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Quercetin; 5 Medically Proven Health Benefits
Quercetin is more than just an Antihistamine
My Longevity Experiment
August 08, 2024
Quercetin; 5 Medically Proven Health Benefits
Quercetin is more than just an Antihistamine
The antioxidant quercetin is sometimes called the ‘Head or Master Flavonoid.’ People have also said it is one of the best natural antihistamines on the market.
It can, allegedly, stabilize mast cells and reduce inflammation. A mast cell serves the same general functions in the body and central nervous system; things such as effecting or regulating allergic responses, innate and adapted immunity, autoimmunity and inflammation.
What is Quercetin?
Quercetin is a plant flavanol from the flavonoid group of polyphenols. It’s one of the most abundant antioxidants in the diet and plays an important role in helping your body combat the free radical damage that has been linked to some chronic diseases.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are compounds that can bind to and neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that may cause cellular damage when their levels become too high. Damage caused by free radicals has been linked to numerous chronic conditions, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes
In addition, its antioxidant properties may help reduce:
Inflammation
Allergy symptoms
Blood pressure
Food Sources
Foods that commonly contain quercetin include:
Onions
Apples
Grapes
Berries
Broccoli
Citrus fruits
Cherries
Green tea, and thankfully coffee and red wine
Inflammation
Free radicals may do more than simply damage your cells. Research shows that high levels of free radicals may help activate genes that promote inflammation, ergo high levels of free radicals may lead to an increased inflammatory response.
While a little inflammation is necessary to help your body heal and fight infections, persistent inflammation is linked to health problems, including certain cancers, as well as heart and kidney disease.
Studies show that quercetin may help reduce inflammation. In test-tube studies, quercetin reduced markers of inflammation in human cells, including the molecules ‘tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)’ and interleukin-6, both of these are pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Scientific Study
An 8-week study of 50 women with rheumatoid arthritis observed that participants who took 500 mg of quercetin a day experienced a significant reduction in:
Early morning stiffness
Morning pain
After-activity pain
They also had reduced markers of inflammation, such as TNFα, compared to those who received a placebo. While these findings are promising, more human research is needed to fully understand the compound’s potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Allergies
Quercetin’s potential anti-inflammatory properties may also provide allergy symptom relief. Test-tube and animal studies found that it may block enzymes involved in inflammation and suppress inflammation-promoting chemicals, such as histamine
For example, one study showed that taking quercetin supplements suppressed peanut-related anaphylactic reactions in mice. Still, it’s unclear whether the compound has the same effect on allergies in humans, so more research is needed before it can be recommended as an alternative treatment
Cancer
Quercetin may have anti-cancer effects because it has certain antioxidant properties. In a review of test-tube and animal studies, quercetin was found to suppress cell growth and induce cell death in prostate cancer cells.
Other test-tube and animal studies observed that the compound had similar effects in liver, lung, breast, bladder, blood, colon, ovarian, lymphoid and adrenal cancer cells.
Though these findings are promising, many more human studies are needed before quercetin can be recommended as an alternative treatment for cancer.
Brain Disorders
Quercetin may lower your risk of chronic brain disorders. Research suggests that quercetin’s antioxidant properties may help protect against degenerative brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
In one study, mice with Alzheimer’s disease received quercetin injections every 2 days for 3 months. By the end of the study, the injections had reversed several markers of Alzheimer’s, and the mice performed much better during learning tests.
In another study, a quercetin-rich diet reduced the markers of Alzheimer’s disease and improved brain function in mice at the early to middle stage of the condition. However, the diet had little to no effect on animals with middle to late-stage Alzheimer’s.
Coffee is a popular beverage that has been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Again, research shows that quercetin, not caffeine, is the primary compound in coffee that’s responsible for its potential protective effects against this illness.
Blood Pressure
Quercetin may also reduce blood pressure; high blood pressure affects 1 in 3 American adults. It raises your risk of heart disease and is the leading cause of death in the United States.
When mice with high blood pressure were given quercetin daily for 5 weeks, their systolic and diastolic blood pressure values decreased by an average of 18% and 23%, respectively.
A review of 9 human studies in 580 people found that taking more than 500 mg of quercetin a day in supplement form, reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 5.8 and 2.6, respectively.
Although these findings are promising, more human studies are needed to determine whether the compound could be an alternative therapy for treating high blood pressure.
Quercetin Supplements
You can purchase quercetin as a dietary supplement, typical dosages range from 500 to 1,000 mg per day.
Unfortunately, on its own, quercetin has a low bioavailability, which means your body absorbs it poorly, which is why supplements may include other compounds, such as vitamin C or a digestive enzymes like bromelain, as they may increase absorption.
Additionally, some research indicates that quercetin has a synergistic effect when quercetin is combined with other flavonoid supplements, such as resveratrol or Genistein.
Side Effects
Quercetin is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables and so is considered safe to consume as a supplement, it appears to be generally safe with little to no side effects.
In some instances, taking more than 1,000 mg of quercetin per day may cause mild symptoms like headaches, stomach aches and/or or tingling sensations.
When consumed in food, quercetin is safe for pregnant and woman who are breastfeeding.
However, studies on the safety of quercetin as a supplement are few, so you should avoid taking quercetin supplements if you’re pregnant or nursing.
As with any supplement, consult your healthcare provider before taking quercetin, as it can interact with some medications, including antibiotics and blood pressure medications.
Quercetin & Bromelain Supplement
Use the code: MYNMN for 15% off ProHealth Longevity’s Quercetin & Bromelain: https://shorturl.re/7doe6
Scientific Studies: