Right now, with the world gripped by a global pandemic, the importance of a strong immune system has never been greater. In truth, though, pandemic or not, we should still do everything in our power to look after our immune systems and keep ourselves fit and healthy.
As we grow older, we unfortunately find that our immune systems begin to fade and we find ourselves more susceptible to various illnesses and diseases. This is why it’s so important to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat the right foods, and use the right supplements.
Today, we’re going to be looking at quercetin, which is a supplement that has health officials very excited about.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know about quercetin.
What is quercetin?
Ever notice how processed junk food is beige in colour, whereas fresh fruits and vegetables are naturally some of the most vibrant and colourful creations ever? Well, the reason why fruits and veggies are so colourful and bright is thanks to, amongst other things, quercetin.
Quercetin is a bioflavonoid. In fact, it is the most commonly consumed bioflavonoid in the human diet.
In the US alone, quercetin accounts for around 75% of total flavonol intakes amongst adults.
This natural pigment is found in a variety of different grains, fruits, and vegetables, and it is renowned for its powerful antioxidant properties and other health benefits.
Recently, experts have found that quercetin supplements could prove very beneficial for elderly individuals and individuals with weaker immune systems.
Health benefits of quercetin
Now we’re going to list some of the more common health benefits associated with quercetin, in a bid to understand why health experts are so excited about this product and are hailing it as the ‘next big health supplement’.
Anti-inflammatory benefits – Quercetin is an antioxidant which is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties.
In the body, free radicals are unstable molecules which can attack our cells, damage them, and cause them to mutate via oxidation and oxidative stress. Not only that, though, but elevated levels of free radicals in the body can result in inflammation.
This is because they activate genes which elicit inflammatory responses in the body. Despite being a natural process, too much inflammation can result in pain and discomfort, chronic illness, and numerous other health issues.
Quercetin serves as a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight and eradicate free radicals before they have chance to cause inflammation in the body.
Stronger immunity – Another reason why health officials are hailing quercetin as the next wonder supplement is because of the fact that it promotes a strong and healthy immune system.
As it functions as an antioxidant, it helps to keep cells in the body healthy as it protects them from oxidation and oxidative stress. White blood cells for example, which play essential roles in the healthy functioning of the human immune system, become stronger and healthier thanks to quercetin.
In one study, a group of adults aged 40 and above, found that supplementing with 1000mg of quercetin per day helped to reduce the severity of common cold symptoms whilst increasing recovery times.
Helps prevent illness – Prevention, as they say, is the best possible cure.
Quercetin is being hailed for its protective properties and as a result it is being used by more and more people who are looking to improve their health and prevent illness and disease, especially later on in life.
