Other names: Flavonoid, Vitamin P

Bioflavonoids are natural pigment/color in fruits and vegetables, some experts believe that most of the beneficial effects of all these foods have been attributed to their bioflavonoid compounds rather than their other nutrients. To date more than 800 different bioflavonoids have been identified.

Common Bioflavonoids and its Benefits:

• Quercetin is the most active of all the flavonoids and provides an "emergency quick response" for the relief of allergies and inflammation.
• Pycnogenol has cardiovascular benefits, boosts the immune system, helps improve the appearance of the skin, helps varicose veins, provides relief from arthritic pain, and helps reduce inflammation.
• Polyphenols are found in vast quantities in green tea, and may inhibit cancer by blocking the formation of cancer-causing compounds.
• Epicatechin is found in large doses in cocoa. This is beneficial for the circulatory system because it looks after the blood vessels.
• Oligomeric proanthocyanidins this bioflavonoid strengthen the blood vessels, and slow down the destruction of collagen (a vital protein found in skin, hair, teeth, bones, tissues and veins).

Health Benefits:

• Consuming enough bioflavonoid rich foods can help slow down aging and prevent wrinkles.
• Bioflavonoid is not only an antioxidant that prevents cellular damage but it also enhances the antioxidant effects of vitamin C and other nutrients.
• Bioflavonoid has natural antibiotics and anticancer properties.
• Bioflavonoid helps protect against heart disease.
• Bioflavonoid maintains capillaries. If the capillary walls are too fragile, however, blood will seep out of the vessels and into the cells. This can result in easy bruising, brain and retinal hemorrhages, bleeding gums, and other abnormalities.
• Bioflavonoid inhibits clot formation. Recent research indicates that some bioflavonoids are natural clot inhibitors and may be useful in treating phlebitis and other clotting disorders.
• Bioflavonoid may also help improve kidney function particularly for diabetic.
• Bioflavonoid is also beneficial for water retention, cold sores, better eyesight, cataracts, peptic ulcers, hemorrhoids, viral infection.

Bioflavonoid in cooking: Some bioflavonoids are used as food preservatives to prevent oxidation of fats. It also helps enhance the antioxidant action of certain nutrients.

Foods that are high in bioflavonoids include apricots, blackberries, black currants, broccoli, cantaloupes, cherries, grapefruits, grapes, green peppers, oranges and lemons (especially the peels, and white core), parsley, papayas, plums, tangerine juice, and tomatoes, white and green tea as well as coffee, cocoa, tea, and red wine.

• Grapeseed extract a bioflavonoid that acts to keep capillaries and connective tissues in good condition. It is also a potent free radical scavenger. It is very beneficial for smokers, those exposed to second-hand smoke and exercisers, all of whom are bombarded by free radicals (exercisers are at risk due to their faster metabolism). You can chew on the seeds of white or green grapes, or take supplements.

• Tea polyphenols. Due to its high polyphenol content, green tea is a goldmine of cancer-fighting properties. Polyphenols seem to prevent cancer in three ways: they stop the cancer cells from forming, increase the body's defenses, and prevent cancer cells from growing. They also act as skin detoxifiers and skin-aging inhibitors. Black tea contains about half the polyphenol content of green tea, but is still useful drunk in small quantities. White tea, which is dried in sunlight and is very expensive, has the highest level of polyphenols of all the teas - about three times that of green tea.
• Cherries are a rich source of vitamin C and bioflavonoids and also contain the anti-cancer chemical ellagic acid, which inhibits the growth of malignant cells.

Dietary Requirements: The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for bioflavonoids has not been established but health experts recommend getting at least five good sized portions of different fruit and vegetables everyday. To be on the safe side, make sure you're consuming enough flavonoids by taking a good quality supplement.