"Quercetin - An Apple A Day Does Keep The Doctor Away!" Quercetin is a Flavonoid, or antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables. It is the most plentiful Flavonoid in the plant kingdom and is found in numerous foods such as apples, berries, onions, and seeds and nuts. Numerous studies attest to its diverse health benefits. It has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and minimize the risk of developing heart disease. It may also minimize your risk of developing Cancer. We've all heard the adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Whoever came up with that one certainly knew what he was talking about! Research Studies Cancer Prevention Quercetin has been found to have anti-cancer properties. One study in the British Journal of Cancer found that prostate and skin Cancers, when treated with a combination of Quercetin and ultrasound for one minute, demonstrated a 90 percent mortality rate within 48 hours.
This reduced Cancer risk did not carry over to the men in this study. Preliminary research done by the Mayo clinic has found that Quercetin may be useful in treating or preventing Prostate Cancer. Additionally, in another study, they found that men with an inflamed prostate reported fewer urinary symptoms after taking it. Reducing Blood Pressure Another study was done to see what effect it had on high blood pressure. In this study, prehypertensive and hypertensive men and women were given either 730 milligrams of this Flavonoid or a placebo for 28 days. The starting blood pressure for the prehypertensive individuals was approximately 137/86 and for the hypertensive individuals it was 148/96. The margin of error for these measurements was plus or minus 2 mm Hg for the systolic reading (top number) and plus or minus 1 mm Hg for the diastolic reading (bottom number). In the prehypertensive patients, blood pressure was not altered at the end of the study. In the hypertensive patients, however, reductions in the systolic and diastolic numbers of 7 mm Hg and 5 mm Hg respectively were noted. Other Studies
It may also prove to be protective against the development of Atherosclerosis, otherwise known as hardening of the arteries. Test-tube, animal and some population studies suggest these nutrients function as antioxidants providing protection for the body from the damaging effects of 'bad' cholesterol. However, additional research is still needed in this area. It may be a beneficial treatment for Interstitial Cystitis. Interstitial Cystitis is a condition characterized by pain in the bladder and pelvic regions. In this study, seventeen women and five men were given 500 milligrams of Quercetin twice daily for two weeks. Symptom assessment was done before and after the completion of this study. In the 20 of the 22 patients completing the study, improvement was seen in all areas. Additionally, the researchers stated that it was well tolerated by all participants. In other laboratory tests, it was found to decrease the release of a chemical called histamine by mast cells. Histamines are a protein involved in a number of allergy-based conditions such as Asthma.
Quercetin may help minimize this unwanted side effect of Niacin. In a study of laboratory rats, the temperature of their ears was taken 3 times at the start, with follow-up temperatures taken every ten minutes for a period of one hour. Initially, the rats were injected with either Niacin or 7.5 milligrams of a Flavonoid followed by injection of Niacin. Their ear temperatures were measured every ten minutes over the next hour. In the rats receiving only Niacin, their ear temperatures increased approximately 1.9 degrees C. The rats receiving both Quercetin and Niacin were able to inhibit this flushing effect by 96 percent. Dosage There are no standard dosage recommendations for this particular Flavonoid. Dosage recommendations vary greatly, but 100 to 500 milligrams, taken 2 to 3 times daily seems to be most common. Side Effects and Contraindications It has been shown to produce chromosomal mutations in some test tube bacteria. How this may apply to humans is uncertain at this time. However, some physicians are concerned children may be born with birth defects in mothers taking it at the time of conception. You should talk to your physician first if you are taking: Neoral(R) Lanoxin(R) Medicines that are used to treat infections such as: Cipro(R), Tequin(R), Noroxin(R), Zagam(R), Levaquin(R), and Floxin(R) It may enhance the effect of chemotherapy medicines such as: Doxorubicin and Cisplatin Ask your physician for a more complete list. Subscribe to the Home Remedies Blog by clicking on this link:
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In a study involving more then 77,000 women and 47,000 men, it was found that high fruit and vegetable consumption resulted in a 21 percent lower risk of developing lung Cancer in women.
Other studies have shown high consumption of this Flavonoid contributes to a reduced risk of developing 
Niacin, a member of the 'B' family of vitamins, is frequently used to lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while raising levels of 
