Brian Vaszily –  Antioxidants are powerful natural compounds with many antiaging and health-boosting properties. Quercetin is a specific antioxidant with some incredible, proven health benefits.

Quercetin is likely the most well-researched antioxidant to date. Studies have revealed that it can enhance immunity and heart health, lower inflammation, and even fight cancer.

Quercetin is also one of the most abundant antioxidants found in the diet. By eating a range of specific fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you can easily load up on this beneficial plant compound.

Here’s more about what exactly quercetin is, its important health benefits, and how to consume more of it.

What Is Quercetin?

Quercetin is a specific type of flavonoid antioxidant. Flavonoids are a larger group of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. Consuming them regularly can lower your risk of several major chronic diseases.

Besides being categorized as an antioxidant, quercetin is also a plant pigment. It’s found most abundantly in deeply colored plant foods.

Because it’s so widely found in plant sources, quercetin has been the subject of many research studies. The findings are impressive and indicate that it has anti-allergy potential as well as a powerful ability to combat damage in your body from free radicals and oxidative stress.

Protecting You from Free Radicals

The terms “free radicals” and “oxidative stress” get thrown around a lot in relation to antioxidants. It’s important to take a closer look at what they really mean and how they can affect you.

Free radicals are created in your body in two main ways: normal metabolic processes and exposure to external things like UV radiation, pollution, and various chemicals.

Despite the fact that free radicals are most often referred to negatively, they are a byproduct of normal bodily processes. Even something good for you, like exercise, produces free radicals. The main problem comes from an accumulation of these molecules in your body.

A defining characteristic of free radicals is that they contain an unpaired electron. This makes them highly reactive. They either accept or donate an electron and can attack other molecules. The result is damage to cells, DNA, proteins, lipids, etc.

This behavior makes free radicals what’s known as “oxidants” or “reductants.” The damage they cause over time has come to be known as “oxidative stress” and naturally accumulates as you age.

Environmental conditions, chemicals, and exposure to radiation can all accelerate the production of free radicals and increase oxidative stress. Researchers now believe that oxidative stress is directly connected to all inflammatory diseases and other major diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

The Role of Antioxidants

So what do antioxidants like quercetin have to do with free radicals and oxidative stress?

Antioxidants are stable molecules that can donate an electron to a free radical. This effectively neutralizes free radicals and prevents them from attacking other molecules in your body. Of course, this also reduces oxidative stress as well.

Since you can’t prevent free radicals from forming, consuming an abundance of antioxidants is key to good health.

While is a general benefit of all antioxidants, quercetin has specifically shown strong protective action against free radicals and damage from oxidative stress.

Keep in mind this ability to neutralize free radical damage as you read about the more specific benefits of quercetin. It’s directly connected to almost all of them.

Incredible Health Benefits of Quercetin

Reduces Chronic Inflammation

 

Calming chronic inflammation in your body is essential to staying healthy as you age. Continue reading …

SF Source The Art of Anti-Aging Nov 2021