Polyphenols Fight Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer and More
Polyphenols have been respected for their medicinal qualities throughout history. They are highly valued for their healing qualities, particularly with degenerative diseases. Polyphenols protect cells against harm caused by free radicals, which damage tissue in the body.
Essentially, free radicals rob other cells of electrons, and those cells rob new cells. This causes a chain reaction throughout your body that ultimately weakens your immunity. This leads to health issues and premature signs of aging. Thankfully, Polyphenols are plentiful and powerful, and protect cells from harmful free radicals. They are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables such as blueberries and chokeberry, and also in teas and cacao.
Polyphenols Reduce Coronary Heart Disease And Inflammation
In addition to fighting free radical cell damage, polyphenols reduce coronary heart disease. As people age, nitric oxide levels deplete. Abnormal platelet aggregation may occur, and if platelets overactively aggregate, dangerous blood clots may occur. This may cause atherosclerosis, the stiffening and blockage of arteries, which may lead to heart attack or stroke.
Polyphenols positively influence nitric oxide production. This helps prevent inflammation of the endothelium, or the layer of cells lining blood vessels. It opens up and improves blood flow, which decreases blood pressure. It can also significantly reduce or even reverse abnormal platelet aggregation and endothelial dysfunction.
In addition to fighting heart disease and inflammation, polyphenols can also help slow down or inhibit the growth of cancer by blocking the action of enzymes cancers need to grow.
Where Can You Get Polyphenols?
Polyphenols can be found in many fresh sources and supplements, and also brewed in teas. The polyphenols found in tea include catechins, theaflavins, tannins and flavonoids, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
EGCG is the most active and studied polyphenol component in green tea. EGCG has many great qualities including thermogenesis, or the process by which the body burns fat. It takes three to five minutes to extract the EGCG from tea, so relax and take your time when preparing a cup.
Polyphenols can also be found in abundance in many intensely flavored foods, including the following which includes fruits, vegetables, seeds, herbs, coffee and teas:
- Cacao and cocoa powder
- Dark chocolate
- Flax seeds and flaxseed meal
- Blackcurrants
- Red Wine (especially Pinot Noir)
Chokeberries are rich in polyphenols
- Coffee, Filtered
- Blueberries
- Pecans
- Green Tea
- Black Tea
- Chokeberry
- Blackcurrant
- Celery Seed
- Cloves
- Star Anise
- Dried Mexican Oregano
- Globe Artichoke Head
- Apples (peeled red or green with skin)
- Blackberries
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Beets
