Quercetin is a very popular flavonoid that has many types of health benefits and is most often utilized because of its cognitive health benefits. Quercetin is found in many types of foods and drinks, including red wine, onions, green tea, and fruits and berries like apples and pears. When taken as a supplement, Quercetin possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may aid in improving heart health and potentially helping to kill cancer cells. Quercetin can also be used in treating rheumatoid arthritis, urinary tract infections, and diabetes, although none of these applications have been fully proven scientifically. These properties also allow quercetin to improve cognitive health as well, as oxidative stress has been shown to take on toll on brain health.
Apples, onion, teas, berries, even red wine all contain a molecule called Quercetin. Quercetin is a very popular nutraceutical product and can be found in drinks and it is also sold as a supplement. Moreover, Ginkgo biloba and St. John’s wort both contain this flavonoid. When Quercetin is consumed, it works as an antioxidant to combat free radicals, damaging cell membranes, and DNA. Quercetin, an antihistamine, and anti-inflammatory substance are readily available as a whole food or dietary supplement.
Some of Quercetin’s Health Benefits
Quercetin has a diverse set of health benefits, including both mental health and physical health. Below are some of the main health benefits of quercetin, with a list of supporting studies that focus on specific health issues.
May Help Reduce Allergies
Some studies have shown that quercetin can help to reduce allergy symptoms. According to test-tube studies, Quercetin works by preventing histamine production from immune cells, which is a substance responsible for allergy symptoms, including sneezing and itching. Most of the quercetin research has been done in vitro or on animals, which suggests that it may be helpful in the treatment of allergic disorders, including allergic rhinitis. Further human studies are needed, according to the researchers, to demonstrate that quercetin is effective in reducing allergy symptoms.
May Lower Blood Pressure
Many types of nutraceutical products, including turmeric, can help to lower your blood pressure. One study found that people with diabetes who were given 500mg of Quercetin daily had a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, more studies are needed to verify if quercetin can be used medicinally for this purpose, and it is still not 100% clear why quercetin had this impact during these studies.
Why Athletes Like Quercetin
Quercetin is often popular for athletes who want to improve their athletic performance, although results on this are mixed according to numerous studies. One study from 2011 found that quercetin consumption was responsible for improving human endurance exercise. However, the impact observed in all eleven trials found that the impact was very negligible. According to research conducted in 2013, Quercetin enhanced lean body mass, total body water, basal metabolic rate, and overall energy expenditure in 60 male college students who had participated in athletics for at least three years. People in this study also took Vitamin C, which implies that it may be best to use quercetin with other types of supplements, and that quercetin may not be solely responsible for the positive changes.
Quercetin and Cancer
Quercetin has been demonstrated to decrease the development of several cancer cells in studies. Evidence from in vitro and animal studies suggests Quercetin may protect against some forms of cancer, including leukemia and lung cancer, while it is not shown to be effective for other forms of cancer, such as ovarian cancer. However, there are presently no human studies on the cancer-fighting benefits of Quercetin. Thus, it is too early to determine if Quercetin will play a significant role in cancer prevention.
Inflammation and the Immune System
Quercetin’s capacity to decrease inflammation in your body is one of its most valuable properties. Quercetin has been found to have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in numerous studies, which can help with a variety of mental and physical health issues. The combination of Quercetin and vitamin C, which we previously mentioned in the athletic section of this blog post, was found to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in 2012 research published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.
The capacity of Quercetin to assist improve your immune system is yet another priceless Quercetin advantage. A study from 2016 demonstrated that Quercetin is an immune system booster and an anti-inflammation vitamin, which can be effectively combined with other supplements. In vitro studies, animal studies, or human clinical trials were included in the evaluation of Quercetin research published in the scientific journal. When focusing just on human clinical research, it becomes evident that Quercetin has a positive impact on the immune system.
Neurological health
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are both degenerative brain illnesses that have been linked to Quercetin because of its antioxidant characteristics. The neuroprotective characteristics of quercetin are very favorable, and it may be able to help with health conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Several animal studies have begun to investigate the link between Quercetin and Alzheimer’s, although no conclusive results have been made. However, it is clear that the antioxidant properties of quercetin are very favorable for neurological health, and that it may be extremely useful for aging patients suffering from neurological disorders.
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