Have you ever wondered what makes a “superfood” super? Or what top superfoods like red wine, green tea, kale, and blueberries all have in common? The answer is quercetin, a natural compound tied to longevity, heart health, endurance, immunity, and more.
Considered one of the most abundant flavonoid antioxidants in the human diet, quercetin plays an important role in fighting free radical damage, the effects of aging, and inflammation.
Quercetin is a natural pigment found in several fruits and vegetables. It ranks high among the most important antioxidants needed for human health.
Quercetin is a flavonoid that has biological properties that may promote mental and physical performance. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antiviral, antioxidant, and psychostimulant properties.
Quercetin happens to the most abundant flavonoid in the human diet. Its most important use is as an antioxidant, where it fights free radicals and helps prevent disease.
It has a role to play in the support in prevention of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative issues, cancer, ulcers and other gastric problems, allergies, and microbial ailments.
May Fight Inflammation
Quercetin inhibits the secretion and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are compounds that promote inflammation in the human body. It may also protect the body’s cells involved in allergic inflammation.
Flavonoids (aka bioflavonoids) including quercetin, are key anti-inflammatories that act as antioxidants, which means they fight the natural process of oxidation that takes place over time as we age. Quercetin can help stop damaging particles in the body known as free radicals, which negatively impact how cells work. It can also reduce expression of inflammatory genes such as interleukin.
Quercetin also has a role to play in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It preserves the basement membranes of the cartilage and even prevents its damage.
Inflammation is the root of most diseases, including heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline, some mental disorders, and autoimmune disorders. A variety of conditions related to inflammation:
- “Hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis)
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease and circulation problems
- Insulin resistance and diabetes
- Eye-related disorders, including cataracts
- Allergies, asthma, and hay fever
- Stomach ulcers
- Cognitive impairment
- Gout
- Cancer
- Viral infections
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Inflammation of the prostate, bladder, and ovaries
- Chronic infections of the prostate
- Skin disorders, including dermatitis and hives
Fights Allergies
Some consider quercetin to be a natural antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory, possibly making it effective for lowering the effects of seasonal and food allergies, plus asthma and skin reactions. However, most research to date has been conducted on animals and not humans.
Histamines are chemicals that are released when the immune system detects an allergy or sensitivity. Quercetin can help stabilize their release from certain immune cells, which results in decreased symptoms such as coughs, watery eyes, runny noses, hives, swollen lips or tongue, and indigestion.
Quercetin has long been used in ancient Chinese herbal formulas to block allergies to certain foods (such as peanuts).
May Promote Heart Health
Quercetin was found to lower blood pressure levels.
Quercetin could also lower the levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol.
Flavonoids, in general, can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. They achieve this by promoting the functioning of the blood vessels and reducing platelet activity (resulting in fewer blood clots, which may otherwise lead to stroke).
LDL (the bad cholesterol), when oxidized, can lead to plaque formation in the blood vessels. Quercetin may fight this by preventing the oxidation of LDL.
The anti-hypertensive properties of quercetin can also prevent heart damage, as per reports. This effect was observed to be far greater in smokers and those with metabolic syndrome.
May Help Fight Infections And Pain
The antibacterial properties of quercetin may help fight infections. The compound was found to be especially effective against Staphylococcus aureus. In combination with other antibiotics, quercetin showed enhanced antibacterial activity.
Quercetin may also help treat allergies. It fights viruses by stimulating the immune system. It is also efficient in suppressing inflammatory mediators.
Quercetin may have a role to play in asthma treatment as well. It may help treat the condition by relaxing the airway smooth muscles. The anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin may also aid asthma treatment.
Quercetin also acts as a natural antihistamine (histamine is a compound released during inflammation or an allergic reaction). This way, it aids the treatment of other respiratory infections, like bronchitis.
The flavonoid may also have a role to play in relieving pain. It achieves this by inhibiting oxidative stress and the production of cytokines (compounds that contribute to inflammation).
May Aid Diabetes Treatment
Treatment with quercetin and resveratrol can have beneficial effects on diabetes. The antioxidant helps lower plasma glucose levels and improves other parameters related to diabetes. It achieves this by restoring the glucose-regulating enzymes in the liver.
