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If you haven't already, you're likely buy turmeric powder extract start hearing more about flavonoids. I see that word more and more now. So I set out to get answers about these health-giving and reportedly cancer-preventing flavonoids.

What are flavonoids?

According to the American Heritage Science Dictionary: " Any of a large group of water-soluble plant pigments that are beneficial to health. Flavonoids are polyphenols and have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. They also help to maintain the health of small blood vessels and connective tissue, and some are under study as possible treatments of cancer. Also called bioflavonoid."

Flavonoids, as plant pigments, give color to the fruits and vegetables that contain them. They are also powerful antioxidants that slow the oxidation of the skins and pulp of the fruits and vegetables. These antioxidants do the same thing in our cell membranes by protecting them from free radicals which destroy cells and promote cancer.

Why would I want them?

"Flavonoids work as antioxidants to protect us from free radical damage," buy wholesale calcium citrate 1kg Joe Vinson, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry at the University of Scranton.

Free radicals are seen as the underlying cause behind most degenerative diseases and are even linked to accelerated aging.

Flavonoids prevent oxidation of LDL or bad cholesterol, preventing plaque buildup.

Flavonoids improve insulin sensitivity, good news purchase bulk ellagic acid nutrition supplement diabetics.

Flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory effect that helps to ease pain. They're often used to treat back and leg pain.

The anti-inflammatory effect also helps different types of skin conditions, from a simple to chronic skin conditions, such as eczema.

Flavonoids also provide pain relief from joint and muscle pain associated rheumatoid arthritis.

Flavonoids help block the release of histamines during an allergic response. Histamine is responsible for the watery eyes, runny nose, and congestion associated with many different kinds of allergies, as well as the difficulty in breathing associated with asthma.

In addition to these benefits, flavonoids are being studied for their potential benefits in protecting against heart disease, cancer, and stroke, and preventing cataracts in the eyes.

As we age, our arteries become less and less flexible. This makes it difficult for blood to flow through them. This in turn raises blood pressure. Flavonoids boost levels of nitric oxide, which improves artery flexibility and allows blood to flow more easily.

Flavonoids also lessen the ability of platelets to clot which can prevent a heart attack and stroke.

Where can I get them?

Flavonoids are found mainly in fruits and vegetables but are also found in seeds, flowers, nuts, green tea, cocoa, pine bark, and buckwheat.

The best sources of flavonoids are cocoa, green tea, red wine, apples, and onions. Citrus fruits are also a great source. The white material between the peel and the citrus fruit is rich in flavonoids.

The Cornell University News, November 2003 issue, reported that cocoa froth is richer in cancer-preventing compounds purchase fructo oligosaccharides green tea or red wine. Professor Chang Lee and colleagues published their findings in the American Chemical Society "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry." Dr. Lee, the chairman of the Dept. of Food Science and Technology at Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y., noted that his buy wholesale betaine-anhydrous trimethylglycine showed that cocoa is much richer in known naturally occurring anti-cancer substances than either red wine or green tea. His research showed that cocoa contains significant amounts of phenolic phytochemicals, flavonoids known for their cancer fighting abilities.

An important note to consider: flavonoids are found in bitter pure cocoa not heavily buy wholesale cinnamon pe chocolate. Heat processing drastically reduces the health benefits of flavonoids and most chocolates on the market today, even those with a high percentage of cocoa, have been heat processed. Look for chocolate that has been cold processed to maintain the health benefits.

Shelia Norling combines her background in systems design, self-development, and nutrition with her love for cooking and her zest for life to deliver practical, no nonsense information for how to tweak your diet for greater health and vitality and how to tweak your life for greater enjoyment. Claim your free copy of extensive Alkalizing Food List and more at http://www.Tweakability.com

Be sure to ask for your Extreme Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie (one free sample) that has 1,036 mg of flavonoids in every delicious cookie!