Quercetin’s Positive Effects on Your Health

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Quercetin's Positive Effects on Your Health

Quercetin is a flavonoid, which is a type of plant pigment. It occurs naturally in many foods and drinks. Supplements containing quercetin can also be purchased. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory quercetin may reduce swelling, control blood sugar, and protect against cardiovascular disease. Quercetin supplements may also help with brain health, immune function, and weight management, according to studies.  The flavonoid has been shown to help the immune system and cut down on disease risk thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Possesses Antioxidant Properties
Free radicals are compounds made by the human body during normal metabolism. The presence of free radicals increases the risk of many diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, as well as the damage to healthy cells they cause.  Research has shown that quercetin has powerful antioxidant activity, which can neutralise free radicals. As a result of this antioxidant effect, the body is able to better maintain homeostasis, age more slowly, and lower its risk of developing chronic diseases. Researchers have primarily studied this effect in cells and animals, but they believe it holds true for humans as well.

Antimicrobial properties
Quercetin has been found to have antibacterial effects on a wide variety of bacteria in a number of different studies. Quercetin’s antimicrobial properties have been demonstrated in studies against the bacteria Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.  Researchers have discovered that quercetin can also prevent the spread of bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs. Because of this, quercetin has the potential to aid in the fight against drug-resistant bacterial strains. The skin, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary tract are all common targets for bacteria, but quercetin is especially effective against these organisms. Some viruses and fungi have also been shown to be inhibited by it.

Improves Cardiovascular Health

Improves Cardiovascular Health
Several aspects of cardiovascular health are protected by quercetin. Researchers found that it lowered both systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number) blood pressure. Additionally, quercetin has been shown to lower arterial blood pressure.  That’s crucial because hypertension can cause arterial damage and eventually cardiovascular disease if left untreated.  Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels can be lowered by taking quercetin, as well. Quercetin can also prevent oxidation, a process that alters “bad” LDL cholesterol in ways that contribute to arterial hardening. Regenerating blood vessels with quercetin helps increase blood flow, which benefits the heart.

Possible weight loss benefit from combining incompatible dietary supplements
Despite the small sample size, the results of the human studies evaluating quercetin’s efficacy in treating obesity are encouraging. Six men and 30 women with excess body fat were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg of quercetin or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks in one small study. Significant reductions in weight, BMI, and waist, hip, and thigh circumference were observed in the quercetin group, according to the study’s authors. Quercetin users lost more overall and arm fat than the control group.  To definitively state the effect quercetin can have on weight loss or how quercetin would fit into an overall weight management plan, more research is needed, especially in larger numbers.

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Perhaps Safeguarding Brain Function
One of the leading causes of dementia in the elderly is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). With continued exposure, it erodes cognitive abilities. The flavonoid family, to which quercetin belongs, has been the subject of extensive research due to the importance of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. As a group, flavonoids have shown promise in studies as a potential Alzheimer’s disease (AD) preventative.

The effects of quercetin, a flavonoid, on Alzheimer’s disease have mainly been studied in experimental animals. A human study did examine the effect of quercetin-rich onion powder on cognitive function in 70 healthy Japanese adults aged 60-79. The subjects were given either 11 grammes of an air-dried onion powder high in quercetin or a placebo once daily for 24 weeks. The findings suggested that onion powder high in the antioxidant quercetin could slow the rate of mental decline in elderly people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The quercetin group also showed improvements in cognitive function, decreased depressive symptoms, and enhanced motivation, according to the study’s authors.

 

Daniel Harrison

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