"Bioflavonoids" is one of those terms that looks technical and perhaps even slightly unpleasant on the page, but in actuality does a lot of good. Bioflavonoids are the substances that give plants bright colors and that have also been found to improve health and vitality in a number of ways.

There are hundreds of bioflavonoids - citrus bioflavonoids, soy isoflavones, proanthocyanidins found in red wine and grapeseed, flavanols present in cocoa, tea, and grapeseed, and quercitin found in onions, tea, and berries - but they all have similar health benefits. They are anti-inflammatory, slow aging, decrease the risk of cancer, and can encourage healthy circulation.

Collectively, bioflavonoids are unstoppable. Following are just a few of the things they can do:

Onions for Allergies

Sure, it's ironic that the vegetable that can make you cry also contains a substance that is useful in treating itchy and water eyes, asthma, and hay fever. Quercetin, onion bioflavonoid, has been found to inhibit histamine release from mast cells, which causes allergic reactions.

Red Wine and Your Cardiovascular System

Proanthocyanidins, the touted bioflavonoids found in grapeseed extract and red wine, may reduce the risk of stroke, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

Fighting Cancer with a Cup of Green Tea

The polyphenols found in green tea help prevent the formation of cancer-causing compounds and can suppress carcinogens. Green tea is prized for its flavonoids (in the bioflavonoid family) - catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, and proanthocyanidins.

You can get your daily dose of bioflavonoids through:

• citrus fruits
• parsley
• berries
• green tea
• onions
• legumes
• red wine
• cocoa (dark and organic is best)
• soy products-tofu, tempeh, soy milk

[via Alive]

Image: onion-router.net