Apples, gut health and hayfever?
Q is for Quercetin
Quercetin has gut healing properties and is a natural anti-histamine.
Quercetin is a flavonoid antioxidant found in plant foods that is a powerful anti-inflammatory and can have a beneficial effect on our digestive health by helping to tighten the junctions in our intestines along with fighting free radical damage and also having anti-allergenic properties.
Quercetin is found in plants with dark pigment such as:
Apples
Peppers
Dark cherries and berries (blueberries, bilberries, blackberries and others)
Tomatoes
Cruciferous veggies, including broccoli, cabbage and sprouts
Leafy green veggies, including spinach, kale
Citrus fruits
Cocoa
Whole grains, including buckwheat
Raw asparagus
Capers
Raw red onion
Olive oil
Black and green tea
Beans/legumes
Herbs, including sage, American elder, St. John’s wort and ginkgo biloba
Some of these foods are a high FODMAP so if you suffer with IBS then some of them may be a trigger for you.
If you need a hayfever remedy take 400mg 3 times a day to reduce puffy eyes and irritation of the nose.