What Foods Or Drinks Contain Flavonoids?

Is it possible for people to eat and drink their way to better health? It certainly is, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which links certain foods and drinks that contain flavonoids with lower risks of two major causes of death among Americans: cardiovascular disease and cancer. Flavonoids are natural compounds found inside a variety of plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and fruit juices.

Vegetables

Vegetables such as broccoli, onions, and kale provide a type of flavonoid called flavonol, which fights inflammation in the body. Other kinds of vegetables---including celery and hot peppers---contain a type of flavonoid called flavones, which are particularly effective for fighting cancer.

Fruits and Their Juices

Citrus fruits, like oranges, lemons, and limes, contain a type of flavonoid called flavanone, which may help decrease blood cholesterol levels. The Linus Pauling Institute says fruits that have red, blue, and purple colors---such as grapes and berries---contain a kind of flavonoid called anthocyanidin. Anthocyanidins may help promote healthy blood vessels. People can respectively get flavanones from citrus fruit juice and anthocyanidins from grape juice and red wine. Eating the whole fruits from which these drinks are made will also provide the nutrients.

Soy

Products made from soybeans---such as tempeh, tofu, soy milk, and soy-based meat substitutes---contain a powerful type of flavonoid called isoflavone, which may offer a wide range of health benefits. Some of those benefits include fighting cancers linked to hormones such as breast and prostate cancer, reducing blood cholesterol levels, strengthening bones and preventing arteries from deteriorating.

Teas

Teas contain flavanols that block substances called carcinogens, which cause cancer. Green and white teas in particular contain the highest amounts of flavanols among teas. Teas tend to keep most of their flavonoid content after they've been processed, says the Linus Pauling Institute, so people can even get the benefit of flavonoids from drinking tea in various forms, such as hot or iced.