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Flavonoids are rich in antioxidants, so they help fight free radicals in the body, which can otherwise damage organs.
Measurement of blood pressure. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
A large part of the Indian population likes to start the day with a cup of tea. Little do they know that this morning drink can provide them with a number of health benefits, as it is rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients) found in various fruits, vegetables, and beverages.
Flavonoids are rich in antioxidants, so they help fight free radicals in the body, which can otherwise damage organs. Studies have also shown that they can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. There are some smaller subgroups of flavonoids like flavones, anthocyanins, flavanones, isoflavones, flavonols, and flavonoids (flavan-3-ols).
Among them, flavanol is a popular type of flavonoid; It includes both catechins and procyanidins and is found in high concentrations in tea, cocoa, grapes, and red wine. A recent study, published in the journal Scientific reports On October 21, 2020, it stated that a diet rich in flavanol can help lower blood pressure.
Study the effect of flavonoids on blood pressure.
For this study, the scientists collected data from 25,618 participants, of whom 14,026 were women and 11,592 men. These participants were already enrolled in the Norfolk European Prospective Research on Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study.
All of these patients had the habit of incorporating flavonoids into their diet in the form of drinks, fruits and vegetables.
The scientists also collected data on smoking habits and social class, as well as the family’s medical history. They measured the participants’ height, weight, physical activity, and blood pressure. Blood pressure was taken after the patient sat comfortably for five minutes. Doctors also took into account non-fasting blood levels, total cholesterol levels and plasma levels of the patients.
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
The results of the study showed that the consumption of flavonoids can have a vasculoprotective effect (protection from damage to the blood vessels). People who consumed high levels of flavan-3-ol were found to have lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. High levels of flavanol were also associated with reduced levels of bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and general cholesterol in the body.
The results further showed that the difference in blood pressure between those who consumed the lowest levels of flavanol and those who took the highest levels of flavanol was between 2 and 4 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The difference in blood pressure was more significant in people who were diagnosed with hypertension.
The scientists concluded that regular consumption of flavanol (in any form) can help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
For more information, read our article on antioxidants.
The Health Articles on Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and largest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to provide you with information on all things health.
