A study of almost 100,000 men and women found that flavonoid intake was associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular death. The benefit was especially good for the reduction of fatal strokes, which declined by 37% in adults ages 60-70 consuming flavonoids.

Flavonoids are found in the coloring pigment of many fruits and vegetables. They represent a wide range of types and are found in red wine, chocolate, as well as many fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties in general and support gene signaling in multiple ways that vary considerably based on the type of flavonoid.

In the current study researchers looked at five main type of flavonoids as well as the total sum of flavonoid intake. One of the encouraging results of the study was that even moderate intake of flavonoids conferred cardiovascular benefit. Unlike cardiovascular drugs with many side effects and scant data showing they actually reduce mortality, simply including colorful fresh foods in your diet can make a big difference to your health.

Many dietary supplements concentrate these flavonoids, making it easy to fortify your diet. Some of these flavonoids, like grape seed extract and resveratrol, have built a considerable amount of scientific evidence showing they assist cardiovascular health in a variety of ways. I would suggest that everyone have a diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and if there are additional cardiovascular concerns, based on family history or current circumstances, then I would suggest extra flavonoids that are known to be helpful to your cardiovascular system.



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