits and vegetables. It belongs to a class of compounds called flavonoids which are known for their antioxidant properties.
But wait ! What exactly does that mean? Put simply, antioxidants protect our cells from damage by harmful molecules called free radicals. These pesky little guys can cause all sorts of problems like inflammation and even disease.
So essentially, when we consume foods high in quercetin we’re giving our bodies an extra boost of protection against these baddies.
Bioflavonoids – A Definition
Now let me get to the real question at hand – is quercetin considered a bioflavonoid or not? To answer this properly we need to understand just what constitutes as one.
A bioflavonoid (also known as flavonoid) refers to any natural substance with antioxidant properties derived from plants. They come in many different forms ranging from anthocyanins (found mainly in berries) to catechins (hello green tea!). In fact, there are over 6,000 identified types – pretty impressive huh?
Bioflavonoisds work together with Vitamin C to support immune health as well as maintaining healthy circulation and reducing inflammation among other benefits.
So where does that leave us with quercetin then ? Well folks according to multiple sources including The Journal of Nutrition, Current Opinion in Lipidology, and Food Science & Nutrition, quercetin is indeed a bioflavonoid! Hooray!
Food Sources
Now that we’ve established that quercetin is a bonafide bioflavonoid, let’s talk about how we can get it in our diets. Here are some of my favorite sources:
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Onions
- Garlic
- Green Tea
Other foods like kale, broccoli and citrus fruits also contain decent amounts.
Fun fact time : the highest amount of quercetin ever recorded in food was found in capers – those tiny pickled buds you often see on charcuterie boards. Who knew?
Potential Health Benefits
So why should you care about adding more quercetin to your diet? Well besides its antioxidant powers, there have been multiple studies indicating potential health benefits such as:
1. Reduced Inflammation
Chronic inflammation has been linked to a variety of health problems such as heart disease and cancer among others. Some studies indicate that the anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin could potentially help reduce overall levels.
2. Boosted Immune Function
Querectin has shown promise when it comes to supporting immune function due to its anti-inflammatory effects and possible ability to decrease oxidative stress.
3 .Lower Risk for Heart Disease
Some research suggests that certain types of flavoindoids including you guessed it, querecting,, may play an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health through processes like reducing blood pressure and decreasing oxidation
Of course these findings aren’t concrete yet but they’re definitely exciting areas for further research.
Should You Supplement?
Okay so now you’re probably wondering whether or not you should just start popping querctein pills every day right? It’s true that supplementing might seem like an easier way to consistently get enough but let me clear something up: getting the majority of your nutrients from whole foods is generally recommended over taking individual supplements.
This is because vitamins and minerals tend to work synergistically rather than independently. In other words, they work best when taken together in their natural state within food sources.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that quercetin supplements are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which means there can be inconsistencies between brands in terms of quality.
So while there may be some circumstances where supplementing could make sense (someone with an allergy or dietary restriction for example), focus on incorporating more quercetin-rich foods into your diet first.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, yes – querectin does qualify as a bioflavonoid! And adding more of it to your diet might just have some wonderful health benefits. But don’t forget : the key to maintaining optimal health is variety and balance . So go ahead and add those apples & onions to your cart but keep eating plenty of other colorful fruits & veggies too.
That said: life would already been healthier if we all stopped eating junk food…