Polyphenols
Polyphenols are a large, diverse family of naturally occurring plant compounds packed with antioxidants. They help protect cells from damage, reduce inflammation, support heart and brain health, and feed good gut bacteria.
(From AI Overview by Google)
Types of polyphenols
More than 8,000 types of polyphenols have been identified. They can be further categorized into 4 main groups:
- Flavonoids. These account for around 60% of all polyphenols. Examples include quercetin, kaempferol, catechins, and anthocyanins, which are found in foods like apples, onions, dark chocolate, and red cabbage.
- Phenolic acids. This group accounts for around 30% of all polyphenols. Examples include ferulic and chlorogenic acids in coffee and cereal grains.
- Polyphenolic amides. This category includes capsaicinoids in chili peppers and avenanthramides in oats.
- Other polyphenols. This group includes stilbenes in grapes and berries, resveratrol in red wine, ellagic acid in berries, curcumin in turmeric, and lignans in flax seeds, sesame seeds, and whole grains.