| Recently, the
profound effects of phytochemicals, which are derived
from plant-based foods in the form of Indole-3 carbinol,
quercetin, hesperidin, and naringin, have been investigated.
Certain types of bioflavonoids have been found to significantly
surpass other known antioxidants in their ability to
scavenge free radicals. One group of bioflavonoids, specifically
known as proanthocyanidins, has extraordinary antioxidant
capabilities. The term bioflavonoid refers to a large
family of chemicals found throughout the plant world.
Bioflavonoids are sometimes called vitamin P; however,
they are not technically vitamins. So what exactly is
a bioflavonoid? Bioflavonoids are phytochemicals or plant
derivatives which can have remarkable effects on biochemical
pathways in human physiology. There are over 20,000 known
bioflavonoids registered in chemical abstracts and over
20 million structures that fit into their chemical classification.
Obviously not all flavonoids are the same.
For this reason, selecting the most
biologically valuable compounds is extremely important
when designing any supplement which utilizes bioflavonoid
compounds. Bioflavonoids occur naturally in fruits and
vegetables but they are subject to rapid decomposition
and degradation during storage and cooking. Bioflavonoids
are considered synergists to vitamin C and must be combined
with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for optimal benefit.
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Antioxidant |
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