New Blog 1: Natural Anti Inflammator

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Natural Anti Inflammator

Natural antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, like polyphenols, provide protective effects for the brain through a variety of biological actions. Polyphenols are plant metabolites; the most common dietary polyphenols, and probably most thoroughly investigated, are the flavonols quercetin and catechin as well as the recently popular non-flavanoid resveratrol. Resveratrol is present in red wine and the skin of grapes. Plants use resveratrol to defend itself from fungus. Resveratrol is the focus of many current clinical trials and is believed to be responsible for the “French Paradox.” Quercetin is found in apples, tea, capers, and onions. Polyphenols are everywhere in nature! More than 50 different plant species and over 8000 such compounds have been identified in plant extracts. Obviously, investigating the multiple health benefits of these natural chemicals poses an enormous challenge.