You may have heard of them, and that they’re good for you, but flavonoids may be something that you just haven’t had time to look into. So, here’s some simple facts about this antioxidant group.
Flavanoids are a pigment in plants, appearing mainly in berries, citrus, apples, legumes & red wine. They protect plants to help regulate the cell cycle and are also responsible for the beautiful colors in our natural food.
Technically, flavonoids are part of the polyphenol class of phytonutrients, which means they are good for skin protection, brain function, blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Read more about polyphenols from Healthline.
Specifically, flavonoids have been shown to benefit the immune system as well as the aforementioned anti-inflammatory and cancer & cardiovascular disease prevention.
There are 6 groups of these compounds, found in different foods:
- Flavones-come from celery, parsley, herbs & hot peppers. They help delay metabolizing drugs.
- Anthocyanidins-come from berries, pomegranates, plums, red wine, and red and purple grapes. These guys help with heart health and diabetes prevention.
- Flavonones-You’ll find these in citrus. Associated with cardiovascular health, relaxation, and anti-inflammatory activity.
- Isoflavones- Get these from your legumes & soy products. Acting like estrogen, they may lower the risk of hormonal cancers.
- Flavonols-Find these in Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli, tea, berries & apples. Get some antihistamine properties from these, as well as anti-inflamatory activities that lead to disease prevention.
- Flavanols-Teas, cocoa, grapes, apples, berries, fava beans, and red wine boast these & they may be useful in aiding chronic fatique syndrome as well as neurological and cardiovascular health. Also aids in lowering cholesterol.
There you have it. One of the many ways that eating fresh fruits & veggies are part of the science of living longer! But don’t just take our word for it, here’s one of several studies that actually show flavanoids link to longevity. Link to nature.com study
