EFL - Energy for Life News from Dr. Yerby

What is ‘Quercetin’ found in EFL?

By Christie C. Yerby, NMD
Peoplesway Inc - Product and Science Advisor

Quercetin belongs to a class of water-soluble plant pigments called flavonoids, a group of plant “colors” that provide for them their antioxidant protection against environmental stress. Quercetin acts as an antihistamine and has anti-inflammatory activity. (Histamine is the human “chemical” that initiates the itching, sneezing, and swelling during a sudden histamine reaction.) As an antioxidant, it protects LDL cholesterol, the “low down” cholesterol, from becoming damaged. Cardiologists believe that damage to LDL cholesterol is an underlying cause of heart disease.

Within a good diet, quercetin is found in red onions and apples. Smaller amounts are found in leafy green vegetables and beans.

Quercetin has been used in connection with the following conditions: capillary strength, asthma, atherosclerosis cataracts, diabetes, water retention (edema), gout, hay fever, high cholesterol, and peptic ulcer. It appears to strengthen weak capillaries and protect against diabetic cataracts.

Since flavonoids help protect and increase the effects of vitamin C, quercetin is often combined with vitamin C, as we have provided in our EFL. Another botanical ingredient in EFL, bromelain, increases the absorption of quercetin, and is another powerful anti-inflammatory and is a protein-digesting enzyme. The benefit of calming inflammation in the body, other than preventing the common histamine reactions, is to prevent heart disease and other chronic illnesses often caused by systemic inflammation.
No toxicity has been identified with quercetin. Current research finds quercetin to be safe, and is actually linked to protection from cancer where it has been used as an intravenous infusion. Scientists theorize that quercetin might reduce cancer risk (especially prostate cancer) by inactivating malignant precursors or by inhibiting cancer-causing cells (carcinogenesis).

No interactions with drugs or food are known to occur and no alterations to lab reports are known to occur. No sufficient reliable information is available for use with pregnancy and lactation, so avoid using for now, in these conditions.