Today's flavor of the day is...

FLAVANOIDS!

Flava what? I know this sounds like some sort of spacey compound, but in reality it is something that we should all know about because of its impact on our health.

To be technical, flavanoids are polyphonic compounds that are found in fruits, vegetables and beverages like tea, coffee, beer wine and fruit drinks. Okay, so why do we care about flavanoids?

They are very beneficial for our health, as they have antiviral, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (the 4 A's).

Most flavonoids function in the human body as antioxidants. In this capacity, they help neutralize overly reactive oxygen-containing molecules and prevent these overly reactive molecules from damaging parts of cells.

In non-scientific terms, a flavanoid is a natural compound which helps protect our bodies against disease. They also provide vitamins and enzymes, so they are just packed full of nutritional benefits!

Here are just a few things that flavanoids do for you body...

Strengthen blood vessels

Enhance the power of your vitamin C

Protect cells from oxygen damage(antioxidant)

Prevent inflammation in your body/joints

They can also help prevent cancer, heart disease and strokes, and can help with issues like asthma, hay fever, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia and even your everyday bug bite.

You may not be getting enough flavanoids if you have:

Easy bruising

Frequent nose bleeds

Excessive swelling after injury

Frequent colds or infections

So, what does that mean? Up your intake of fruits and veggies!

Flavanoids can be found in apples, apricots, blueberries, pears, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, oranges, black beans, cabbage, onions, parsley, pinto beans and tomatoes, to name a few. They can also be found in beverages like grapefruit juice and green or black tea, and even red wine, so no matter what your eating habits are, you can get flavanoids into your diet.

You can also get extra flavanoids into your diet by taking supplements. You can get flavanoids in anything from grape seed extract, green tea extract to vitamin capsules you can purchase at the drug store. We do recommend that you get it naturally in fruits and veggies if you can, but quality supplements are always an option.

Flavanoids are a great preventative nutrient, and give you vitamins such as vitamin C, so you can't go wrong by adding them into your daily food routine.

Throw some blueberries in your morning shake, have green tea while watching your favorite movie, or even enjoy a glass of red wine with your friends, and you will be helping your body fight against poor health.

You are now informed! Have a healthy day