What Are Flavonoids And Why Should You Care?

By Kathleen Hall


There seem to be hundreds of exercise and diet experts who have very strong opinions about what you should do to shed those extra pounds and turn yourself into the person you were meant to be. A lot of them appear to be capitalizing on the cravings many people have for a quick fix. If you go on a liquid diet, or a meat only one, you will see miraculous results for instance. Most people know an extreme diet or an expensive milkshake regimen is not the solution. There is a reason your mother and grandmother told you repeatedly to eat your fruits and vegetables, and one of those reasons is flavonoids.

You may have never heard the word before, or it may sound familiar but you don't really know what it is or how it pertains to your life. Put in simple English, these are a family of nutrients with thousands of members. They are found everywhere, but are most importantly in plant foods such as fruits and vegetables. Green tea is a great source of the nutrients as well.

There all kinds of fruits and vegetables to choose from. If you are lucky enough to be able to purchase fresh and organic produce, so much the better. When shoppers select these items today, many of them look for color when it comes to making smart choices. The more colorful the food is, the better it is for you. You may not realize it when you make your purchases, but that beautiful color is the direct of result of a high nutritional content.

Every other day we seem to hear more about the beneficial effects of these powerful nutrients. Antioxidants is a term that gets a lot of attention, and these colorful plants and vegetables are full of them. When we have too many oxidants in our bodies, the molecular structure of cells can change and set off free radicals. These free radical busters help minimize that.

Keeping the blood vessels in the heart free of clogs is very important. These nutrients help with that as well. They seem to promote the good cholesterol we need. Certain herbs contain the nutrients such as rosemary, oregano, and garlic. Adding these herbs to a diet that includes meat can be very beneficial.

Everyone has experienced the discomfort of an inflammation caused by a wound or bad reaction. It is obvious in the red, puffy, unhealthy appearance. An internal inflammation is just the same. It can wreak havoc on your body if you don't do something to minimize it. These help reduce and clear up these internal inflammations.

There are differing opinions when it comes to how much influence these nutrients have on cancer cells. Some believe their natural anti inflammatory properties and antioxidant production may prevent cells from becoming cancerous. Scientists are still researching and discussing these possibilities.

Most people pretty much know what they should do when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, but many of us don't follow sensible guidelines. Adding some colorful fruits and vegetables and introducing them early to your children is an easy first step.




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