Finding Out How Flavonoids Protect the Heart

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As more research on flavonoids becomes available, it is likely that no single one will emerge as a "miracle food, but that many will contribute to our cardiovascular health," said Hooper, whose review was published in the July issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The new review helps define the role of foods rich in antioxidants, said Dr. Johanna Geleijnse, a nutritional epidemiologist at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, who co-authored an editorial to accompany the report.

"Evidence is accumulating that these substances are more important to cardiovascular health than vitamin C and vitamin E," and this most recent analysis strongly suggests good effects on blood pressure and blood vessel function, she said.

But much remains to be found out, she added.

Meanwhile, what to do? Eat a good mixture of the flavonoid-rich foods you like best, said Hooper. "For me, this would include lots of fruit, small amounts of a good dark chocolate (at least 70 percent cocoa), plus the basics like onions and green tea and an occasional glass of red wine."

More information

To learn more about flavonoids, visit the American Dietetic Association.