Quercetin, Potent Antioxidant Helping Us To Survive In Stressful Conditions

Other names:

• Bioflavonoid Complex/Concentrate

 

Nutrient Family:     

• Phytonutrient/Phytochemical

                > Sub Group:      Flavonoids

                  o   Color:     Red

Quercetin is a type of flavonoid which gives plant their colors. It has xeno factor properties.

Side Note:  Xeno factors are chemicals released by plants for survival in harsh conditions, triggering survival genes to help fight infections and other conditions that may surface under these harsh conditions.

Quercetin's Workings

Fat or Water Soluble Antioxidant: 

• Fat Soluble

Other functions besides being an antioxidant, required for:

• Anti-inflammatory - inhibits enzymes that cause the inflammation
  
• Acts like an antihistamine
• Has potent xeno factors capability
  

Where Is Quercetin Found Naturally?

Found in plants.

Found in our body:

• Liver
• Colon

 

Examples of food sources: [Cite Wikipedia]

         Foods                                                                   Quercetin (mg/100g)

• Black or green tea Camellia sinensis                 2 
• Red Delicious                                                          4
  
• Cow peas                                                                 11 
• Sweet potato                                                          10 
• Kale                                                                         23 
• Capers                                                             180 
• Dock like sorrel                                                     86
  
• Dill                                                                           55 
• Buckwheat                                                             23 
• Watercress                                                             30
• Onion                                                                      32 
• Broccoli                                                                     3
• Black plums                                                            12 
• Cultivated blueberry                                               8 
• Bilberry                                                                     3 
• Lingon berry                                                          13
  
• Cranberry                                                                15
  
• Chokeberry                                                             19
  
• Rowanberry                                                              7 
• Sea buckthorn berry                                               8
  
• Crowberry                                                                 5 
• Fruit of the prickly pear cactus                            5

Other foods with Quercetin:

• Green tea
• Parsley
• Red Wine
• Gingko Biloba
• Buckwheat tea
• St. John’s Wort
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic
  

 

Studies have shown that organically grown plants appears to have higher levels of Quercetin.

Health Benefits of Quercetin

Example of the health benefits of Quercetin :

• Anti viral
• Anti inflammatory ability

      o   Reduce symptoms of prostate inflammation

• Antihistamine ability

      o   Helps with allergy reactions, asthma, hay fever

• Cancer fighter, as with most flavonoids
• Prevention of heart disease and blood vessels hardening

      o   Helps to prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol that can lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries – such as from plaque formation from oxidation of LDL cholesterol)

• Helps with symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia
• Eliminates dangerous and excessive iron
• Reduces blood pressure
• Possibly reduce symptoms of interstitial cystitis
• For diabetes
• For gout

Possible Interactions

Quercetin may interfere with some medications:

• May interfere with some antibiotics
• May increase effects of blood thinners or anticoagulants

      o   Increase risks of bleeding

• May interfere with chemotherapy
• May interfere with other drugs – such as, Corticosteroids, Cyclosporine, Digoxin and medication for the liver
• Loss of Protein function, preventing transportation of some drugs

 

Quercetin may cause the following side effects:

• Headache
• Upset stomach
• Loss of Protein function (from a by-product of quercetin)
• Kidney damage, in very high dosage

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