Quercetin can be a promising component in managing the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. The antioxidant activates multiple therapeutic agents in the body, thereby aiding the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Dietary quercetin was also found to improve the health of the pancreas and the liver. This may help ameliorate diabetes symptoms since those are the two important organs responsible for preventing the disease.
Quercetin was also found to treat liver inflammation. It has been identified as a novel compound in the treatment of fibrotic liver disease.
Quercetin may also protect the liver from injury. It achieves this by scavenging free radicals and combating oxidative stress.
May Improve Energy and Endurance
Quercetin is added to some athletic supplements because it’s believed to help increase athletic performance and endurance, likely because of its positive effects on blood flow. It has been noted that “quercetin provides a significant benefit in human endurance exercise capacity (VO2 max) and endurance exercise performance.”
Quercetin may help increase immune function and prevent susceptibility to illnesses that can occur when someone trains intensely and experiences exhaustion. Taking a dosage of 500 mg of quercetin twice daily may help protect cyclers from exercise-induced respiratory infections.
Because it can boost energy, quercetin could affect sleep patterns. It may alter the sleep-wake cycle partly through activation of GABA receptors. However, insomnia is generally not believed to be a common side effect of taking quercetin.
May Help Fight Cancer
Quercetin induces apoptosis (cancer cell death) and prevents the proliferation of malignant cells. The compound also may have synergistic effects when combined with chemotherapy.
Quercetin may inhibit cancer of the breast, lung, prostate, colon, and the cervix. The potent antioxidant properties of quercetin play a role here. They fight free radicals, which are among the major contributors to cancer.
A high intake of foods rich in quercetin, including most fruits and vegetables, has been associated with a reduced risk of intestinal cancer. Similar food groups have also been linked to lower incidences of renal cancer.
May Cut Obesity Risk
There is limited evidence here. A supplement with quercetin as the primary ingredient caused reduced lipid accumulation in obese rats.
Quercetin also can increase energy expenditure, and this may help reduce the risk of obesity.
May Enhance Vision Health
Quercetin was found to treat corneal inflammation, thus promoting long-term vision health. When human conjunctival and corneal cell lines were tested, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the compound seemed to help with the treatment of a few ocular diseases.
Quercetin may also reduce the risk of cataracts. It achieves this by fighting oxidative stress.
May Promote Kidney Health
It has been noted, quercetin improved renal function and protected the kidneys from further harm. Its ability to fight oxidative stress and inflammation could be attributed to this benefit.
May Boost Brain Health
Quercetin fights oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby helping prevent brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Quercetin was found to prevent spatial memory impairment in mice. It achieves this by increasing brain antioxidant capacity (26). This way, the flavonoid may potentially slow down brain aging.
Also, it is suggested that apples, which are rich in quercetin, can help prevent brain damage that may otherwise trigger Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Quercetin can also help treat stress and anxiety. Individuals dealing with chronic stress may experience improvements in memory following the intake of quercetin.
May Promote Sexual Function
Flavonoids, in general, could be associated with improved sexual function.
Quercetin may also help treat erectile dysfunction as it helps combat oxidative stress (a common cause of the issue).
May Help Treat Leaky Gut
Leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability, is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged. This causes the toxic wastes in the small intestine to leak into the bloodstream, causing issues.
Quercetin may boost the intestinal barrier function, which may help in treating leaky gut.
Quercetin may also have other gastroprotective effects. The compound can increase gastric mucus production, thereby aiding the treatment of ulcers.
May Help Delay Aging
Quercetin has been found to extend cellular lifespan and survival, thereby possibly delaying the signs of aging. It was also found to rejuvenate fibroblasts.
Quercetin also happens to be one of the popular ingredients in most anti-aging skin care creams.
When we talk about antioxidants, quercetin tops the list, for sure.
Quercetin is among the common antioxidants available in the human diet. In the following section, we will look at the top food sources of the flavonoid.
What Are The Food Sources Of Quercetin?
The top food sources of quercetin include the following:
- Apples
- Grapes
- Licorice
- Oregano
- Capers
- Onions
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Cherries
- Asparagus
- Green tea
In addition to treating inflammation and cancer, quercetin also offers a host of other health benefits. Ensure you include it in your diet.
Eat more of the foods that contain quercetin. Including an additional quercetin supplement can also help.
EMULIN has quercetin in it's formula.
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