Scheller is referring to the broad and powerful class of phytochemicals known as flavonoids. In addition to quercetin, the following compounds fall under the citrus bioflavonoid umbrella: They also show up in some specialized vitamin C supplements as bioactives that complement vitamin C and help protect it from oxidation.* “The reason why citrus bioflavonoids pair nicely with vitamin C is because of the synergy that occurs between the two when found in nature—as in when consumed in citrus fruits,” Scheller says. “More utility and benefits of these antioxidants occur when they work together, versus using vitamin C alone, as the bioflavonoids are suggested to help with vitamin C absorption in the body.”* Here are some of the major benefits you get from having these phytonutrients in your life: The precise mechanisms aren’t entirely revealed yet, but “these compounds, on a very fundamental level, help the cells do better,”* Li says. She adds, “At a higher level, that will have an impact on metabolism.”* In fact, an animal study published by BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology specifically linked the citrus bioflavonoid hesperidin to lower levels of oxidative stress4 (i.e., a healthy balance between antioxidants and free radicals).* While some free radicals in the body are a part of normal physiological processes (e.g., immune response and cellular reactions throughout the body), balancing the antioxidant-to-free-radical ratio to tackle oxidative stress is important for optimal heart, immune, and metabolic health—and citrus bioflavonoids help promote this activity.* Additionally, citrus bioflavonoids can bolster gastrointestinal functioning and health.* And, as we know, a healthy gut is crucial to a well-functioning immune system.* This relationship can, in turn, affect the whole body. “[Citrus bioflavonoids] can have a significant impact on your gut microbiome balance, and the bacteria can release small molecules that get into your blood and have an impact on everything,”* Li says. “These compounds can help the beta cells in your pancreas make insulin,” Li says, and “they may also help the liver process food.”* In one lab study7 published by Molecules, researchers analyzed the impact of the citrus bioflavonoid neohesperidin on yeast and found it decreased the buildup of reactive oxygen species7 (ROS) in the yeast.* Li links this to citrus bioflavonoids’ hallmark ability to fight oxidative stress.* As you’ve seen, combating free radicals has a number of positive effects on multiple areas of health and can have a profound impact on our heart, skin, and immune health throughout the lifespan.* “The compounds can work topically, but they probably work better if you actually ingest them,” Li explains. “It’s beauty from the inside out."* Li recommends getting your citrus bioflavonoids from fruit because the more plants we consume, the better. “Often, these compounds work well with other things as they coexist in nature,” she explains. That means eating plenty of citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and grapefruits. Additionally, you can choose to leverage a colorful array of citrus bioflavonoids sourced from whole fruits and concentrated in a high-quality supplement (like mbg’s vitamin C potency+). In addition to eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for an array of phytonutrients, a guaranteed and potent dose of citrus bioflavonoids from a quality supplement can be a complementary approach. mindbodygreen’s vitamin C potency+ supplement contains a vitamin C/lipid/citrus bioflavonoid trio for optimized vitamin C bioavailability and retention, plus a citrus bioflavonoid complex from 100% whole citrus fruits to help protect the vitamin C in your body.* Talk about harnessing the full power of citrus!
