Fruits and vegetables should be a major part of your diet. You need to make sure that your child is accustomed to eating a healthy portion of fruits and vegetables to get the benefits of a balanced diet. In addition to the multitude of nutrients they have, they also have bioflavonoids or flavonoids. These are plant derived compounds that are found in many foods that contain high amounts of vitamin C. They can maximise the benefits that we gain from vitamin C by preventing the breakdown of vitamin C in the body.
Some of the foods that have high flavonoid levels are spinach, red onions, watercress etc. But these compounds occur naturally in almost all fruits and vegetables including herbs. These are what help attract insects to the plants for pollination and they are great at combating environmental stresses. You will be able to see whether a plant is rich in flavonoids or not by looking at its colour. Any food item that is very colourful is bound to be rich in flavonoids. There are also popular flavonoid supplements available in the market such as quercetin supplement for health. Studies have found anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic properties in flavonoids.
Haemorrhoids occur when there is increased pressure on the veins of the rectum and anus. This can be a very painful sensation. Bioflavonoids are able to improve the circulation and the capillary flow that will help treat haemorrhoids. With regular bioflavonoid consumption, you will be able to avoid complications due to haemorrhoids. Flavonoids are also linked to lower risks of cardiovascular health. Many people tend to develop varicose veins that are caused when the valves of veins don’t work properly when the vein is stretched. This allows a backflow of blood that pools in the veins. A healthy diet can help treat or prevent varicose veins. One of the bioflavonoids that can help with this is rutin which can support the walls of the veins. They are found in fruit rinds, asparagus and buckwheat. There are also flavonoids found in blueberries, cranberries etc. that can reduce vein leakage.
All of us have experienced bruises and this happens when there is a force causing the break in blood vessels. The colour that you see on the skin is due to blood leaking from the break and pooling under the skin. There is pain at the site and discolouration. You will also experience swelling for some time. There are people who bruise more easily than others and bioflavonoids can help them along with vitamin C. When the liver is inflamed, it can be an indication of hepatitis. There are certain flavonoids called catechins that can help alleviate the condition. You can find this in matcha green tea. You can check research papers to get an idea of the typical dosage that is recommended for this. So make sure that you maintain a daily intake of fresh fruits especially those that contain citrus. Green and red vegetables are also rich sources of flavonoids. Other foods include herbs and spices like oregano, peppermint and thyme, green, black tea, dark chocolate and red wine.
