Natural Bioflavonoids

  Bioflavonoids are natural compounds found in many foods. There are many bioflavonoids each with different attributed health benefits.  Quercetin is one bioflavonoid that is said to benefit the body by acting as a histamine inhibitor. Blocking histamine activity reduces inflammation and therefore is said to alleviate pain  in Chronic Prostatitis.  Bioflavonoids are believed to have numerous health benefits. They are the natural pigments in fruits and vegetables. There have been many anecdotal reports about the beneficial effects of bioflavonoids but none have provided scientific evidences supporting specific claims.  Over eight hundred different bioflavonoids are known. Most of these are the yellow pigments found in citrus fruit as well as other fruits and vegetables, referred to as flavonoids.  Bioflavonoids are sometimes referred to as Vitamin P, though it has not been proved that they are essential to humane nutrition.

Alleged Beneficial Effects

Help maintain capillaries, thus allow oxygen, hormones, nutrients, and antibodies to pass from the body’s bloodstream to individual cells.

1. Help dissolve blood clot in treating phlebitis and other clotting disorders.
2. Prevent the cellular damage caused by free radicals.
3. Some of the functions that vitamin C is credited with is actually from the bioflavonoids, both produce beneficial effects on the immune system.
4. Preventing many heart diseases.
5. Stop or slow the growth of malignant cells and help protect against cancer-causing substances.
6. Some bioflavonoids destroy certain bacteria that are found in foods, thus preventing food spoilage and protect humans from food-borne infections.
7. Recommended dietary allowance for bioflavonoids has not been established. Foods that are high in bioflavonoids include apricots, blackberries, black currants, broccoli, cantaloupes, cherries, grapefruits, grapes, oranges and lemons.
8. Anecdotes abound about the health benefits of bioflavonoids.  Unfortunately, there is not one controlled study showing any beneficial effect of adding them to daily dietary regimens.  So far, the myriads of preparations found in health food stores testify only for financial benefits for those who unscrupulously promote these substances.