The Power of Flavonoids : SuperFoodsRx

Home

The SuperFoods

The Power of Flavonoids

Table of Contents

1.	Overview
2.	Her Majesty's Life Preserver
3.	The Power of Flavonoids
4.	Oranges and Cancer
5.	Citrus and Stroke
6.	Shopping Tips

Flavonoids are a class of polyphenols found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, grains, tea, and wine. There are over five thousand flavonoids that have been identified and described in scientific literature, and we’re learning more about them every day. Citrus flavonoids, which are found in the fruit’s tissue, juice, pulp, and skin, are one of the reasons for the health-promoting attributes of citrus fruits and the reason that the whole fruit is so much more healthful than just the juice. Two of the flavonoids in citrus—naringin in grapefruit and hesperidin in orange— occur only rarely in other plants and are thus essentially unique to citrus. The power of citrus flavonoids is dazzling. They’re antioxidant and antimutagenic. The latter refers to their ability to prevent cells from mutating and initiating one of the first steps in the development of cancer and other chronic diseases. This is accomplished by their apparent ability to absorb ultraviolet light, protect DNA, and interact with carcinogens. Citrus flavonoids have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth, strengthen capillaries, act as anti-inflammatory, and they are antiallergenic and antimicrobial. Flavonoid intake is inversely associated with the incidence of heart attack and stroke as well as a host of other ailments.

We are certain that an orange a day promotes cardiovascular health. The Framingham Nurses’ Health Study found that drinking one daily glass of orange juice reduced the risk of stroke by 25 percent. Countless other studies have confirmed similar benefits from regular consumption of citrus. We’re beginning to understand that, as with so many SuperFoods, it’s the synergy of multiple foods and the variety of nutrients they contain that combine to amplify and intensify individual benefits.

For example, oranges are rich in vitamin C. They are also rich in flavonoids, such as hesperidin, that work to revive vitamin C after it has quenched a free radical. In other words, the hesperidin strengthens and amplifies the effect of vitamin C in your body. In an interesting human clinical trial, orange juice was shown to elevate HDL cholesterol (”good” cholesterol) while lowering LDL (so-called bad) cholesterol.

The fiber in oranges is another major contributor to heart health. Citrus fruit (especially tangerines) are one of the richest sources of high-quality pectin—a type of dietary fiber. Pectin is a major component of the kind of fiber that is known to lower cholesterol. Pectin is also helpful in stabilizing blood sugar. A single orange provides 3 grams of fiber, and dietary fiber has been associated with a wide range of health benefits. About 35 percent of Americans consume their fruit only in juice form. In most cases, their health would benefit if they would add whole fruit whenever possible.

Tag it:

What is a “Super Food”?

Well, the most important thing for everyone to know is that superfoods are easy to find in every local supermarket. They’re worth looking for!

These nutritional powerhouse foods are loaded with nutrients crucial to a healthy, long life.

If you can include a variety of them in your diet, everyday, we promise they will change your life!

These foods were chosen because they contain high concentrations of crucial nutrients, as well as the fact that many of them are low in calories. Foods containing these nutrients have been proven to help prevent and, in some cases, reverse the well-known effects of aging, including cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers.

When you click on each superfood you’ll find information including a list of the primary nutrients that elevated them to superfood status.

This is not meant to be a complete list of every single nutrient that food contains, but rather, a list of the high-profile nutrients that have shown health benefits and that are present in that food in sufficient quantity to make a difference. Many of the superfoods have “Sidekicks”. These are foods that are generally in the same category as the flagship superfood and offer a similar nutrient profile.

So click around and find recipes and tips on how to incorporate these foods in your daily diet.

SUPERFOODSRX PRINCIPLES:

Principle 1: SuperFoodsRx- the best diet in the world

Principle 2: Super Foods are whole foods

Principle 3: SuperFoods Rx equals synergy

Principle 4: SuperFoods Rx are simple and positive