Bioflavanoids and Flavanoids
If your health care provider has prescribed bioflavonoids for you, you are about to have a chance to experience some of the amazing benefits that plants have to offer us. What are bioflavonoids? They’re pigments occurring in plants which are responsible for the colors of fruits and flowers. Bioflavonoids have a wide number of actions and are therefore appropriate for many different diseases and conditions.
One of the main activities of bioflavonoids is to scavenge compounds called free radicals, which damage cell membranes. Even more impressive, one type of bioflavonoid can handle many different free radical species. Free radical damage is involved in aging, cancer, and damage to blood vessels which permits the development of atherosclerosis. Bioflavonoids are especially important here, since cholesterol doesn’t deposit unless there is already damage to the vessel wall, such as that caused by free radicals. Bioflavonoids also decrease cholesterol levels in the blood, as well as oxidation of cholesterol, decreasing the chance of plaque formation.
Free radical damage to cell membranes also allows for the release and formation of various inflammatory products, which is also prevented by bioflavonoids, making them appropriate for inflammatory conditions, allergies (including food allergies), ulcers, psoriasis, eczema, asthma, gout, and ulcerative colitis.
Another benefit of bioflavonoids is that they strengthen and protect collagen, the main protein in connective tissue. In addition, they increase intracellular Vitamin C levels and activity, which also increases collagen formation. This is another way in which they protect blood vessels from atherosclerosis, as well as from fragility which causes bleeding as in periodontal disease.
In addition, specific bioflavonoids perform unique functions in specific parts of the body. Catechin (Acacia catechu) and Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) act primarily on the liver. Catechin has anti-viral activity, including against Hepatitis B and Herpes Simplex I viruses. It also enhances the liver’s ability to filter bacterial toxins which come from the intestines and which can lead to free radical damage. Milk Thistle protects the liver not only from free radicals, but also from toxins, such as alcohol and the poisonous Amanita mushroom. It also stimulates regeneration of liver cells.
Hawthorne (Crategus oxycanthus) has an affinity for the cardiovascular system, decreasing blood pressure, cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and attacks of angina pectoris.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) acts especially on the brain and blood vessels. It causes increased oxygen to the brain as well as increased use of glucose, the brain’s source of fuel. It enhances nerve transmission and short-term memory, as well as decreasing depression and lack of alertness. Thus, it is especially beneficial for senility, Alzheimer’s, stroke, vertigo, etc.
The action of Quercitin (Quercus alba) is specific for the respiratory tract and large intestine. It’s especially beneficial for allergies (especially food allergies) and asthma. It is also the most potent anti-viral of the bioflavonoids. It has potent anti-cancer action as well.
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) acts especially on blood vessels, joints, and eyes. As such, it is useful for the vessel weakness of gingivitis and varicose veins. While it reduces inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, it is especially helpful for osteoarthritis in terms of helping rebuild and protect the collagen impaired by this condition. Bilberry also treats gout. In relation to the eye, Bilberry treats poor night vision, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
In addition to the bioflavonoid preparations your health care provider has prescribed for you, some food sources of bioflavonoids are dark berries, cherries, the white part of citrus fruits, the membrane between layers of onion, buckwheat, bee pollen and propolis, and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. So enjoy a diet rich in bioflavonoids and reap the benefits of good health and the healing power of Nature!
Flavonoids have been shown to possess the following actions:
- Spasmolytic
- Anti-anginal
- Anti-ulcer
- Anti-hepatoxic
- Anti-microbial
- Anti-viral
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-carcinogenic
- Decrease capillary permeability and fragility
- Increase intracellular concentration of Vitamin C
- Free radical scavenging
- Inhibition of collagen destruction
