Polyphenols: what are they and why are they important for your health?

Polyphenols are bioactive substances produced by plants as natural protection against, for example, sunlight, fungi, bacteria, and insects. Thousands of different polyphenols have now been identified.

Well-known examples include:

• Grape seed extract
• Green tea extract
• Curcumin from turmeric
• Quercetin from capers and apples
• Resveratrol from grapes
• Anthocyanins from blueberries
• Catechins from green tea

In orthomolecular practice, these substances are often seen as an important addition to a healthy lifestyle due to their broad supportive effects.

Our bodies are exposed daily to factors that can cause oxidative stress. These include air pollution, UV radiation, stress, sleep deprivation, intense exercise, an unhealthy diet, and natural aging processes.

Polyphenols help protect the body against free radicals. As a result, they can contribute to the maintenance of healthy cells and tissues.

In addition, scientific studies show that various polyphenols can influence:

• The cardiovascular system
• The immune system
• Blood vessels
• The gut microbiome
• Energy metabolism
• Healthy aging

One of the best-known sources of polyphenols is grape seed extract.

Grape seeds contain oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), powerful antioxidants that have been extensively studied. Grape seed extract contributes to a beneficial effect on blood pressure.* This makes grape seed extract an interesting ingredient for people who want to support their cardiovascular health as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Grape seed extract is one of the key polyphenol sources in Beyuna Immunity. In this formula, it is combined with other carefully selected ingredients, including resveratrol, ginger extract, ginseng extract, blackcurrant powder, and natural vitamin C from acerola. This creates a versatile composition in which various plant compounds complement each other.

Resveratrol is a natural plant compound found in grape skins, berries, and Japanese knotweed, among other things. It belongs to the group of polyphenols and is widely researched worldwide for its role in healthy aging and oxidative processes.

Resveratrol is one of the ingredients of Beyuna Immunity, where, together with grape seed extract, it forms part of a formula rich in plant-based bioactive compounds.

Although there are currently no approved EFSA health claims for resveratrol, it is an interesting substance within a diet rich in natural plant compounds.

Green tea is known for its high content of catechins, of which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most studied.

Research suggests that green tea polyphenols are involved in various processes in the body, including protection against oxidative stress.

Additionally, green tea has been used for centuries within traditional health practices due to its supportive role in vitality and well-being.

Turmeric is a spice that has been used in the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years.

The active ingredient curcumin also belongs to the group of polyphenols.

Curcumin is often appreciated due to the broad scientific interest surrounding this substance. Because curcumin is naturally difficult to absorb, high-quality extracts or combinations that support bioavailability are often chosen.

Curcumin can be found in Beyuna FLX. In this formula, it is combined with, among other things, MSM, collagen hydrolysate type II, N-acetylglucosamine, and natural vitamin C from acerola. As a result, it forms part of a carefully composed formula that fits within an active and healthy lifestyle.

The deep blue, purple, and red colors of many fruits and vegetables are caused by anthocyanins, which are also polyphenols.

Think of:

• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Red grapes
• Blackcurrants

The more colorful the food, the greater the diversity of plant compounds often is. Therefore, eat as many different colors of fruits and vegetables as possible every day.

A particularly interesting area of research is the interaction between polyphenols and the gut microbiome.

Polyphenols can be converted into biologically active substances by gut bacteria. At the same time, certain polyphenols appear to support beneficial gut bacteria.

This creates an interesting collaboration between nutrition, gut flora, and health.

This aligns well with the vision behind products such as Beyuna Probiotics, which focuses on both probiotics and prebiotics to support a healthy gut environment.

Ideally, we obtain all nutrients from a varied diet. In practice, however, this does not always prove to be easy.

Factors such as:

• Intensive agriculture
• Processed food
• Stress
• A busy lifestyle

Low consumption of vegetables and fruit can result in a lower intake of protective plant compounds than desirable.

Therefore, more and more people are choosing to use high-quality dietary supplements containing carefully selected plant extracts alongside a healthy diet.

Do you want to increase your daily intake of polyphenols? Then regularly choose:

• Berries and red fruit
• Grapes
• Green tea
• Turmeric
• Cacao
• Herbs and spices
• Green leafy vegetables
• Colorful vegetables

Buy these products as much as possible unsprayed and organic. Additionally, high-quality supplements can complement this. Products such as Beyuna Immunity, containing grape seed extract and resveratrol, among others, and Beyuna FLX, with turmeric extract, contain carefully selected plant compounds that fit within a conscious and healthy lifestyle.