6 Potential Health Benefits of Quercetin
Quercetin is a flavonoid, a substance found in plants. It’s a pigment that gives color to vegetables and fruits. Quercetin and other flavonoids are antioxidants with several health benefits. An antioxidant is a molecule or chemical compound that inhibits or slows down oxidation and oxidative stress promoted by free radicals. They have a crucial role in health and well-being, such as helping reduce inflammation, boost immunity, prevent and ease allergic symptoms, lower blood pressure, and minimize risks for several chronic illnesses.
Quercetin is naturally found in pigments of some fruits, veggies, seeds, grains, and nuts, including apples, berries, grapes, buckwheat, capers, and tea leaves. These foods are available everywhere, so regular use can help add more antioxidants to the diet and augment defense against several healthcare challenges.
Read on to explore quercetin and its health benefits.
Contents
1. Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response during healthcare challenges. Whenever the immune system detects foreign agents, health-harming pathogens, or injuries, it sends out inflammatory cells as the first responders to fight back. Inflammatory cells attack and destroy pathogens and repair damaged cells and tissues. Though the inflammatory response is a defense mechanism, prolonged or chronic inflammation can affect internal processes and vital organs.
Several studies document that chronic inflammation can delay healing, cause scarring in the affected area, damage healthy cells and tissues, or alter the DNA of healthy cells. In addition, these changes can increase the chances of developing chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, obesity, reputed arthritis, gastrointestinal issues, depression, anxiety, and others.
In short, chronic inflammation is health-damaging rather than beneficial. Hence, doctors suggest ways to minimize chronic inflammation, such as an anti-inflammatory diet, sufficient rest, proper wound care, and supplements. Foods or supplements rich in antioxidants like quercetin also help reduce inflammation.
For instance, the D-Hist supplement is a commercially available option with a blend of antioxidants, enzymes, proteolytics, flavonoids, and botanicals to provide comprehensive aid to the immune system against some acute and chronic healthcare issues.
2. Reducing Cancer Risk
Several studies document many health benefits of flavonoids against several health issues, including cancer. Flavonoids play a dual function. First, they function as antioxidants and help counterbalance free radicals and prevent them from causing damage to healthy cells. Free radicals are the byproducts produced when the body breaks down and processes food.
Free radicals are concerning due to their health-harming impact on the body. Studies associate several degenerative diseases like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, senile dementia, inflammatory joint disease, and cataracts with their prevalence.
However, a diet rich in flavonoids can minimize risks. Apart from antioxidants, flavonoids also act as pro-oxidants against cancerous cells. They promote apoptosis of unhealthy cells and downregulate inflammatory cells and signaling pathways to halt further cell proliferation, angiogenesis, communication, and multiplication.
3. Easing Allergy Symptoms
Allergic reactions are a body’s defense mechanism against foreign invaders, bacteria, viruses, germs, and pathogens. Immune cells release chemicals to contain and prevent pathogens from attacking and affecting the functions of vital organs. However, severe or prolonged allergic reactions can also affect and disturb internal functions.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction when the immune system inundates the body with cytokines, histamine, and other chemicals. Floods of these chemicals can put the vital organs into shock and cause death in an instant. Hence, an amplified allergic reaction is a life-threatening situation. That’s why doctors prescribe anti-allergens and antidotes to control allergic chemicals, contain pathogens, and ease symptoms.
Quercetin and other antioxidants also have the same function. Supplements and foods rich in quercetin boost immunity for a prompt immune response, relieving allergic symptoms. It’s also a cost-effective and safer alternative to medicines for people prone to allergic conditions, such as asthma, rhinitis, pollen allergy, flu, and common cold.
4. Lowering the Risk of Neurological Disorders
Diet and supplements with quercetin can help protect against age-related cognitive decline and degenerative neurological disorders, such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and others. Quercetin’s antioxidant properties can help delay cell degeneration and decay.
One study shows the potential benefit of quercetin in coffee to help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It shows that coffee minimizes neurotoxicity and reduces the release of tumor necrosis factors and the activation of proteins associated with stress stimuli. Quercetin thus acts as a neuroprotective component against degenerative neurological disorders.
5. Reducing Risk for Hypertension and Coronary Heart Disease
High cholesterol levels and obesity are leading risk factors for coronary heart disease. Both can promote hypertension and affect the heart’s function. A diet rich in antioxidants can offer some protection against such challenges.
If the body has antioxidant deficiency, free radicals can cause havoc by affecting and damaging healthy cells. Cellular damage further causes inflammation, which can elevate blood pressure and increase risks for cardiovascular health issues.
However, studies suggest that anti-inflammatory and antioxidant chemicals can help regulate bad cholesterol, reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammation, minimize cell damage, speed up healing, and improve endothelial and vascular functions, thereby lowering blood pressure. Foods rich in quercetin and supplements have shown promising results for hypertensive individuals. Their risk of stroke and coronary heart disease could subside by around 14% and 9%, respectively.
6. Improving Endurance
Some studies also highlight the promising impact of quercetin supplements on athletic performance and endurance for high-intensity workouts. Exercise and sports are strenuous activities that can cause muscle damage and injuries, triggering an inflammatory response.
However, quercetin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can ease pain and fatigue. Antioxidants also have vasodilating properties that help minimize stiffness in arteries and vessels and improve blood flow and circulation during laborious activities. The body also has better oxygen uptake and saturation when blood circulation improves. In short, quercetin improves endurance and stamina for physically demanding activities.
Conclusion
Knowingly or unknowingly, quercetin has been a part of everyone’s diet ever since humans started eating fruits and veggies. More research and clinical studies have unraveled its incontestable benefits for health and wellness. But it’s always good to be cautious about medications and supplements. It’s important to consult a healthcare expert before you take any supplements.