Quercetin is a compound found in plants that belongs to a category of phytonutrients (plant chemicals) called flavonoids. These are known to have a number of positive effects on health, mainly due to their powerful ability to fight inflammation and oxidative stress.
Our bodies cannot manke quercetin, but we can obtain it by eating various different fruits and vegetables, including:
Grapes
Berries
Apples
Citrus fruits
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Kale
Quercetin is also found in some drinks, like black tea and wine. It can also be taken as a supplement and is often present in herbal remedies such as St John’s wort. Find out about the amazing health benefits of this super plant compound below.
Reduce oxidative stress
Oxidative stress arises when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can cause cell damage when their levels become too high. This accelerates the ageing process and increases the risk for diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Antioxidants neutralise the effects of free radicals and help protect the body against damage.
Quercetin is one of the most prominent dietary antioxidants and can help prevent oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Reduce inflammation
Free radicals not only cause cell damage, they also trigger the inflammatory response. While short-term inflammation is necessary to help the body fight off infections and heal injuries, persistent inflammation can cause the body to start attacking its own tissues. Chronic inflammation like this is linked to nearly all health problems, particularly cancer and heart disease.
By acting as an antioxidant to limit damage caused by free radicals, quercetin consequently can help reduce inflammation. Researchers have also found quercetin can suppress the production of molecules involved in the inflammatory response. One study found that women with rheumatoid arthritis who took quercetin had reduced markers of inflammation and experienced significantly less pain and stiffness, than those who received a placebo.
Relieve allergy symptoms
Quercetin’s ability to reduce inflammation may help relieve allergy symptoms. Research suggests it may be an effective antihistamine, as it can block enzymes involved in inflammation and suppress the production of inflammatory chemicals, such as histamines.
Fight cancer
Because quercetin acts as an antioxidant and helps prevent cell damage, it is believed it may have cancer-fighting abilities. While research in this area is limited to animal studies, current findings suggest quercetin has a strong potential to suppress cancer cell growth and induce cancer cell death in a number of different types of cancers, including prostate, liver, lung, breast, ovarian, blood and more.
Reduce cardiovascular problems
High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular complications, such as heart disease and stroke. Evidence suggests quercetin can help lower blood pressure through the relaxation of blood vessels. It can also improve the health of blood vessels and increase blood flow to keep heart disease at bay.
If you are looking for an antioxidant supplement, look no further. New Leaf’s capsules contain high-quality, pure quercetin that effectively helps protect your body from damage to reduce the risk of disease.