Shaklee’s FlavoMax™
Many people struggle to meet the daily recommended value of five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. However, without these vital amounts of fruits and veggies, the body does not receive the necessary phytonutrients provided by these essential foods that help fight free radicals.
Shaklee’s FlavoMax™ provides over 300mg of flavonoids—a 280mg increase from the average daily intake of 20mg. The high-powered anti-oxidant supplement guarantees the delivery of six key classes of flavonoids: proanthocyanidins, anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavones, flavonols, and flavanones. To ensure potency, Shaklee uses standardized extracts of each of the six classes of flavonoids.
FlavoMax:
Delivers powerful free-radical fighters to the blood and blood-rich tissues, such as the liver and intestines
Provides protection against cellular damage and promotes overall cell health
Supports cardiovascular and circulatory health
Promotes overall wellness
Formulated with standardized extracts that are nature-based
Provides flavonoids often found in plant parts not typically consumed: seeds, peels, flowers, and bark.
What are Flavonoids?
Flavonoids are compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and other plants with many beneficial biochemical and anti-oxidizing effects. These beneficial elements help to protect plants against microbe and insect attacks, while at the same time providing the aesthetically pleasing vibrant colors of many fruits and flowers. Flavonoids biologically trigger the production of enzymes that fight disease and have been found to reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and age-related degenerative diseases. Some research indicates that flavonoids can assist in the prevention of tooth decay and reduce certain illnesses, such as the flu. Different forms of flavonoids exist, each with its own characteristics and health-benefitting qualities:
Quercetin
This flavonoid (more specifically, flavonol) is the most active of the flavonoids. Many medicinal plants, such as aloe, owe their high activity levels to the rich quercetin content. The compound is also known for its anti-inflammatory qualities because of the direct inhibition of the inflammation process. This occurs because quercetin inhibits the production and release of histamine and other allergic and inflammatory mediators. Quercetin is also known for its potent anti-oxidant and vitamin C sparing activity. Many studies have led researchers to believe that the compound also contains anti-cancer properties. Quercetin is commonly found in supplements containing Hawthorne, an herbal supplement used for its healing effects on acute symptoms of heart failure. The medicinal qualities of quercetin have been demonstrated in one study where people who ate Quercetin-rich foods at least four times per week were 51% less likely to have lung cancer than those who ate none.
Epicatechin
Another member of the flavonoid family is epicatechin, a compound known to improve blood flow, thus providing positive cocoa—the main ingredient in dark chocolate. Cocoa has two times thenumber of anti-oxidant qualities as red wine, and three times the amount of anti-oxidant qualities of green tea.
A study lead by Dr. Mary Engler,PhD, RN and a team of medical experts at the University of California, San Francisco, divided 21 healthy adults into two separate groups. One group received a Dove dark chocolate bar every day for two weeks. The other group also received chocolate bars; however, this group’s chocolate had the flavonoids removed. After the two weeks, the first group performed better in tests to see how well their blood vessels dilated and relaxed. This is an indicator of healthy blood vessel function. Blood tests indicated that those who had eaten the flavonoid rich chocolate bars had high levels of epicatechin running through their arteries. In a news release, Engler commented: "This is the longest clinical trial to date to show improvement in blood vessel function from consuming flavonoid-rich dark chocolate daily over an extended period of time. It is likely that the elevated blood levels of epicatechin triggered the release of Active substances that... Increase blood flow in the artery. Better blood flow is good for your heart."
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
Although this flavonoid has a daunting name, it provides many benefits. It has been found to demonstrate a vast variety of pharmacological activities, including increasing intracellular vitamin C levels, decreasing capillary permeability and fragility, and inhibiting the destruction of collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is a coveted compound in those seeking supple, youthful skin.
Natural Sources of Flavonoids
• All varieties of citrus fruits
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Blackberries
• Red beans
• Red and yellow vegetables
• Nuts
• Ginkgo biloba
• Onions
• Parsley
• Legumes
• Tea (white and green)
• Red wine
• Dark chocolate (coca content 70% or greater)
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