Everything you wanted to know about them...
What are Flavonoids?
Flavonoids are certain chemicals that occur naturally in some vegetables and fruits. There are six different kinds of flavonoids- flavonols, flavones, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, anthocyanidins , isoflavones
Where can we find them?
- Vegetables rich in flavonoids are tomatoes, peppers, onions, kale, broccoli, spinach, parsley, lettuce.
- Fruits rich in flavonoids are berries, peaches, grapes, citrus fruits.
- Soybeans.
- Foods from plant sources like tea, dark chocolate and red wine are rich in flavonoids.
It is recommended to have a variety of fruits and vegetables in our diet to get the different kinds of flavonoids.
What are the benefits of flavonoids?
They have an antioxidant effect and they help our body fight toxins. They help in cellular function and in fighting off free radicals.
The anti-oxidant effect of flavonoids helps prevent certain types of cancers like breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.
They help lower the risk of age related cognitive decline, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Flavonoids help our body immune system to fight against bacterial and viral infections.
As with everything else, flavonoids must be consumed in moderation. At high doses, they can act as pro-oxidants and can also interfere with metabolism. A typical vegetarian diet gives an optimal amount of flavonoids.
About the author…
Veena Shanbhag is a practicing pharmacist and owner of Streetsville Shoppers Drugmart. In her spare time Veena loves to teach yoga….