'The Amazing Health Benefits of Quercetin', by Natural Factors

Are you familiar with quercetin? If not, this is a wonderful time to learn about its incredible benefits. Quercetin is a yellow bioflavonoid, which is a plant pigment, and can be found in some foods such as red onions, kale, berries, and tea.(1) This supplement has several benefits, from antioxidant to allergy support. Particularly as fall allergens, such as ragweed pollen and mold, begin to rise, quercetin is a great supplement to have on your shelf.

Key antioxidant benefits

Quercetin is recognized for having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among bioflavonoids.(2) As a result, supplementing with quercetin has been shown to lower blood levels of inflammatory markers.(3) Inflammation encompasses symptoms of redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and is a part of many health conditions.(4) By helping to lower inflammatory markers, quercetin can help alleviate inflammation.(5) 

Inflammation is controlled by the immune system, which is doing its best to protect us; but sometimes the immune system gets confused. For example, the immune system should attack the common cold! It shouldn’t attack pollen and other allergens with the same degree of vigour, as pollen is technically harmless. The good news is that quercetin can help with allergy support, too!

Allergy support

Quercetin may help with allergy support without the drowsiness or dryness that can come with other options.(6) When exposed to an allergen, the immune system ramps up and prepares to do battle as it would for an illness. In an allergic person, antibodies to allergens, such as ragweed or mold, bind to the allergen the person has inhaled. When there are many antibodies bound to a specific allergen, cells called mast cells are activated, releasing inflammatory messengers like histamine that cause itchy, watery eyes and nose. This is where quercetin comes in to save the day!

How it works

Quercetin helps stabilize the mast cells, so they don’t release histamine and other things that cause allergy symptoms such as itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose. It’s important to note that quercetin does its best work when taken consistently. For allergy season support, it’s best to start taking it 2–4 weeks before pollen begins to rise, for best results.(7)

In conclusion, quercetin is an amazing addition to your health and wellness options. Because of its benefits of antioxidant protection, it is a great tool to have for allergies, inflammation, and general good health. Quercetin’s antioxidant effects help protect against free radicals, supporting and protecting overall health. From a humble, yellow pigment to a must-have supplement, quercetin is a vital staple for everyone’s medicine cabinet.

References

1. Xu D, Hu M-J, Wang Y-Q, et al. Antioxidant activities of quercetin and its complexes for medicinal application. Molecules. 2019; 24(6):1123.
2. Tabrizi R, Tamtaji OR, Mirhosseini N, et al. The effects of quercetin supplementation on lipid profiles and inflammatory markers among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2020; 60(11):1855-68.
3. Mohammadi-Sartang M, Mazloom Z, Sherafatmanesh S, et al. Effects of supplementation with quercetin on plasma C-reactive protein concentrations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017; 71(9):1033-9.
4. Hunter P. The inflammation theory of disease. The growing realization that chronic inflammation is crucial in many diseases opens new avenues for treatment. EMBO Rep. 2012; 13(11):968-70.
5. Boots AW, Drent M, de Boer VC, et al. Quercetin reduces markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in sarcoidosis. Clin Nutr. 2011; 30(4):506-12.
6. Jafarinia M, Hosseini MS, Kasiri N, et al. Quercetin with the potential effect on allergic diseases. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2020; 16:36. 
7. Hirano T, Kawai M, Arimitsu J, et al. Preventative effect of a flavonoid, enzymatically modified isoquercitrin on ocular symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis. Allergol Int. 2009; 58(3):373-82.