Obesity imposes grave risk on our health, especially as we age. It increases wear and tear on our joints, and raises blood lipid level. It also gives rise to systemic inflammation, that effects all tissues and organs , leading to chronic degenerative conditions, such as cancer, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s diseases, stroke, MI, CAD.
Scientists discovered that fat tissue is an endocrine organ, so as any endocrine organ it produces hormones. In this case they are pro-inflammatory chemicals that set up stage for chronic inflammation.
Now good news! Scientific studies published in 2018have showed that obesity can be prevented by taking quercetin, even in the presence of high fat diet. At the end of this study, patients had 23% less total body fat, 23,8% lower serum triglycerides level, and 22% less visceral ( abdominal) fat. Beside fat loss, quercetin caused detoxification process of fat tissue, which is very important since toxins usually accumulate in fat.
Quercetin has multi-targeted ways of effecting the body:
1.Quercetin reduces inflammation.
Multiple studies have shown that supplementation with quercetin ( when given in combination with resveratrol ) works in two ways to reduce obesity – induced inflammation.
First, quercetin suppress production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, that fat tissue produced. Second, quercetin in combination with resveratrol reduces size of fat cells, reduces fat storage, and reduces blood lipid level. Quercetin has profound effect on hypothalamus- body’s metabolic center effecting all body functions, starting with body’s temperature and ending with anti-aging effect.
2.Quercetin up regulates AMPK.
AMPK is one of the body’s central metabolic enzymes and is found in every cell. It is considered as one of the body’s most powerful anti-aging tools. When activated, AMPK enhances fat burning, accelerate cleanup of toxins. Quercetin has been shown to activate AMPK, as a result of of it body produces more youthful cells with less vulnerability to stress.
3. Quercetin promotes healthy gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome is a community of millions of microorganisms that live in the intestinal tract. Obesity contributes to the imbalanced microbiome( called dysbiosis). Research suggest, that obesity related dysbiosis may produce “ leaky gut “ syndrome, which is increased permeability of intestinal wall and passage of toxins and other large molecules through the intestinal wall, creating inflammation and multiple allergies. So, multiple studies have shown that quercetin can restore microbiome and stop leaking through intestinal wall.
4. Quercetin converts white fat to brown fat.
The bulk of fat tissue in adults is composed of white adipose tissue, or simply- white fat. This type of fat is the not very sufficient source of energy( between meals) and unfortunately, source of chronic inflammation.
But infants and many small mammals have fat deposits that made of brown adipose tissue-brown fat.
Unlike the white fat, brown fat has the capacity of easily converting energy, stored as fat into heat. Studies have shown that quercetin alone or in combination with resveratrol can convert white fat cells into cells resembling brown fat cells.
Summary:
Obesity is the major threat to human health and longevity. Excessive amounts of fat tissue generate inflammation that accelerate aging process and lead to development of multiple degenerative diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, stroke, CAD, MI, Alzheimer’s disease.
Quercetin has been shown to help protect against obesity itself, as well its age accelerating consequences.
Sources of quercetin:
Red onion, apples, grapefruit, raw black plums, capers, all berries, especially elderberries, kale, red grapes.
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