A second look at quercetin
Last week in House Calls, I told you about quercetin and how it can cut your risk of heart disease.
I just had a patient come in with some allergy-type symptoms, and it reminded me: Quercetin is also beneficial in treating intermittent allergies that come with those irritating sniffles. It turns out that it's just as effective—even more so for some folks—as many of the over-the-counter remedies available on the market.
So many patients come to me throughout the year complaining about their allergies, feeling like they're being driven crazy. And as much as they hate the accompanying sniffles, they really can't stand those OTC medications. I hear reports all the time of how they feel like all sorts of things are going on with their heads, if not making them just want to curl up in a ball and go to sleep.
So it's nice to know Mother Nature offers you an option, isn't it?
Quercetin, a phytochemical, is not only a powerful antioxidant, it's also a natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory, which is exactly why it's beneficial for allergies and asthma symptoms. Scientists think that quercetin helps to stabilize the membranes of cells so that they aren't as likely to react to the presence of allergens—and you'll avoid those symptoms that signal the irritation.
This phytochemical is found in the coloration of red onions and in apples. Phytochemicals are known to have protective and disease-fighting properties. They protect plants, but lucky for us—we can borrow that protection and use it to our own advantage.
Get quercetin naturally from your foods, stocking up on apples and red onions in particular. But also consider using it in supplement form, 500 to 1,000 mg, two to three times per day. Take it as long as you need it during those tough stretches that come about in pollen season. There are many companies who offer quercetin, including widely available products from Solgar, Jarrow, NOW and Solaray. Check your local vitamin shop and grocery store.
