Food With Polyphenols Can Help Prevent Chronic Inflammation, Study Reveals

Researchers from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease have recognized food that can fight the risk of chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is one of the factors to the leading causes of death in the U.S., according to Life Extension. These include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, kidney disease and chronic lower respiratory disease.

The factors that contribute to chronic inflammation are uric acid crystals, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidized lipoproteins and advanced glycation end products due to elevated blood sugar levels. Meanwhile, the risk factors that are linked with chronic inflammation include obesity, high sugar intake, increasing age and high saturated fat intake.

Science Daily reports that the study was conducted by Dr. Chris Ford and Sian Richardson from the University's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease. Richardson said that the results of their study show that (poly) phenols derived from turmeric, onions, green tea, red grapes and acai berries may help reduce the release of pro-inflammatory mediators in people at risk of chronic inflammation.

He further explained that older people are more susceptible to chronic inflammation and as such they may benefit from supplementing their diets with isorhamnetin resveratrol, curcumin and vanillic acid or with food sources that yield these bioactive molecules. Fruits and vegetables that contain polyphenols may protect against age-related inflammation and chronic diseases.

Cocoa is one of the very few foods with a high polyphenol content. We study the polyphenols and antioxidants naturally occurring in cocoa.

— LUKER (@LUKEROFFICIAL) September 1, 2014

Polyphenols have also antioxidant properties. They are divided into four groups namely flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans and stilbenes. They are also helpful for stimulating cell receptors and regulating enzyme function. Polyphenols can help prevent degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Other food sources that contain polyphenols are black currants, flaxseed meal, tea, coffee, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, plums, black chokeberries, blueberries, red raspberries, black elderberries, and strawberries.