Quercetin is a compound found in many fruits, herbs, and vegetables, including cocoa powder, red grapes, apples, broccoli, onions, black teas, and berries. It belongs to a group known as flavonoids. It contains anti-allergic, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties that can assist the body get rid of free radicals and also prevent any other damage that radicals may cause.
In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of taking Quercetin for allergies. So here we go:
It’s a natural antihistamine
Quercetin is best known for having immune-modulating and anti-allergy effects, it is thought that it may give support to those who suffer from autoimmune disease and even asthma.
For instance, when you have an allergic reaction, your body transforms into protection mode. Your mast cells release histamine in an attempt to help remove those allergies from your body through tearing up, itching and sneezing.
While your body’s capacity to expel allergens is important for you to survive, when it overreacts to those triggers, your allergic reactions results can have you reaching for the antihistamine to block your immune response.
Research has shown that Quercetin can stop the release and production of histamine and also can stabilize mast cell membranes 1, 2 that could prevent several allergic inflammatory diseases, that includes sinusitis, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Respiratory benefits
Research done on animals discovered that more than 25 percent of absorbed quercetin ends up being deposited to the lungs, which is beneficial to asthmatic patients. In reality, Quercetin has a similar composition to disodium cromoglycate. A drug is used to treat bronchospasm and asthma.
In addition, Quercetin also contributes to the reduction of upper respiratory tract infections. People who consume 1000 mg of Quercetin every day, three weeks before, during and two weeks after an intensive three-day cycling event during winter had visibly cut down incidences of urinary tract infections.
Further to this, a study with more than 1000 subjects, a subcategory of people who are over 40 years old declared themselves as being fit physically also reported a reduction in total sick days and a drop to urinary tract infection severity by taking 1000 mg daily Quercetin supplements.
Your immune system
Our T cells that are manufactured by our thymus gland are a very significant part of our adaptive immunity. Separated into two subsets Th1 and Th2, their balance determines how the disease progresses. While Th1 dominant responses are involved in several autoimmune diseases like sarcoidosis and Crohn’s.
Th2 responses are involved in atopic disorders like eczema, including parasitic infections and allergies. Research has shown that Quercetin cuts down Th2 cytokine production while growing Th1 cytokine production which effectively shifts the Th1/ Th2 balance in susceptible individuals.
Volunteers who consumed 500 mg twice a day for four weeks displayed a reduction in the protein expression BDCA-2, a molecule that determines mostly in the creation of autoimmune disease.
Improves blood pressure
Quercetin also has a grave influence on the cardiovascular system. In a meta-analysis and review done in 2016, it was uncovered that Quercetin doses greater than 500 mg showed a great reduction in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. In certain populations, the benefits appear to be greater with comorbidities like diabetes.