What is Quercetin?
The effects of quercetin on the health of the immune system have become the subject of scientific research and have received much attention in recent years. Of particular note is its role in strengthening the body's resistance to the respiratory tract and strengthening the antiviral effects of zinc.
Quercetin is a flavonoid, a class of plant pigments that help create the color of many fruits and flowers. Contains flavonoids, one of the reasons why many foods, herbs and spices have health benefits. For example, the benefits of berries, dark chocolate, and most herbal extracts (such as ginkgo biloba, grape seed, pine bark, milk thistle, etc.) are thought to be directly related to the flavonoids they contain.
Benefits to the human body
1. Lowers Inflammation
Flavonoids (aka bioflavonoids or bioflavonoids), including quercetin, are important anti-inflammatory drugs because they act as antioxidants, meaning they fight the "oxidation" that occurs with age natural process.
Quercetin can help stop damaging particles in the body called free radicals that negatively affect how cells work, including damaging cell membranes, changing the way DNA works, increasing cellular mutations and causing healthy cells to die. It also reduces the expression of inflammatory genes such as interleukins.
Research now shows that inflammation is at the root of most diseases, including heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline, some mental illnesses and autoimmune diseases.
2. Fights allergies
Is quercetin an antihistamine? Some believe it is a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory that may make it effective in reducing the effects of seasonal and food allergies, as well as asthma and skin reactions.
However, to date, most studies have been conducted on animals rather than humans.
Histamines are chemicals released when the immune system detects an allergy or sensitivity, and they are responsible for the uncomfortable symptoms the body faces when allergic reactions occur.
Quercetin can help stabilize the release of histamine from certain immune cells, which can reduce symptoms such as cough, watery nose, runny nose, hives, swollen lips or tongue, and indigestion.
It has long been used to create ancient Chinese herbal formulas to thwart allergies to certain foods, such as peanuts. Studies conducted in mice suggest that it may be equivalent to some prescription drugs in the fight against allergies, all with virtually no side effects.
3. Supports Heart Health
According to several studies, quercetin appears to be beneficial for people with heart and blood vessel-related diseases due to its ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
For example, eating large amounts of dark fruits and vegetables containing flavonoids is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and even death, among older adults, which reduces the risk of vascular disease.
It has also been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, which share many of the same risk factors as heart disease.
Studies in animals and certain populations suggest that various types of flavonoids (such as quercetin, resveratrol, and catechin) can help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, which is caused by plaque buildup in arteries resulting in a dangerous situation. Shut-off blood flow in the arteries is one of the main risk factors for developing a heart attack or stroke, which is why cardiac arrest is less likely in people who eat a nutrient-dense diet.
Antioxidants also appear to protect the body from elevated LDL "bad" cholesterol and can help regulate blood pressure levels. Certain studies have shown that quercetin protects against damage to LDL cholesterol particles, and it appears that people who eat foods that are highest in flavonoids generally have healthier, lower cholesterol levels and lower rates of high blood pressure and high blood pressure.
In fact, if you've ever heard that red wine is good for your heart, it's because it's a natural source of quercetin. It is one of the main active ingredients in red wine extract and has been linked to healthier heart function.
4. Helps relieve pain
Taking quercetin supplements may help reduce pain associated with autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, and infections, including prostate and respiratory infections.
This is because studies have shown that quercetin reduces inflammatory pain. For example, some evidence from a few small studies suggests that people with bladder pain (the urgent need to urinate, swelling, and burning) due to infection have fewer symptoms when taking quercetin supplements.
Flavonoids have also been associated with reduced symptoms of prostatitis (prostatitis) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is evidence that RA patients suffer when they switch from eating a "typical Western diet" to foods rich in antioxidants such as uncooked berries, fruits, vegetables, nuts, roots, seeds and sprouts and recurrence symptoms will be relieved.
5. Helps protect skin health
Studies have shown that quercetin blocks "mast cells," the key immune cells that trigger allergic reactions, inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases, and it protects the skin from conditions such as dermatitis and photosensitivity .
Flavonoids, such as quercetin, block the release of many pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-8 and TNF, which can help stop symptoms associated with skin inflammation, even for those who don’t get relief from other conventional treatments or prescriptions people too.
Studies have found that when taken in the form of an oral supplement, the compound has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight allergies and inflammatory diseases, as well as some prescriptions. For example, some people take quercetin for eczema because it suppresses the secretion of histamine and pro-inflammatory markers.
