Flavonoids are in many different foods. They often talk about cocoa and red wine. Here you will learn more about the effect of flavonoids.
Flavonoids are natural compounds that are responsible for the taste and color of many vegetable foods. They color foods in colors from yellow to red to violet.
Behind the group of flavonoids are around 8,000 different substances or subgroups, such as polyphenols and flavonole. They have a common basic structure and are all among the secondary plant substances.
Flavonoids not only ensure color on the plate, they should also strengthen our health.
Flavonoids: There are particularly many in here
Flavonoids are widespread and are in all parts of plants, such as in roots, flowers and seeds. You can find flavonoids, for example, in the following foods:
- Fruit types, for example apples, pears, berries, grapes, cherries and plums
- some vegetables, for example eggplants, onions and kale
- Soy products
-
black tea
- green tea
- cocoa
- Citrus
- Coffee
- red wine
Flavonoids: advantages for your health
Flavonoids have different biochemical active ingredients. Like many secondary plant substances, they are antioxidants. Such substances have an anti -inflammatory effect in the human body. Due to this property, antioxidants fight free radicals that can trigger cancer.
There are many studies that came to the conclusion that the consumption of flavonoids inhibits the development of diseases. These include, for example:
- Different types of cancer such as colon cancer and lung cancer
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Type 2 diabetes
- Atherosclerosis
- Nerve misalignment
In addition, flavonoids should improve cognitive skills, act antiviral and strengthen the immune system. However, further research is required to find out exactly how flavonoids affect our body in detail.
Flavonoids: This is the best way to pick them up
If you want to benefit from the health advantages of the flavonoids, you should take them through different foods – so eat as varied as possible. For example, drink green tea, eat an apple or some blueberries and cook a delicious dish with broccoli. If you also pay attention to seasonality and regionality, the environment also benefits from your healthy diet. For tea and coffee, you should also pay attention to the Fairtrade seal.
In isolation as a nutritional supplement, you shouldn’t take flavonoids. It is better to absorb different secondary plant substances and other nutrients at the same time. So that means: seasonal fruit and vegetables instead of pills. You can find out more about this in our overview article: Dietary supplements – are they sensible, unnecessary or even dangerous?
Revised by Lea Hermann
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