Quercetin – How It Can Make Us Live Longer

Quercetin is a naturally occurring plant pigment. This flavonoid is what gives vegetables, fruits, and flowers their color. Quercetin is also a natural antioxidant that can be found in many fruits and vegetables. It gives us one more reason for eating plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Many of the plants that have quercetin in them are items that are regularly ingested. These include onions, red wine, berries, different types of tea and apples.

Eating any of these items which are rich in quercetin will result in the ingestion of flavonoids. Flavonoids can be used as medicine and is often prescribed by alternative medicine practitioners. Despite being easily available in a variety of food sources, the level of quercetin which is present in the food has been shown to be significantly lower than what can be obtained through quercetin supplements.

Quercetin supplements have a variety of beneficial uses. Quercetin has many health benefits because it has anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant properties, and antihistamine properties. It has the amazing ability to “tweak” our body’s common reactions to viruses, carcinogens, and even allergens. It responds as a protector of the human body, combating anything that may threaten one’s health. Quercetin, coupled with other flavonoids, can do a great deal to protect the human body from dangerous viruses, carcinogens, and allergens from entering the body and wreaking havoc.

The benefits of quercetin can be seen in cancer patients, as it is commonly used as part of treatment for cancer. There was a study done on the effect of quercetin on cancer, and the results showed that the presence of this flavonoid-containing natural chemical, coupled with the powerful effects of ultrasound, was able to destroy the deathly effects of skin and prostate cancer. Its benefits for the prostate have proven to be extremely helpful, as it is also used to prevent or cure an enlarged prostate.

In overweight people who have a high cardiovascular disease risk, quercetin supplements have shown promise in reducing this risk. In the study, the group of obese participants was given a 150 mg dose of quercetin three times a day. The result was lower blood pressure in the group and less damage from LDL cholesterol in the participants. Since plaque buildup in the heart is a result of LDL cholesterol, the quercetin significantly reduced damage to the heart in these participants.

In men who have prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate, taking quercetin supplements reduced the pain and swelling that the men were experiencing. Just like with arthritis, this is attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties of the quercetin supplements. Quercetin supplements also have been used other than treating various ailments. In fact, some athletes take quercetin supplements as a way to increase endurance. This is because a side effect of quercetin is a growth in energy levels. The flavonoid can also be used as a means of enhancing athletic performance.

The benefits of quercetin are undeniable, and all it takes is awareness and education for people to develop a deeper appreciation of this naturally-occurring chemical.