The Miracle Compound Hiding in Some of Your Favorite Foods
Susan Ohtake
Certified Personal Trainer
One of these amazing compounds is called Quercetin, and it is in the foods we eat every day. It's not a supplement (although some people sell it as one). You probably consume it all the time without even knowing. Take a look...
What is Quercetin?
Quercetin is a flavonoid. Flavonoids are substances found in fruits, vegetables, and flowers. They are what give plants their beautiful color. They’re also important to the plant’s health, acting as cell cycle inhibitors, physiological regulators and chemical messengers.
In short, they keep the plants looking beautiful and in good working order. It should be no surprise, then, that they can do the same thing for you!
Quercetin is a specific type of flavonoid that is high in antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce free radical activity in the body, preventing the free radicals from wreaking havoc on your cells. Here's how this "miracle" compound might be able to help you...
Leaky Gut Remedy
Leaky gut occurs when your intestines become permeable, allowing vital nutrients to leach out through your intestinal walls. With leaky gut, you lose essential elements your body needs to stay healthy. Quercetin reduces that intestinal permeability, keeping the good nutrients in and the bad toxins out.
Anti-Aging Properties
By attacking the free-radicals in your body, the antioxidant Quercetin can help keep you looking and feeling younger. Free radicals are responsible for many of the signs of aging, including inflammation and lower skin elasticity. Shut them down with more Quercetin in your diet.
Fights Inflammation
Inflammation does more than just make you look and feel old. It can seriously damage your health. Issues associated with chronic inflammation include Celiac disease, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Quercetin can fight this inflammation, improving your overall health and quality of life.
Allergy Remedy
If you’re an allergy sufferer, you know how crippling they can be. But, a lot of over-the-counter allergy medicines have annoying side effects. They can cause Quercetin is a natural anti-histamine. That means less suffering during those miserable allergy seasons.
May Help Regulate Blood Sugar
Insulin is made in the pancreas. Over time, the foods we eat can begin to eat away at the pancreas cells that produce insulin. This makes us more prone to diabetes and other sugar imbalance issues.
Quercetin produces a compound called cellular glutathione, which protects these insulin-producing cells. That means you have a lower risk of contracting diabetes and other deadly diseases.
Foods with High Quercetin Content
The best way to get Quercetin is through a diet rich in vegetables and fruits. Certain fruits and vegetables have more Quercetin than others. If you can eat more of these foods on a regular basis, you will begin not notice the significant health improvements that can come with this miracle compound.
Quercetin-Rich Foods Include:
Onions (highly concentrated)
Apples (highly concentrated)
Green tea (highly concentrated)
Cranberries
Raspberries
Cherries
Leafy green vegetables
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Citrus fruits (including oranges, grapefruit, lemons, etc.)
Red grapes
As you can see, many of these foods are not only nutritious, but delicious as well. Incorporating them into a rich and healthy diet will improve your quality of life without making you sacrifice any enjoyment.
If you eat a diet that is rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, you will get enough Quercetin naturally. No need for supplements!