2023’s Best of Polyphenols
We know you’ve probably heard the buzz about polyphenols, but we wanted to share 2023’s best benefits of polyphenols. 
There has been a lot of research on nature’s micro superheroes and sometimes it can be hard to follow exactly what that research is trying to say. So we have broken down some of the coolest benefits research has shown that polyphenols provide.
Polyphenols can be found in all plant-derived products and are helpful in providing long-term health benefits.
As stated in a previous article, “polyphenols are micronutrients or phytochemicals (chemicals found in plants) which are packed with healing antioxidants and potential health benefits.”
So let’s get on with the on-going gifts our bodies receive when we eat foods full of polyphenols. Some of the amazing benefits that polyphenols provide us include:
- Anti-aging
- Anti-inflammation
- Immune System Boost
- Improved Heart Health
- Enhanced Benefits from Exercise
- Better Gut Health
- Helping Treat and Prevent Cancer
Scientists are still studying these awesome little helpers and they’re learning more about the different types of benefits we get from our plant friends. But for now, let’s look at the ones that have already been scientifically proven.
Anti-Aging
The two main causes of skin aging are damage from the sun (photodamage) and time (chronological influences). The first signs of age spots or wrinkles are enough to send modern women into a frenzy. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Our diet has a lot of effect on how gracefully you age.
Polyphenols and their antioxidant counterparts have been proven to fight the damaging effects caused by the free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both free radicals and ROS have been shown to play a large part in skin aging. By balancing them out and scavenging the extra, our plant-derived powerhouses help to keep us looking youthful and radiant.
Polyphenols can be used internally or externally for your skin health. Some of the top sources are:
- Soy
- Tea
- Coffee
- Wine
- Cocoa
Learn more about polyphenols for skin and aging here.
Anti-Inflammation
Most chronic illnesses have been linked to excessive inflammation. Diseases like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and many others are on the rise in the Western world and they all have been linked to poor diet that results in overactive inflammatory responses. These diseases — much like skin aging — have to counteract ROS to help fight off the disease.
Polyphenols have been found to reduce inflammation throughout the body. Turmeric, berries, and green tea all have impressive track records when it comes to improving inflammation throughout the body.
Learn more about polyphenols and their effects on inflammatory responses here.
Immune System Boost
Your immune system is what keeps you healthy and 70% of that resides in your gut. To protect your immune health, you’re often told to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and sleep well. All of these things reduce inflammatory responses and help your immune system to stay at it’s best.
When you eat foods high in polyphenols your body is able to fight off invaders efficiently. Each cell requires specific nutrients to carry out its jobs, and polyphenols often provide those nutrients. Some of the best foods for your immune system that are polyphenol-filled include:
- Oranges
- Grapefruit and Apple Juice
- Raw Blueberries and Strawberries
- Black Tea
Learn more about how polyphenols can improve your immune health here.
Improved Heart Health
Heart health is one of the biggest boasting points for polyphenols (they’re why we can drink wine and eat chocolate for heart health). Polyphenols have been found to be:
- Cardioprotective
- Reduce cholesterol levels
- Improve blood pressure
- Prevent developing obesity and diabetes
- Inhibit blood clots from forming
Diets that are high in polyphenolic content like the DASH, MIND, and Mediterranean diets have all been linked to improving and preventing these different cardiovascular conditions.
Learn more about the cardioprotective effects of polyphenols here.
More Benefits from Exercise
When we exercise, our muscles have oxidative damage done to them by ROS. This doesn’t mean that exercising is unhealthy, it just means that we have to complement our exercise with a good diet to avoid unnecessary health issues and muscular pain.
Polyphenols do this the same way we mentioned above by scavenging the ROS and balancing the oxygen levels in our bodies. A study found that:
- Eating approximately 300 mg of polyphenols about an hour before exercising improves endurance
- Eating more than 1,000 mg of polyphenols 3 days prior and 3 days after a big sporting event can reduce exercise-induced muscle damage
Learn more about how polyphenols can improve your exercise outcomes here.
Better Gut Health
Polyphenols are a form of prebiotic. Most of what polyphenols provide us with isn’t directly available to us, so they need to be fermented by our gut microbes to access their full potential. Our gut bacteria actually feed off of the polyphenols and are able to create a healthier balance of bacteria in our microbiomes.
After they are fermented by our microbes, the byproducts of the fermented polyphenols are able to be recirculated throughout our bodies and used to fight off ROS and improve other systems to obtain optimal health.
Atrantil is a great source of polyphenols for optimal gut health. The 3 main ingredients are extremely potent polyphenols that help to calm your gut, feed your good bacteria, and support overall good health. Get a bottle here.
Learn more about how polyphenols can improve your gut health here.
Helping Treat and Prevent Cancer
Cancer seems to be everywhere and we need to be taking precautions to reduce our chances of getting it. While it isn’t always avoidable, it does help to take preventative measures where we can. Eating healthy is the first step. Polyphenols have been proven to:
- Reduce the incidence of prostate cancer
- Improve how effective cancer treatments are
- Reduce the recurrence of colon polyps in colon cancer
- Reduce polyp sizes and quantity
- Suppression of inflammatory biomarkers that worsen symptoms
Not all polyphenols are treated equally when it comes to cancer. While resveratrol, EGCG, and curcumin are all very helpful with cancer, genistein and daidzein had adverse effects on hormone-related cancers. Consult with your doctor on what may be the best course of action for incorporating polyphenols as an adjunct or alternative therapy to your cancer treatment.
Learn more about polyphenols and cancer treatment here.
Polyphenols are your best friend when you want to improve your health. Fruits, vegetables, natural juices/waters, nuts, seeds, and leaves are all great, natural sources of polyphenols. You can also ensure a daily dose by taking Atrantil daily for good gut and body health!
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29119916/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5055983/#sec7title
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7352291/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5727797/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6445811/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286313000946?via%3Dihub
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997428/#sec4-nutrients-08-00515title
The Power of Polyphenols – Improve Digestion, Fight Aging and Reduce Disease