Nutrition
Flavonoids Fuel Vibrant Health After 40
Health Points
- Act as potent antioxidants to fight free radicals and oxidative stress.
- Reduce chronic inflammation linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
- Support cardiovascular health, brain function and slower biological aging.
Flavonoids, natural plant pigments, create the stunning colors in fruits, vegetables and flowers while delivering powerful health perks.
Eating a rainbow of produce packs your diet with these antioxidants, shielding cells from damage and curbing inflammation.
“Flavonoids are a type of phytochemical, or plant chemical, that gives color to a variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other plant-based foods and ingredients,” says Julia Zumpano, RD at Cleveland Clinic.
Subclasses include anthocyanins in purple-red berries, flavanones in citrus, and flavonols in tea and cocoa.
Top flavonoid foods feature blueberries, which are rich in anthocyanidins for heart and brain protection.
Parsley is loaded with flavones, and red cabbage provides both anthocyanidins and flavonols.
Cherries are a good source of anti-inflammatory anthocyanins.
“Consuming flavonoids from food provides a variety of benefits due to improved utilization of sugar and lipids in the body,” adds Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, RD.
Choose whole foods over supplements, and embrace a Mediterranean-style diet brimming with color.
Boost your intake today: Blend blueberries into smoothies, sprinkle parsley on salads, shred red cabbage into slaws, and snack on cherries for joyful, sustained vitality.
