What are Polyphenols? Why does our body need polyphenols?

To better understand polyphenols and their benefits to health, let’s find out with Tnhelearning.edu.vn!

What are Polyphenols?

Polyphenols are phytochemicals. This is the common name for a type of molecular structure that is abundant in natural plants . There are more than 8000 identified polyphenols found in foods. Most of them are in vegetables, fruits and nuts . Therefore, eating more vegetables and fruits often helps us look younger than because of this substance.

Polyphenols are phytochemicals

Polyphenols have powerful antioxidant properties due to their combination with enzymes found in plants. Antioxidants protect cells from free radical damage. So it helps to control the rate of body aging. The best known group of polyphenols are flavonoids. This group has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, often found in beans, red wine, green tea, chocolate.

Flavonoids, also known as vitamin P, are a very important group of minerals that you need to supplement your body.

What are the benefits of polyphenols to the human body?

According to Doctor Nguyen Thuong Hanh, Department of Internal Medicine – Bac Ninh Provincial General Hospital , polyphenols have the following benefits:

Treatment of cardiovascular disease

Polyphenols are excellent antioxidants, so they can inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor, preventing the cause of plaque in the arteries. In particular, flavonoid polyphenols can reduce the accumulation of platelets in the blood – the culprit that causes heart attacks. Therefore, they improve the function of cells located in arteries and veins very well, to promote cardiovascular health .

Prevent type 2 diabetes

Polyphenols have the ability to stabilize blood sugar and fat metabolism, reduce insulin resistance and reduce inflammation in the body. Thereby, preventing long-term complications from diabetes, including cardiovascular disease, neurological disease and retinopathy… However, it should be noted that polyphenols are not a cure for diabetes .

Beneficial for the digestive system

According to a report by the Canadian Institute of Nutrition and Supplements , Polyphenols can modulate and influence the intestinal microflora by improving the nutrition of beneficial bacteria living in the human gut through prebiotic effects. . As a result, polyphenols boosted good bacteria and reduced the number of bad bacteria, thereby balancing the intestinal microflora.

Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a severe form of dementia and about 5.4 million people have died from it. However, polyphenols have neuroprotective effects through their role in delaying the onset of dementia. Thereby, helping to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, you should add polyphenols in your daily diet, especially a polyphenol called resveratrol found in grape skins and red wine, which has a very good neuroprotective effect .

Prevent osteoporosis

With powerful antioxidant properties, polyphenols have a positive effect on bone metabolism . Thereby limiting the decrease in bone density – the cause of fractures, and at the same time reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis. However, you need to add other foods rich in calcium and glucosamine such as seafood to best prevent osteoporosis.

Treatment of inflammation

Lignans is a type of polyphenol that has the ability to inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells, prevent chronic hepatitis … This type is abundant in extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed and whole grain rye flour. In addition, an animal experiment showed that green tea polyphenols reduced inflammatory symptoms after exercise in mice, helping them to stay active longer than mice that did not receive green tea polyphenols.

Polyphenol-rich foods

According to the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the foods topping the list of 100 nutrient-rich sources of polyphenols , based on 100 mg of this substance in 100g or 100mg of food, are as follows:

– Cloves

– Apple

– Black chocolate

– Pure cocoa

– Blackcurrant

– Hazelnuts

– Red wine

– Artichoke

– Mint

– Chestnut

Hopefully through the article you have been able to grasp the necessary information about polyphenols and can supplement yourself with this substance in your meals to have a healthy body!

Source: Hellobacsi

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